Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle learn Carabao Cup opponents as Tom Brady’s Birmingham host Premier League side

Aug 10, 2026 - 21:00
Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle learn Carabao Cup opponents as Tom Brady’s Birmingham host Premier League side

Chelsea and Tottenham just about managed to avoid each other in the Carabao Cup second round draw.

Spurs take on Charlton in a London derby which will be the first competitive meeting between the two clubs since 2011.

The Carabao Cup trophy on display before the 2026 final
The draw for the Carabao Cup second round has been made
Getty

Right before that fixture was drawn, Chelsea were given a showdown at home to League One Luton Town, who are managed by ex-Arsenal star Jack Wilshere.

The match will represent Xabi Alonso’s first Carabao Cup tie as manager.

It follows his appointment as the club’s new boss earlier this summer.

Meanwhile, 2025 winners Newcastle United host West Brom for a place in the third round.

Birmingham City, part owned by NFL legend Tom Brady, have been handed a Premier League opponent, with the Championship club drawn at home to Brentford.

Blues are two-time winners of the competition, last doing so in 2011.

Their opponents Brentford, meanwhile, have lost to the eventual champions in each of the last two seasons.

The draw for the second round of this season’s competition was held on Monday night.

It was conducted ahead of the final opening round tie between Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City at Home Park.

The winner of that match will host Coventry City in the next round.

Roberto De Zerbi gives instructions during a Tottenham Hotspur training session
De Zerbi’s Spurs narrowly avoided a tie against Chelsea and instead face Charlton
AFP

Carabao Cup details

All 35 first round winners will be joined by the 11 Premier League clubs not playing in Europe.

Those sides in continental action this term will enter in the third round.

As with the first round, the second round is once again split into Northern and Southern sections.

Ties will be played the week commencing August 24, with matches going straight to penalties if they finish level after 90 minutes.

They follow a frantic weekend of first round action across the Football League.

Championship, League One and League Two sides were joined by the two winners from the preliminary round.

Xavi Alonso looks on before Chelsea's match against AC Milan
Alonso will take on Luton in his first Carabao Cup match as Chelsea boss
Getty

Carabao Cup second round draw in full

Matches to be played w/c August 24

Northern section:

  • Stoke vs Hull
  • Newcastle vs West Brom
  • Blackburn vs Sheffield United
  • Nottingham Forest vs Leeds
  • Doncaster vs Middlesbrough
  • Barnsley vs Crewe
  • Preston vs Everton
  • Blackpool vs Lincoln
  • Sheffield Wednesday vs Wolves
  • Bradford vs Burnley
  • Fleetwood vs Shrewsbury

Southern section:

  • Walsall vs Leyton Orient
  • Ipswich vs Leicester
  • Cardiff vs Norwich
  • Stevenage vs Reading
  • Cambridge vs Millwall
  • Birmingham vs Brentford
  • Southampton vs West Ham
  • Watford vs Peterborough
  • Fulham vs AFC Wimbledon
  • Plymouth/Exeter vs Coventry
  • Chelsea vs Luton
  • Tottenham vs Charlton

Several matches even featured hydration breaks in a controversial decision to many fans.

Another new rule introduced this season will see substitutes wait to come onto the pitch if the player they are replacing takes too long to leave the field.

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