The big EFL decision that has changed the Football League schedule a lot this season
The first round of the 2026/27 Carabao Cup is happening over the weekend, thanks to a big change made by the EFL. Usually, the Carabao Cup starts shortly after the league season begins for EFL teams. But this time, the competition will kick off the domestic season.
The Championship, League One, and League Two all start next weekend, with the first match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers at Molineux Stadium on Friday, August 14. This change in the schedule is new for the EFL clubs, and they are mostly happy about it.
Last January, the EFL announced after talking with clubs that the Carabao Cup first round would officially start on August 7, with games spread across that weekend. Before, the first round was played midweek after the league fixtures began, but now it’s moved to the weekend before league games start.
A big reason for this switch is the players’ well-being, giving them a chance to rest at the start of the season instead of playing three matches in the first week. The EFL said, “The 2026/27 season will start with Round One of the Carabao Cup over the weekend of August 7-9, and league games will begin the following weekend, August 14-16.”
Even though the first round was set to start on August 7, the game between Bristol City and Walsall was played a day earlier for an unusual reason. The match was moved because of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, which expected over 500,000 visitors from Friday to Sunday. So, to avoid problems, the two teams played on Thursday, August 6, with Walsall winning 1-0.