One other alternative would be for a preliminary round to be played between Wrexham and Notts County, the two sides being promoted from the National League into League Two. While the EFL, the competition organisers, have not yet confirmed that plan would repeat, they would need to adapt the competition in the new season if West Ham are to enter at the third-round stage.Ĭity, finishing 18th in the Premier League, and Leeds, the 19th-placed finisher, would be the two sides who lose their bye to the second round and they would enter at the first-round stage, with games to be played the week commencing Monday, August 7. That season, to ensure West Ham could enter the League Cup at the third-round stage but so that the competition maintained its balance, the 18th and 19th-placed Premier League sides from the previous season, Burnley and Hull, both entered in the first round, rather than the second. The last time eight sides were playing in Europe was in the 2015-16 season, with West Ham again the team adding to the usual seven after qualifying for the Europa League through the Fair Play table. That could affect the format of the Carabao Cup. However, if West Ham beat Fiorentina, they will book themselves a place in next season’s Europa League, meaning England will have eight sides represented in European competitions.

READ MORE: Jonny Evans sets out reasons for instant return – but stresses important issue READ MORE: Harvey Barnes 'personally very sorry' for Leicester City relegation and makes Championship claim Then, the seven teams who do have European commitments enter in the third round.

Most seasons, the teams who finish 18th and 19th in the Premier League get a bye to the second round of the Carabao Cup, entering alongside the 13 top-flight sides not playing in Europe.

Leicester City’s early-season schedule could get busier if West Ham win the Europa Conference League on Wednesday night.Ĭity’s new campaign begins with their opening Championship fixture on the weekend of August 5-6, and they could be back in action a few days later if West Ham are victorious in Prague.

Download glory manunited