Grimsby to face Man Utd in EFL Cup second round

Six-time winners Manchester United will visit League Two Grimsby Town in round two of the 2025-26 Carabao Cup.

United, who have no European competition for the first time in 11 seasons, were the final club drawn – and delivered a plum tie for David Artell’s side.

League Two team Bromley, who provided arguably the shock of the first round when they beat Championship side Ipswich on penalties on Tuesday, have been given a home tie against League One Wycombe.

There are two all-Premier League ties, with Bournemouth hosting Brentford and Wolves hosting West Ham.

Fulham will be at home to Bristol City, Brighton will travel to Oxford United and Burnley will host Derby County.

Meanwhile, Sunderland will entertain the winner of this evening’s first-round game between Huddersfield Town and Leicester City, and Leeds will travel to face the winner of the match between Bolton and Sheffield Wednesday.

Ruben Amorim’s United are one of 11 Premier League clubs introduced into the competition at the second-round stage.

The remaining nine top-flight teams are involved in European competition – Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, holders Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest – and will enter in the third round.

Newcastle beat Liverpool 2-1 in the final of last season’s edition to end a 56-year wait for major silverware.

The EFL Cup remains regionalised in the early rounds, with the draw split into Southern and Northern sections until round three.

The 23 second-round ties will take place during the week beginning 25 August.

The final five scheduled first-round matches take place this evening (Wednesday), with just one other tie outstanding.

Northern section

Accrington Stanley v Doncaster Rovers

Barnsley/Fleetwood Town v Rotherham United

Birmingham City/Sheffield United v Port Vale

Bolton Wanderers/Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United

Burnley v Derby County

Everton v Mansfield Town

Grimsby Town v Manchester United

Preston North End v Wrexham

Stoke City v Bradford City

Sunderland v Huddersfield Town/Leicester City

Tranmere Rovers/Burton Albion v Lincoln City

Wigan Athletic v Stockport County

Southern section

Bournemouth v Brentford

Bromley v Wycombe Wanderers

Cambridge United v Charlton Athletic

Cardiff City v Cheltenham Town/Exeter City

Fulham v Bristol City

Millwall v Coventry City

Norwich City v Southampton

Oxford United v Brighton

Reading v AFC Wimbledon

Swansea City v Plymouth Argyle

Wolves v West Ham United