I guess the additional teams in Europe this year has thrown the usual cup schedule out of sync, they've had to implement an extra round for the four lowest ranked teams in the football league. Carabao Cup: Preliminary round in 2025-26 due to Premier League teams in Europe
might be fairer if they made 2 clubs from Championship don't usually enter at round 1 do so, and make up rest from those weren't in the Premier League last season ie promoted sides R3 (32) : 9 teams in Europe plus 23 from R2 R2 (46) : 8 Premier League Clubs from 24/25 plus Championship winners, 37 from R1 R1 (74) : lowest 74 placed teams in 24/25 (currently in 25/26 EFL) think my maths is holding up there so 74 clubs enter R1, another 9 at R2 to take it to 83 and a further 9 in round 3. not sure why there's hysteria about it, isn't like the teams in Europe are entering at a later round just there's more of them. at least my "solution" rewards winning the Championship, it isn't as if the three promoted sides are going to be going hammer and tongs at winning the EFL, think surviving will rank higher and going out earlier might do them a small favour as they have big squads and often field weakened sides no particular reason why teams in Europe can't do a better version of what Liverpool did in the QFs before the World Club Cup before. and folks it isn't as if they'll shrink European competitions back to 32 any time soon so unless England Farke up bigtime may well be "things will never be the same again" (former Spice Girl?) so get used to it and does it do a bad turn to the teams in a preliminary round or extra cash? also I'd suggest maybe reward winners with home tie in the 1st round
Blues play Ipswich in the league on the opening weekend then play Sheffield United in the cup. Tough opening..
