There are 70 teams are competing in the first round
Middlesbrough's home clash against Wrexham is one of the standout ties
West Ham welcome Portsmouth to the London Stadium
The first round of the EFL Cup takes place from Thursday to Monday with 70 teams competing for a place in the next stage of the competition.
Bristol City vs Walsall - Thursday August 6 (7.45pm)
Bristol City thrashed Premier League outfit Newcastle 4-1 at Ashton Gate in pre-season and the Robins have the quality to see off League Two Walsall.
Prediction: Bristol City 3-1 Walsall (7/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Wolves vs Port Vale - Friday August 7 (7.45pm)
Wolves won three of their last four pre-season games to nil and they can record another shutout win at home to Port Vale, who were relegated from League One last term.
Prediction: Wolves 2-0 Port Vale (23/5 with LiveScore Bet)
Wycombe vs Stevenage - Friday August 7 (7.45pm)
Wycombe had the joint eighth-best home record in League One last season and they can get the better of Stevenage, who lost 12 times on their travels in the same division.
Prediction: Wycombe 2-1 Stevenage (6/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Middlesbrough vs Wrexham - Friday August 7 (8pm)
Only four Championship teams had a better points return at home than Middlesbrough last season and the Riverside can stay a fortress for Boro when hosting Wrexham, who have lost two of their last three competitive matches on their travels.
Prediction: Middlesbrough 2-1 Wrexham (21/4 with LiveScore Bet)
Cambridge vs Barnet - Saturday August 8 (1pm)
Barnet were unbeaten against Cambridge last season and the League Two visitors ended the 2025-26 campaign with four straight away wins.
Prediction: Cambridge 0-1 Barnet (9/1 with LiveScore Bet)
QPR vs Millwall - Saturday August 8 (2pm)
Millwall had the best away record in last season's Championship and they can pick up where they left off when heading to QPR, who failed to win any of their last three home matches in 2025-26.
Prediction: QPR 0-2 Millwall (10/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Wimbledon vs Newport - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Two of Newport's last three away defeats have seen both teams score and it could end up being a familiar feeling for County when they head to Wimbledon.
Prediction: Wimbledon 2-1 Newport (7/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Barnsley vs Wigan - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Five of the last six meetings between Barnsley and Wigan have ended in 1-1 draws.
Prediction: Barnsley 1-1 Wigan (5/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Bradford vs Rochdale - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Bradford collected 50 points at home last season, losing just four times, and they can see off newly promoted Rochdale.
Prediction: Bradford 2-0 Rochdale (24/5 with LiveScore Bet)
Bristol Rovers vs Peterborough - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Bristol Rovers have won their last seven home matches and have beaten Peterborough in two of the last three meetings at the Memorial Stadium.
Prediction: Bristol Rovers 2-1 Peterborough (6/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Bromley vs Reading - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Reading won their last four pre-season matches, all to nil.
Prediction: Bromley 0-3 Reading (33/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Burnley vs Notts County - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Notts County's last four away wins have all come with clean sheets.
Prediction: Burnley 0-1 Notts County (15/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Burton vs Blackburn - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Burton are unbeaten at home in their last four competitive matches and they can overcome a Blackburn side who could be battling against Championship relegation this season.
Prediction: Burton 2-1 Blackburn (10/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Cardiff vs Swindon - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Cardiff had the second-best home record in League One last season and they can see off League Two Swindon.
Prediction: Cardiff 3-1 Swindon (19/2 with LiveScore Bet)
Crewe vs Accrington - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Crewe amassed 14 points more than Accrington in League Two last season and recorded a 2-0 win in the last meeting at Gresty Road.
Prediction: Crewe 2-0 Accrington (8/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Derby vs Lincoln - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Lincoln boasted the best away record in League One last season as they romped to title and they can defeat a Derby side who won just 10 of their 23 home matches in the Championship.
