The 2026/27 Carabao Cup returns with a full slate of second‑round fixtures, all of which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. This stage marks the entry point for the eleven Premier League clubs that are not tied up in European competition, creating a series of enticing match‑ups before the nine clubs involved in UEFA tournaments join the fray in the third round. One of the most anticipated pairings is the all‑Premier League showdown between Nottingham Forest and Leeds United on Tuesday. Oliver Glasner’s Forest side will be looking for immediate redemption after suffering a narrow defeat at the City Ground just three days earlier.
The rematch offers both clubs a chance to settle scores and gain momentum in the cup. Wednesday’s fixtures provide further drama. Newcastle United travel to St James’ Park to host West Bromwich Albion, with the German‑born manager Matthias Jaissle hoping to secure his first victory in charge of the Magpies.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur aim to rebound from a 3‑0 drubbing at Brentford by taking on the early Championship frontrunners, Charlton Athletic, on home soil. The match promises an opportunity for Spurs to restore confidence and demonstrate their attacking intent. The same evening, veteran manager David Moyes will make a nostalgic return to Deepdale, the ground he left in 2002 when he was at the helm of Preston North End. This time he arrives with Everton, adding a layer of personal significance to the encounter.
On Thursday, Chelsea will welcome Luton Town, while Fulham faces AFC Wimbledon in a double‑header that rounds out the weekend’s action. Following the Wednesday night clash between Preston and Everton, Sky Sports will host the live third‑round draw.
The draw will determine the fixtures for the next stage, which will feature 32 teams: the 23 winners from the second round plus the nine Premier League clubs that are competing in the Champions League and Europa League. These top‑flight sides—Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Brighton, Sunderland and Crystal Palace—will join the competition in the third round. Because the European calendar has expanded, additional draw conditions are in place.
Prior to the main draw, a pre‑draw will be held at approximately 7:20 pm on Sky Sports to decide whether each of the Champions League and Europa League clubs will be drawn at home or away. Those eight ties will also form the opening matches of the main draw later that evening. Fans can stream the entire Carabao Cup without committing to a contract by downloading the Sky Sports app.
All matches are scheduled to kick off at 7:45 pm BST unless otherwise noted, allowing supporters to plan their evenings around the action. The competition’s early stages have already delivered plenty of excitement, with clubs from the Championship, League One and League Two battling for a place in the second round.
Highlights from those opening games are available online, ensuring that anyone who missed the live action can catch up on the key moments, goals, and dramatic turns. Sky Sports subscribers can watch the matches via Sky Sports+, the dedicated Sky Sports app, or the Sky Sports website.
For those who are away from a television set, a comprehensive first‑round blog will be published on Saturday, complemented by live blogs throughout the tournament to keep fans updated on every development. The second round is slated for the week commencing 24 August, with the third round spread across two weeks beginning 7 September and 14 September.
Subsequent rounds will follow a regular schedule: the fourth round in the week of 26 October, the fifth round in the week of 14 December, semi‑final first legs in the week of 11 January, semi‑final second legs in the week of 1 February, and the grand finale on Sunday, 21 March. Beyond the matches themselves, Sky Sports is running a Super 6 competition that offers participants a chance to win substantial cash prizes—£250,000 in one draw and £1 million in another—both of which are free to enter. This adds an extra layer of engagement for fans following the cup’s progress.
In summary, the Caraboo Cup’s second round promises a packed itinerary of high‑stakes fixtures, featuring eleven Premier League clubs eager to make their mark before the elite European‑qualified sides arrive. With live coverage on Sky Sports, streaming options via the Sky Sports app, and a suite of digital content to keep supporters informed, the tournament is set to captivate football fans throughout the United Kingdom and beyond.