2025–26 National League Cup
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Teams | 32 |
The 2025–26 National League Cup, is the 27th season in the history of the competition, and the second since its revival in 2025–26. It is a knock-out tournament between clubs in the National League, the fifth tier of the English football league system, and 16 professional under-21 teams playing in Premier League 2.[1]
A prize fund of £1 million is distributed to non-league clubs in the fifth and sixth tiers, with the intention to provide younger players from the PL2 with senior experience. The relaunch of the competition has otherwise been controversial, with criticism and negativity from non-league clubs and their supporters.[2][3]
Participating clubs
- 16 invited clubs from the National League.
- 16 invited Premier League 2 under-21 teams.
| National League | Premier League 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Clubs | ||
| Total | 16 | 16 |
Competition format
- League phase[3]
- Four groups of eight teams.
- All groups will include four National League sides and four academy sides.
- All National League clubs will play each academy side once, and all academy sides will play each National League side once (academy sides will play all group matches away from home).
- Clubs will be awarded three points for a win and one point for a draw. Drawn matches will end in a penalty shoot-out with an extra point for the winners.
- The top two teams in each group will progress to the knockout stage.
- Knockout stage[3]
- In Round 2, the group winners will be seeded and the group runners-up will be unseeded in the draw.
- In Round 2, teams who played in the same group as each other in the group stage will be kept apart.
Broadcasting
The National League announced all fixtures would be streamed live and free on the National League YouTube channel.[8]
League Phase
The group stage draw was made on 14 July 2025.[1][3]
Group A
| Pos | Div | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NL | Brackley Town | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | ACA | Everton U21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 | |
| 3 | NL | Rochdale | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 | |
| 4 | ACA | Manchester United U21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | NL | Tamworth | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | ACA | Burnley U21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0 | |
| 7 | NL | Solihull Moors | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0 | |
| 8 | ACA | Blackburn Rovers U21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 13 August 2025. Source: Premier League
| 12 August 2025 | Solihull Moors | 1–2 | Everton U21 | Solihull |
| 19:00 BST (UTC+1) |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Damson Park Referee: Richard Eley |
| 12 August 2025 | Brackley Town | 2–0 | Blackburn Rovers U21 | Brackley |
| 19:45 BST (UTC+1) |
|
Report | Stadium: St. James Park Attendance: 546 Referee: Matthew Scholes |
| 13 August 2025 | Rochdale | 2–1 | Burnley U21 | Rochdale |
| 13:00 BST (UTC+1) | Report |
|
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1,452 Referee: Aaron Jackson |
Group B
| Pos | Div | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NL | Forest Green Rovers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 3 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | NL | Boreham Wood | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 | |
| 3 | NL | Braintree Town | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 | |
| 4 | NL | Wealdstone | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 | |
| 5 | ACA | Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0 | |
| 6 | ACA | West Bromwich Albion U21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 0 | |
| 7 | ACA | Leicester City U21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 | |
| 8 | ACA | Nottingham Forest U21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 13 August 2025. Source: Premier League
| 12 August 2025 | Boreham Wood | 2–0 | Nottingham Forest U21 | Borehamwood |
| 19:00 BST (UTC+1) | Report | Stadium: Meadow Park Referee: Harrison Blair |
| 12 August 2025 | Braintree Town | 2–0 | Leicester City U21 | Braintree |
| 19:00 BST (UTC+1) | Report | Stadium: Cressing Road Attendance: 291 Referee: George Laflin |
| 12 August 2025 | Wealdstone | 2–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 | Ruislip |
| 19:00 BST (UTC+1) |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Grosvenor Vale Attendance: 215 Referee: Aji Ajibola |
| 13 August 2025 | Forest Green Rovers | 3–1 | West Bromwich Albion U21 | Nailsworth |
| 19:00 BST (UTC+1) | Report |
|
Stadium: The New Lawn Attendance: 417 Referee: Lewis Sandoe |
Group C
| Pos | Div | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ACA | Fulham U21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 3 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | ACA | West Ham United U21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 | |
| 3 | NL | Truro City | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 3 | |
| 4 | ACA | Brighton & Hove Albion U21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 | |
| 5 | ACA | Southampton U21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 0 | |
| 6 | NL | Aldershot Town | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0 | |
| 7 | NL | Woking | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 | |
| 8 | NL | Sutton United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | −7 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 13 August 2025. Source: Premier League
| 12 August 2025 | Aldershot Town | 1–2 | Brighton & Hove Albion U21 | Aldershot |
| 19:00 BST (UTC+1) |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: The Recreation Ground Attendance: 576 Referee: Harry Wager |
| 12 August 2025 | Sutton United | 0–7 | Fulham U21 | Sutton |
| 19:00 BST (UTC+1) | Report |
|
Stadium: Gander Green Lane Attendance: 806 Referee: Kirsty Dowle |
| 13 August 2025 | Truro City | 3–2 | Southampton U21 | Truro |
| 19:00 BST (UTC+1) |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Truro City Stadium Referee: Elliott Swallow |
| 13 August 2025 | Woking | 0–2 | West Ham United U21 | Woking |
| 19:00 BST (UTC+1) | Report | Stadium: Kingfield Stadium Attendance: 241 Referee: Aaron Farmer |
Group D
| Pos | Div | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NL | Boston United | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 6 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | ACA | Newcastle United U21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 3 | |
| 3 | ACA | Sunderland U21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 3 | |
| 4 | NL | FC Halifax Town | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | NL | Gateshead | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 0 | |
| 6 | NL | Scunthorpe United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 0 | |
| 7 | ACA | Middlesbrough U21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0 | |
| 8 | ACA | Leeds United U21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 13 August 2025. Source: Premier League
| 9 August 2025 | Boston United | 2–1 | Middlesbrough U21 | Boston |
| 13:00 BST (UTC+1) |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Boston Community Stadium Attendance: 733 Referee: Matthew McQuillan |
| 12 August 2025 | Boston United | 4–0 | Leeds United U21 | Boston |
| 19:00 BST (UTC+1) |
|
Report | Stadium: Boston Community Stadium Attendance: 830 Referee: Alan Dale |
| 12 August 2025 | Scunthorpe United | 2–3 | Sunderland U21 | Scunthorpe |
| 19:00 BST (UTC+1) |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Glanford Park Attendance: 979 Referee: Gareth Thomas |
| 13 August 2025 | Gateshead | 3–4 | Newcastle United U21 | Gateshead |
| 19:30 BST (UTC+1) |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Gateshead International Stadium Referee: Richard Aspinall |
Notes
- ^ Morecambe were originally allocated to Group A[1][3] On 30 July, Morecambe were replaced due to being suspended from the National League due to financial reasons.[4] The National League announced Boreham Wood would join Group B, while Brackley Town were moved to Group A in Morecambe's place.[5][6][7]
References
- ^ a b c "Draw made for 2025/26 National League Cup group stages". premierleague.com. Premier League. 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ McLaughlin, Luke (2024-11-14). "National League Cup: a 'sweetener' for scrapping Cup replays or cash lifeline?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- ^ a b c d e "National League Cup 2025/26: All You Need To Know". thenationalleague.org.uk. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ "National League Statement: Morecambe FC". thenationalleague.org.uk. National League. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ "Wood Join National League Cup As Brackley Move Groups". thenationalleague.org.uk. National League. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ "Wood enter 2025/26 National League Cup!". borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk. Boreham Wood F.C. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ "Brackley Town now in Group A of the National League Cup". brackleytownfc.com. Brackley Town F.C. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ "How To Watch The National League Cup This Week". thenationalleague.org.uk. National League. 13 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.