Nottingham Forest and Leeds meet again in the League Cup second round just days after their Week 1 Premier League game. The tie is scheduled for 3pm on 26 August 2026, right in the week of 24 August, and it is the standout fixture in a round that also brings Premier League clubs outside Europe into the competition.
Forest and Leeds meet again
The form points to a lively tie. Forest have taken only 2 points from their last 5 matches, while Leeds have 10 from their last 5. Forest also have the better recent head-to-head, winning 2 of the last 3 meetings, although the latest one went Leeds' way 1-0.
That mix gives the rematch a proper edge without needing to dress it up. Forest beat Leeds 3-1 in November 2025 and Leeds won 3-1 in February 2026 before the most recent meeting swung back Leeds' way, so neither side arrives with a clean psychological grip on the other.
The rest of the second round
The second round is also the point where Premier League teams who are not in Europe this season enter the competition. There are 16 second-round fixtures listed, and some of the other eye-catching ties are Newcastle against West Brom at 2:45pm on 26 August and Everton against Luton Town at 2:30pm on 27 August.
The round sits in the week of 24 August 2026, with the League Cup final set for 21 March 2027 at Wembley Stadium. Forest and Leeds are the tie most people will circle first, but the draw has given the competition a fuller look as the top-flight clubs outside Europe join in.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
