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 A
FC Halifax Town
Gateshead
Scunthorpe United
Wealdstone
Derby County
Nottingham Forest
Stoke City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Group B
Aldershot Town
Braintree Town
Hornchurch
Worthing
Fulham
Ipswich Town
Norwich City
West Ham United
Group C
Boreham Wood
Hartlepool United
Solihull Moors
Tamworth
Everton
Leeds United
Middlesbrough
Newcastle United
Group D
Boston United
Sutton United
Truro City
Woking
Birmingham City
Leicester City
Southampton
West 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 August
Match Round 2 – 8/9 September
Match Round 3 – 13/14 October
Match Round 4 – 3/4 November
Quarter Final – 19/20 January
Semi Final – 9/10 February
Final – 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 stage
Solihull Moors 1–2 Everton U21 – 942
Brackley Town 2–0 Blackburn Rovers U21 – 546
Rochdale 2–1 Burnley U21 – 1,452
Rochdale 3–2 Blackburn Rovers U21 – 1,135
Solihull Moors 0–0 (5–4 p) Burnley U21 – 476
Brackley Town 2–1 Manchester United U21 – 2,942
Tamworth 2–1 Everton U21 – 426
Solihull Moors 1–0 Blackburn Rovers U21 – 275
Brackley Town 1–1 (2–4 p) Everton U21 – 928
Tamworth 4–0 Burnley U21 – 362
Rochdale 0–2 Manchester United U21 – 2,960
Rochdale 1–0 Everton U21 – 635
Solihull Moors 4–1 Manchester United U21 – 1,522
Brackley Town 2–1 Burnley U21 – 353
Tamworth 3–0 Blackburn Rovers U21 – 251
Tamworth 3–0 Manchester United U21 – 1,022
Boreham Wood 2–0 Nottingham Forest U21 – 418
Braintree Town 2–0 Leicester City U21 – 291
Wealdstone 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 – 215
Forest Green Rovers 3–1 West Bromwich Albion U21 – 417
Boreham Wood 3–1 West Bromwich Albion U21 – 443
Braintree Town 1–0 Nottingham Forest U21 – 244
Forest Green Rovers 3–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 – 317
Wealdstone 2–1 Leicester City U21 – 226
Braintree Town 2–3 West Bromwich Albion U21 – 169
Forest Green Rovers 2–2 (3–5 p) Leicester City U21 – 340
Wealdstone 0–2 Nottingham Forest U21 – 168
Boreham Wood 4–3 Leicester City U21 – 404
Braintree Town 3–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 – 206
Forest Green Rovers 0–1 Nottingham Forest U21 – 265
Wealdstone 2–0 West Bromwich Albion U21 – 125
Boreham Wood 4–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 – 402
Aldershot Town 1–2 Brighton & Hove Albion U21 – 576
Sutton United 0–7 Fulham U21 – 806
Truro City 3–2 Southampton U21 – 1,909
Woking 0–2 West Ham United U21 – 241
Sutton United 1–2 Brighton & Hove Albion U21 – 437
Truro City 1–0 Fulham U21 – 1,114
Woking 2–1 Southampton U21 – 212
Aldershot Town 3–3 (2–4 p) Southampton U21 – 371
Sutton United 3–3 (3–4 p) West Ham United U21 – 633
Truro City 3–0 Brighton & Hove Albion U21 – 1,297
Woking 2–0 Fulham U21 – 262
Aldershot Town 2–1 Fulham U21 – 505
Truro City 0–3 West Ham United U21 – 2,266
Woking 1–1 (4–2 p) Brighton & Hove Albion U21 – 174
Aldershot Town 1–5 West Ham United U21 – 729
Boston United 2–1 Middlesbrough U21 – 733
Boston United 4–0 Leeds United U21 – 830
Scunthorpe United 2–3 Sunderland U21 – 979
Gateshead 3–4 Newcastle United U21 – 505
FC Halifax Town 2–1 Middlesbrough U21 – 207
Boston United 4–0 Sunderland U21 – 486
Scunthorpe United 1–3 Leeds United U21 – 1,016
Gateshead 0–2 Middlesbrough U21 – 226
Boston United 1–3 Newcastle United U21 – 630
FC Halifax Town 3–0 Leeds United U21 – 524
Gateshead 1–1 (4–3 p) Sunderland U21 – 158
Scunthorpe United 3–2 Middlesbrough U21 – 428
FC Halifax Town 1–1 (3–5 p) Sunderland U21 – 201
Gateshead 0–3 Leeds United U21 – 120
Scunthorpe United 2–0 Newcastle United U21 – 369
FC Halifax Town 0–0 (7–6 p) Newcastle United U21 – 246
25/26 Quarter finals
Boston United 1–2 West Ham United U21 – 688
Boreham Wood 5–2 Brackley Town – 509
Truro City 1–1 (3–0 p) Braintree Town – 1,023
Tamworth 1–0 FC Halifax Town – 476
25/26 Semi finals
Boreham Wood 2–0 Truro City – 678
Tamworth 1–3 West Ham United U21 – 1,341
25/26 Final
Boreham 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.
