EFL club Preston North End announce the decision to play their Carabao Cup first round tie against Huddersfield Town at Goodison Park.
Preston say they applied to the EFL for permission to play at an alternative venue because of their new hybrid pitch being installed at Deepdale.
It will be the first time since the 2024/25 season that the famous stadium will play host to Carabao Cup football, Everton lost 6-5 on penalties to Southampton after a 1-1 draw in the Third Round on the 17th of September.
Goodison, now with a reduced capacity of 39,500, is currently used by Everton Women, with an average attendance of 4,854, after Everton’s senior mens team relocated to the Hill Dickinson Stadium in 2025.
Preston North End’s EFL Cup first round home tie against Huddersfield Town will be played at Goodison Park.
North End applied to the EFL for permission to play at an alternative venue due to the installation of the new hybrid pitch at Deepdale.#pnefc I #bbcfootball I #bbcsport pic.twitter.com/dNCVFR0LZe— BBC Sport Lancashire (@BBCLancsSport) July 7, 2026
Preston said in a statement:
Goodison Park To Host Carabao Cup First Round Tie.
Preston North End have agreed a deal with Everton to host the club’s first round Carabao Cup tie against Huddersfield Town.
The tie will be played at 3pm on Saturday 8th August at Goodison Park, the home of Everton Women, formerly the home of the Toffees men’s first team up until their move ahead of the 25/26 season.
The Lilywhites applied to the EFL for permission to play at the alternative venue due to the installation of the new hybrid pitch at Deepdale.
The pitch will be complete in time for the club’s first home league game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday 22nd August, but to ensure no issues after a significant £1.5m-plus investment, the decision was made to ask permission to play away from PR1 in round one.
Full details of the ticketing arrangements for both clubs will be shared in the coming days.
Huddersfield Town said in their statement that they “will travel to Goodison Park in Liverpool for our Carabao Cup Round One tie with Preston North End on Saturday 8 August, with Deepdale deemed unavailable due to ongoing pitch renovations.
“Preston North End successfully applied to the EFL for permission to play at the alternative venue due to the ongoing installation of a new hybrid pitch at Deepdale, which will not be complete in time for this tie. In subsequent discussions with the EFL, the Club did request for the tie to be reverted to our home at the Accu Stadium, which was denied.
“Travelling to the former home of Everton’s Men’s First Team and current home of their Women’s and Academy sides, Town will now face Preston North End at Goodison Park on Saturday 8 August 2026, with kick-off set for 3pm. Our first competitive fixture of the upcoming 2026/27 season, it will mark our first return to the Grand Old Lady since 1 September 2018, with Philip Billing scoring in a 1-1 draw with Everton in the Premier League.
“One of the most storied venues in English football, Goodison Park served as the home for Everton Football Club from 1892 to 2025, when their Men’s First Team departed for the newly opened Hill Dickinson Stadium. Now the dedicated home of Everton Women and their academy, the stadium currently operates with a reduced capacity following changes made last season.
“Full attendance, ticket and travel information will be shared with supporters in due course once confirmed by Preston North End.”
ℹ️Our Carabao Cup Round One tie with Preston North End has been relocated due to ongoing pitch renovations at Deepdale.
We’ll now travel to Goodison Park in Liverpool on Saturday 8 August, with the clash set to kick-off at 3pm.
Full information⬇️#htafc
— Huddersfield Town (@htafc) July 7, 2026
Here’s how fans reacted as the EFL club announce decision to play their Carabao Cup first round tie at Goodison Park…
@kylefleminggg: Well better than reversing it to Huddersfield 🤣
@KeatonFisher19: Day sesh round Liverpool for a Preston home game We will be there 😍 #pnefc
@MichaelFM92: Love that this could be the final men’s professional game at Goodison Park 😅
@Darnz98: Let’s sell it out! 😄
@HTFC_Declan: Wow, another stadium to check off, much better
@craig231084: worst ground ever been to still have nightmares are going there as you miss half of game
@HJJ92_: Could’ve let them use Hill Dickinson as we’re in Germany
@puffpuff65: Wow very strange that
@jaingham123 : This could genuinely be the best day in fucking ages following North End. Cup tie now at Goodison Park – get to see the ground I didn’t think I’d get chance to go to AND Devine looking like he’s coming home. WHAT A TUESDAY! #pnefc
@joshuanuttman1: That is absolutely unreal 😍
@FUTDeKo: Preston will turn up to Goodison, see about half a stand left in tact and regret their choice lol
@TCowey26: fuck me that is incredible
@PNEPlug: Hahaha nice but what the fuck
@htafcwfw: Announce the allocation
@DeonHayden12: You what
@geoc1878: 3pm kick off on a Saturday Goodison Park in the sun 🍻
@Reaneeyy: Going to be a hell of a quiz question
@PrestonTerrier: Let’s face it, neither club is going to sell out an allocation at Goodison Park. Would make a great day out if #pnefc provide the opportunity for both clubs to take as many fans as possible 🤞 #htafc
