The 2025/26 National League Cup group stage draw and Premier League 2 sides have been revealed, amid backlash from fans on social media.
The competition between 16 National League clubs and 16 Premier League 2 U21 teams, returns for a third season, despite ongoing issues including low attendance, boycotts, and controversy.
Several clubs are again opting out, with statements confirming their decisions as the new season’s fixtures are released. More on that further in the article…
Line-up locked in for 2026/27 🔒
Who wins the National League Cup this season?
— Enterprise National League (@NL_Enterprise) August 5, 2026
The following teams have entered the competition for the new season:
Group AFC Halifax TownGatesheadScunthorpe UnitedWealdstoneDerby CountyNottingham ForestStoke CityWolverhampton Wanderers
Group BAldershot TownBraintree TownHornchurchWorthingFulhamIpswich TownNorwich CityWest Ham United
Group CBoreham WoodHartlepool UnitedSolihull MoorsTamworthEvertonLeeds UnitedMiddlesbroughNewcastle United
Group DBoston UnitedSutton UnitedTruro CityWokingBirmingham CityLeicester CitySouthamptonWest Bromwich Albion
NATIONAL LEAGUE STATEMENT:
The National League Cup returns this season with things getting underway in around two weeks.
In its third season, the competition offers an opportunity for National League clubs to play regular matches against the best U21 teams in England while also giving young players from Premier League and EFL clubs additional opportunities to test themselves against senior opposition, with the aim of further aiding elite player development.
Boreham Wood won last season’s competition – becoming the first National League side to do so after seeing off West Ham United on penalties after Aaron Henry’s last-gasp equaliser forced the shootout at the Mangata Developments Stadium.
Here is everything you need to know about the National League Cup for the 2026/27 season.
What format will the National League Cup take?
Same as last season, the National League Cup remains a 32-team midweek competition, comprising of sixteen teams participating in PL2, and sixteen teams from clubs participating in the National League.
The competition will consist of a group stage (four groups of eight), with the two best-placed teams in each group advancing to a knock-out stage to determine the winner.
Where will games be played?
Same as the last two seasons, all National League Cup fixtures will be played at the home ground of the National League club involved in the fixture. National League clubs will retain all the gate receipts from these fixtures.
When will games be played?
Match Round 1 – 18/19 AugustMatch Round 2 – 8/9 SeptemberMatch Round 3 – 13/14 OctoberMatch Round 4 – 3/4 NovemberQuarter Final – 19/20 JanuarySemi Final – 9/10 FebruaryFinal – 16/17 March
Lee Clark explains Hartlepool’s decision to compete in National League Cup as more clubs decline invite
Growing list of clubs turn down invitation to play in the 2026/27 National League Cup
Here’s a look at all the attendances from the National League Cup groups stage and knockouts for the 2025/26 season…
25/26 Group stageSolihull Moors 1–2 Everton U21 – 942Brackley Town 2–0 Blackburn Rovers U21 – 546Rochdale 2–1 Burnley U21 – 1,452Rochdale 3–2 Blackburn Rovers U21 – 1,135Solihull Moors 0–0 (5–4 p) Burnley U21 – 476Brackley Town 2–1 Manchester United U21 – 2,942Tamworth 2–1 Everton U21 – 426Solihull Moors 1–0 Blackburn Rovers U21 – 275Brackley Town 1–1 (2–4 p) Everton U21 – 928Tamworth 4–0 Burnley U21 – 362Rochdale 0–2 Manchester United U21 – 2,960Rochdale 1–0 Everton U21 – 635Solihull Moors 4–1 Manchester United U21 – 1,522Brackley Town 2–1 Burnley U21 – 353Tamworth 3–0 Blackburn Rovers U21 – 251Tamworth 3–0 Manchester United U21 – 1,022Boreham Wood 2–0 Nottingham Forest U21 – 418Braintree Town 2–0 Leicester City U21 – 291Wealdstone 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 – 215Forest Green Rovers 3–1 West Bromwich Albion U21 – 417Boreham Wood 3–1 West Bromwich Albion U21 – 443Braintree Town 1–0 Nottingham Forest U21 – 244Forest Green Rovers 3–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 – 317Wealdstone 2–1 Leicester City U21 – 226Braintree Town 2–3 West Bromwich Albion U21 – 169Forest Green Rovers 2–2 (3–5 p) Leicester City U21 – 340Wealdstone 0–2 Nottingham Forest U21 – 168Boreham Wood 4–3 Leicester City U21 – 404Braintree Town 3–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 – 206Forest Green Rovers 0–1 Nottingham Forest U21 – 265Wealdstone 2–0 West Bromwich Albion U21 – 125Boreham Wood 4–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 – 402Aldershot Town 1–2 Brighton & Hove Albion U21 – 576Sutton United 0–7 Fulham U21 – 806Truro City 3–2 Southampton U21 – 1,909Woking 0–2 West Ham United U21 – 241Sutton United 1–2 Brighton & Hove Albion U21 – 437Truro City 1–0 Fulham U21 – 1,114Woking 2–1 Southampton U21 – 212Aldershot Town 3–3 (2–4 p) Southampton U21 – 371Sutton United 3–3 (3–4 p) West Ham United U21 – 633Truro City 3–0 Brighton & Hove Albion U21 – 1,297Woking 2–0 Fulham U21 – 262Aldershot Town 2–1 Fulham U21 – 505Truro City 0–3 West Ham United U21 – 2,266Woking 1–1 (4–2 p) Brighton & Hove Albion U21 – 174Aldershot Town 1–5 West Ham United U21 – 729Boston United 2–1 Middlesbrough U21 – 733Boston United 4–0 Leeds United U21 – 830Scunthorpe United 2–3 Sunderland U21 – 979Gateshead 3–4 Newcastle United U21 – 505FC Halifax Town 2–1 Middlesbrough U21 – 207Boston United 4–0 Sunderland U21 – 486Scunthorpe United 1–3 Leeds United U21 – 1,016Gateshead 0–2 Middlesbrough U21 – 226Boston United 1–3 Newcastle United U21 – 630FC Halifax Town 3–0 Leeds United U21 – 524Gateshead 1–1 (4–3 p) Sunderland U21 – 158Scunthorpe United 3–2 Middlesbrough U21 – 428FC Halifax Town 1–1 (3–5 p) Sunderland U21 – 201Gateshead 0–3 Leeds United U21 – 120Scunthorpe United 2–0 Newcastle United U21 – 369FC Halifax Town 0–0 (7–6 p) Newcastle United U21 – 246
25/26 Quarter finalsBoston United 1–2 West Ham United U21 – 688Boreham Wood 5–2 Brackley Town – 509Truro City 1–1 (3–0 p) Braintree Town – 1,023Tamworth 1–0 FC Halifax Town – 476
25/26 Semi finalsBoreham Wood 2–0 Truro City – 678Tamworth 1–3 West Ham United U21 – 1,341
25/26 FinalBoreham Wood 2–2 West Ham United U21 – 2,803
There was a total attendance of 47,812 for the 2025/26 National League Cup, and reportedly just 673 per match.
