Newcastle United have learned their first opponents in the 2025-26 Carabao Cup campaign.
The Carabao Cup is already two rounds old and there have already been plenty of upsets as some big Premier League names have crashed out of the competition.
Manchester United were deservedly beaten by Grimsby Town on Wednesday after Leeds United were knocked out by struggling Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland by League One’s Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City lost to Port Vale on Tuesday.
Newcastle United are the holders of the trophy after defeating Liverpool in last season’s final in remarkable fashion at Wembley.
Eddie Howe brought an end to Newcastle’s long wait for a trophy thanks to goals from Dan Burn and the wantaway Alexander Isak in the 2-1 triumph.
The cup competition could be an unwanted burden this season as Newcastle return to Champions League competition but everyone will no doubt be eager to win silverware again.
Newcastle, who are only entering the competition at the third round due to their participation in Europe, aren’t used to defending trophies but now know who they will get their defence underway against after the draw was held on Wednesday evening.
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Newcastle United learn Carabao Cup third round opponents
Newcastle United will play Bradford City in the third round of the Carabao Cup, their first game in the 2025-26 edition of the tournament.
The Magpies will welcome the high-flying League One side to St. James’ Park.
Due to the expanded nature of the Champions League since 2024, the third round of the Carabao Cup is now spread over two weeks.
The first set of ties will be played on the week commencing September 15, with the remaining games being played the following week from September 22.
As their opening Champions League game (the opponents in which Newcastle will discover in Thursday’s draw) will be played between September 16-18, their League Cup tie will be played in the second week of fixtures.
Full Carabao Cup third round draw
With Grimsby’s historic victory over Man U going to an 18-minute-long penalty shoot-out, the draw finally got underway late on Wednesday night.
Here is the full list of ties:
- Port Vale vs Arsenal
- Swansea City vs Nottingham Forest
- Lincoln City vs Chelsea
- Tottenham Hotspur vs Doncaster Rovers
- Brentford vs Aston Villa
- Huddersfield Town vs Manchester City
- Liverpool vs Southampton
- Newcastle United vs Bradford City
- Sheffield Wednesday vs Grimsby Town
- Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Everton
- Crystal Palace vs Millwall
- Burnley vs Cardiff City
- Wrexham vs Reading
- Wigan Athletic vs Wycombe Wanderers
- Barnsley vs Brighton
- Fulham vs Cambridge United
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