Carabao Cup first round TV guide: How to watch every match live this weekend

Domestic football is back – and it's arriving with a bang.

The Carabao Cup first round gets under way this weekend, giving fans their first taste of competitive club action since last season's curtain came down. It signals the start of a bumper period of football, with the EFL season itself set to get under way next weekend.

From Thursday evening through to Sunday, there are dozens of ties to sink your teeth into, with clubs from the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two all entering the fray.

There is plenty of intrigue among the headline fixtures. West Ham make their first competitive appearance since their relegation from the Premier League, hosting Portsmouth at the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon. It promises to be an emotional occasion for Hammers supporters as they adjust to life back in the Championship.

Burnley, who suffered the same fate as West Ham during the 2025/26 campaign, face a testing opener against Notts County, while the third member of last season's relegated trio, Wolves, welcome Port Vale to Molineux on Friday evening.

There is also the mouth-watering prospect of Middlesbrough vs Wrexham on Friday night, a fixture that will be broadcast live on ITV1 as well as Sky Sports.

All other matches across the weekend will be shown live on Sky Sports+, making it easier than ever to follow the action wherever it takes place.

Sky's Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle includes at least 215 live Premier League clashes across the 2026/27 season with more than 1,400 live games across the EFL and beyond, plus F1, golf and darts.

Football fans can enjoy all the opening action and more throughout the new season with Sky TV's Essential TV package with Sky Sports from £35 per month with no upfront fees. The package includes access to Sky Stream, Netflix and Sky Sports, though it is worth noting there is a minimum 24-month term on this deal and prices may change during the term.

With this package, fans can enjoy access to at least 215 live Premier League games and over 1,000 EFL matches – including all the Carabao Cup action – not to mention a dedicated F1 channel and all the major golf tournaments too.

Fans may also want to add TNT Sports to the package for an extra £25 a month – fixed for 24 months – with Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League action all available at the touch of a button. European football gets under way almost immediately, with Aston Villa's UEFA Super Cup tie against PSG on Wednesday, August 12.

TNT Sports will also show select Premier League games on TV and its new streaming home of HBO Max, with the broadcaster typically holding rights to one fixture per gameweek. Hull vs Manchester United is the first to be shown next season. Fans will need a separate TNT Sports subscription to watch its coverage, which costs £30.99 via HBO Max or Prime Video's TNT Sports channel.

There are other packages available too, including the Ultimate TV package from £24 a month, which includes HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, Hayu and 135 live channels. Sky Sports can be added to this for an additional £20 a month, with the same 24-month term conditions applying.

Thursday, August 6

Bristol City vs Millwall - 7:30pm - Sky Sports+

Friday, August 7

Wolves vs Port Vale - 7:45pm - Sky Sports+ Wycombe Wanderers vs Stevenage - 7:45pm - Sky Sports+ Middlesbrough vs Wrexham - 8pm - ITV1 / Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football

Saturday, August 8

Cambridge United vs Barnet - 1pm - Sky Sports+

QPR vs Millwall - 2pm - Sky Sports+

AFC Wimbledon vs Newport County - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Barnsley vs Wigan Athletic - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Bradford City vs Rochdale - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Bristol Rovers vs Peterborough United - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Bromley vs Reading - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Burnley vs Notts County - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Burton Albion vs Blackburn Rovers - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Cardiff City vs Swindon Town - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Crewe Alexandra vs Accrington Stanley - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Derby County vs Lincoln City - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Fleetwood Town vs Chesterfield - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Gillingham vs Luton Town - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Grimsby Town vs Blackpool - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Leicester City vs Northampton Town - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Leyton Orient vs Oxford United - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Norwich City vs MK Dons - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Preston North End vs Huddersfield Town - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Salford City vs Shrewsbury Town - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Sheffield Wednesday vs Bolton Wanderers - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Stoke City vs Oldham Athletic - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Swansea City vs Birmingham City - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Watford vs Crawley Town - 3pm - Sky Sports+

West Ham vs Portsmouth - 3pm - Sky Sports+

Cheltenham Town vs Charlton Athletic - 5:30pm - Sky Sports+

Colchester United vs Southampton - 5:30pm - Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football

Rotherham United vs West Brom - 5:30pm - Sky Sports+

Sunday, August 9