Premier League teams without European commitments will discover their Carabao Cup opponents when the second round draw takes place on Wednesday, August 13. The draw will be conducted during Sky Sports' coverage before Birmingham vs Sheffield United, expected around 7pm.
Leeds United enter the competition at this stage following their promotion to the Premier League. Daniel Farke's side joins other top-flight clubs who don't have to juggle European duties alongside domestic action.
Trophy opportunity beckons
The Carabao Cup represents the first piece of silverware available in 2026. Newcastle United's success last season, ending a 56-year trophy drought by beating Liverpool at Wembley, demonstrates the opportunity available for clubs entering early.
Leeds themselves last won this tournament in 1967/68 and haven't claimed a major title since the First Division in 1991/92. Their recent Carabao Cup form requires improvement after falling to Middlesbrough 3-0 at Elland Road in the opening round last season.
In the last 10 seasons, Leeds' best performance was reaching the quarter-finals in 2016/17, when Liverpool knocked them out at Anfield.
Premier League teams in the mix
The Mirror reports that 11 Premier League teams enter at the second round: Manchester United, Leeds, Burnley, Sunderland, Wolves, West Ham, Everton, Fulham, Brentford, Bournemouth and Brighton. These clubs avoid the additional fixture burden that European-qualified teams face.
Manchester United face particular pressure to deliver silverware, according to the Mirror, after finishing 15th last season under new manager Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils will be among the highest-profile clubs seeking early cup progress.
Draw restrictions and scheduling
The competition remains regionalised in early rounds, meaning Leeds can only draw fellow clubs from the Northern Section. Regional restrictions are removed for the third round when European-qualified Premier League clubs enter the tournament.
Ball numbers will be finalised on Wednesday morning ahead of the draw. All second round ties will take place during the week commencing August 25.
Sources used: "Leeds Live", "Mirror" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
