Premier League teams enter the Carabao Cup at two different stages, depending on whether they’re in European competition or not.

What round do Premier League teams enter the Carabao Cup?

  • Premier League clubs NOT in Europe
    These 11 clubs enter in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
  • Premier League clubs IN European competition
    The clubs that have qualified for UEFA competitions (Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League) get a bye and enter in the third round.

So if you’re just looking for a quick rule of thumb for “what round do Premier League teams enter the Carabao Cup,” the answer is:

  • Most Premier League sides: second round
  • The top Premier League sides in Europe: third round

Note: For 2025–26, there’s also a new preliminary round affecting only a few lower-league clubs, but it doesn’t change when Premier League teams join (still round 2 or round 3 as above).

Mini FAQ

Does any Premier League team start in the first round?
No. The first round is for EFL clubs (Championship, League One, League Two), plus the preliminary winners, not for Premier League sides.

Has it always been like this?
The basic pattern has been consistent for many years: Premier League clubs in Europe join in round three, while the rest join in round two. The 2025–26 tweak mainly added a preliminary round below them.

TL;DR: Premier League teams enter the Carabao Cup in round 2 if they’re not in Europe , and round 3 if they are.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.