Prediction: Derby 1-2 Lincoln (10/1 LiveScore Bet)
Fleetwood vs Chesterfield - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Both meetings between Fleetwood and Chesterfield in League Two last season ended in 1-1 draws.
Prediction: Fleetwood 1-1 Chesterfield (17/4 with LiveScore Bet)
Gillingham vs Luton - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Only six teams picked up fewer points at home in League Two last season than Gillingham.
Prediction: Gillingham 1-3 Luton (13/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Grimsby vs Blackpool - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Grimsby had the sixth-best home record in League Two last season while Blackpool have the joint fourth-worst away points tally in League One.
Prediction: Grimsby 2-1 Blackpool (6/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Leicester vs Northampton - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Northampton's tally of 13 away points was the worst in League One last season, as they lost 16 of their 23 matches.
Prediction: Leicester 3-0 Northampton (17/2 with LiveScore Bet)
Leyton Orient vs Oxford - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Oxford won their last four pre-season friendlies and have defeated Leyton Orient in two of the last three meetings.
Prediction: Leyton Orient 1-2 Oxford (8/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Norwich City vs MK Dons - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
MK Dons had the best away record in League Two last season and were the top scorers in the division with 86 goals.
Prediction: Norwich 1-2 MK Dons (15/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Preston vs Huddersfield - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Preston have won the last three meetings against Huddersfield, with both teams scoring in all of those contests.
Prediction: Preston 3-1 Huddersfield (14/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Salford vs Shrewsbury - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Just two points secured more points at home in League Two last season than Salford, who have won two of the last three meetings against Shrewsbury.
Prediction: Salford 2-1 Shrewsbury (13/2 with LiveScore Bet)
Sheffield Wednesday vs Bolton - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Three of the last four meetings between Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton have ended in draws.
Prediction: Sheffield Wednesday 2-2 Bolton (13/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Stockport vs Doncaster - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Stockport have won the last five meetings against Doncaster, scoring at least twice in three of those wins.
Prediction: Stockport 2-0 Doncaster (15/2 with LiveScore Bet)
Stoke vs Oldham - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Stoke avoided defeat in 15 of their 23 home matches in the Championship last season.
Prediction: Stoke 2-0 Oldham (6/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Swansea vs Birmingham - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Five of the last seven meetings between Swansea and Birmingham have ended in draws.
Prediction: Swansea 1-1 Birmingham (27/5 with LiveScore Bet)
Watford vs Crawley - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Crawley had the worst away record in League Two last season, winning just three of their 23 matches.
Prediction: Watford 3-0 Crawley (5/1 with LiveScore Bet)
West Ham vs Portsmouth - Saturday August 8 (3pm)
Only eight teams picked up fewer points away from home in the Championship than Portsmouth last season and they could be in for a struggle when visiting a West Ham side eager to bounce back from Premier League relegation.
Prediction: West Ham 3-1 Portsmouth (19/2 with LiveScore Bet)
Cheltenham vs Charlton - Saturday August 8 (5.30pm)
Cheltenham won just nine of their 23 home matches in League Two last season.
Prediction: Cheltenham 1-2 Charlton (13/2 with LiveScore Bet)
Colchester vs Southampton - Saturday August 8 (5.30pm)
Southampton collected 37 points on their travels in the Championship last season and their class should tell against League Two Colchester.
Prediction: Colchester 0-3 Southampton (17/2 with LiveScore Bet)
Rotherham vs West Brom - Saturday August 8 (5.30pm)
West Brom have won five of the last six meetings against Rotherham, with four of those victories accompanied with clean sheets.
Prediction: Rotherham 0-2 West Brom (13/2 with LiveScore Bet)
Mansfield vs Sheffield United - Sunday August 9 (4pm)
Mansfield knocked Sheffield United out of the FA Cup last season, winning 4-3, and Sunday's hosts can cause another upset against the Blades.
Prediction: Mansfield 3-2 Sheffield United (30/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Plymouth vs Exeter - Monday August 10 (8pm)
Plymouth have lost just one of their last seven competitive matches at home.
