Carabao Cup first round opens 2026-27 English football season on 8 August

The 2026-27 English football season began on 8 August 2026 — not with a league fixture but with the Carabao Cup first round. Ties played across the country a week before the Football League campaign starts. West Ham hosted Portsmouth at the London Stadium; Wolves beat Port Vale 3-0; Stevenage won 2-1 at Wycombe.