Why is the EFL Cup being played on a weekend?

What the report says

BBC Sport reports that the 2026-27 EFL Cup first round will be played largely over a weekend, a notable change for a competition usually staged in midweek. Of the 34 ties in the opening round, 33 are scheduled between Friday and Monday, with the round beginning on Thursday, 6 August 2026.

The tournament, also known as the Carabao Cup, traditionally starts after the opening league fixtures in the Championship, League One and League Two. This season, however, the EFL agreed the first round should be moved to the weekend before the league campaign begins, following consultation with clubs. BBC Sport says the adjustment was originally due to begin on Friday, 7 August, but Bristol City’s match against Walsall on Thursday, 6 August, pulled the start forward by a day.

According to the report, one reason for the change is to create more recovery time for players. In past seasons, cup ties could fall between league matches, leaving teams with a dense run of fixtures early in the campaign. The first round will feature only clubs from the Championship, League One and League Two, while Premier League sides enter in the second round.

BBC Sport also notes that weekend scheduling is unusual for this competition: aside from the final at Wembley, the EFL Cup is generally played midweek, and there has not been a full round of weekend fixtures in this century, though a few earlier examples did occur.