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# Carabao Cup first round draw: When is it and what is Derby County's ball number?

- **Source:** 
- **Published:** 24 Jun
- **Club:** Derby County
- **Original URL:** https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/carabao-cup-first-round-draw-11028219

Derby County's opening competitive fixture of the campaign will be determined at 4.30pm tomorrow when the EFL announces draw details for the Carabao Cup first round.

Championship fixtures for 2026/27 will be revealed at 12pm tomorrow but, breaking with tradition, the season opener will be a cup clash. First round Carabao Cup matches will take place over the weekend of August 7-9, with the league kicking off a week afterwards.

This alteration has shaped how clubs throughout the division have structured their pre-season programmes, with several treating the cup tie almost as a final preparation match.

The draw will be conducted by Kevin Nolan and Luke Chambers, with fixtures regionalised at this stage - and Premier League sides will not feature. A preliminary round draw, reducing the 72 EFL clubs to 70, has already been completed: York City will host Crawley Town while Tranmere Rovers are at home to Rochdale.

The EFL clarified: "The preliminary round was required due to the participation of nine Premier League clubs in European competition next season. This was confirmed following Crystal Palace's victory in the UEFA Europa Conference League final. With the Premier League teams competing in Europe entering the Carabao Cup at round three, a preliminary round is required to ensure that a total of 32 teams are in the pot at that stage – the nine clubs in European competition, and 23 winners from round two."

Derby have been assigned number 11 amongst the 34 sides in the northern section. Unfortunately for York, who earned promotion to League Two, they'll feature in the southern section due to their involvement in the preliminary round.

Additional numbers worth noting are Notts County, who are number 19 and Lincoln City who are 16. Stoke City are 29.