The 2025-26 Carabao Cup will include a preliminary round to accommodate the increased number of Premier League clubs with European commitments.
Nine top-flight sides are set to participate in European competitions next season, prompting the change to help reduce the number of clubs in the first two rounds.
The preliminary round will feature the two sides promoted from the National League and the two clubs who finished 21st and 22nd in League Two.
They will be separated regionally, as is customary with the competition’s early rounds, meaning Accrington Stanley will face Oldham Athletic while Barnet take on Newport County.
The home sides for those ties will be drawn at the same time as the draw for round one, on 26 June at 16:30 BST.
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