Carabao Cup format changed due to nine English sides qualifying for Europe
The Carabao Cup was thrown into chaos next season with nearly half of the Premier League having booked spots in Europe for 2025/26 and bosses have now confirmed a major change to the competition
EFL bosses have added a preliminary round to the Carabao Cup in a major change to the competition. Organisers confirmed the change on Friday just a few months before the latest edition gets underway.
The alteration will see the clubs promoted from the National League last season - Barnet and Oldham - as well as the 21st and 22nd placed sides in League Two from last term - Accrington Stanley and Newport County - face off.
Bosses have confirmed that the ties will be regionalised, with Accrington Stanley set to play Oldham, and Barnet taking on Newport - the victors securing a place in the first round. The change is due to the Premier League having nine clubs in Europe next season.
The preliminary round will see the total amount of clubs in the first two rounds reduced, meaning all Premier League sides to have qualified for Europe will be able to play in round three. In all, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest are set for continental campaigns next term.
Palace's spot in the Europa League remains in doubt due to John Textor's stake in the club but the Carabao Cup change has been made regardless. It follows a similar alteration during the 2011/12 campaign to allow both Birmingham City and Fulham to play in Europe without impediment.
The change has not totally gone down well with supporters. One said: 'Here's an idea? The @premierleague teams aren't interested in the League Cup, so take them out, give their places to the National League teams. This will boost the competition but also make sure the FA Cup is taken seriously by all teams involved."
While another added: 'In summary, two football league teams (who could hugely benefit from a big tie) have to qualify for the league cup because 9 teams who don't care about the league cup (until they might win it) are in Europe. And football isn't geared towards the top teams. You're a disgrace EFL!"
A final supporter said: 'So some @EFL teams are going to have to play an extra game because more of the @premierleague teams who demanded replays were scrapped because of fixture congestion are competing in Europe??'
The preliminary round of the Carabao Cup will take place across the week commencing 4 August, with round one scheduled for a week later. The draw for the first round of the competition will take place on Thursday 26 June.
Newcastle head into next season's competition as holders. They beat Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley last season to end their long trophy drought.
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