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Carabao Cup Round 1 Refs Revealed: Who Got the Big Games?
First Round Match Officials Announced for 2026/27 League Cup
What Is This All About? (ELI5 Explanation)
Imagine a big soccer tournament where teams from all over England compete. Before each game, we need referees (the bosses on the field), assistant referees (helpers who watch the sidelines), and a fourth official (someone who helps with substitutions and keeps order on the bench).
This article tells you exactly who will be in charge for every single game in the very first round of the 2026/27 League Cup (also known as the Carabao Cup).
Match Officials by Date
Thursday, 6th August 2026
Bristol City vs Walsall (7:45 PM)
- Referee: Jacob Miles
- Assistant Referees: Declan O’Shea & Ollie Williams
- Fourth Official: Matthew Scholes
Friday, 7th August 2026
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Port Vale (7:45 PM)
- Referee: David Webb
- Assistant Referees: Sam Lewis & Richard Woodward
- Fourth Official: Steven Copeland
Wycombe Wanderers vs Stevenage (7:45 PM)
- Referee: Jamie O’Connor
- Assistant Referees: Marcus Carmichael & Robert Evans
- Fourth Official: Greg Read
Saturday, 8th August 2026 (Busiest Day!)
| Match (Kick-off) | Referee | Assistant Referees | Fourth Official |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Wimbledon vs Newport County (3:00 PM) | Paul Howard | Alex Bradley & Conall Bartlett | Nick Blogg |
| Barnsley vs Wigan Athletic (3:00 PM) | Richard Eley | Paul Newhouse & Wayne Grunnill | William Murray |
| Bradford City vs Rochdale (3:00 PM) | Declan Brown | Mark Dwyer & Graeme Fyvie | Danny Guest |
| Bristol Rovers vs Peterborough United (3:00 PM) | David Rock | James Tewson & Mark Senior | Darren Wilding |
| Bromley vs Reading (3:00 PM) | Craig Hicks | Leigh Crowhurst & Joe Wright | Michael Webb |
| Burnley vs Notts County (3:00 PM) | Thomas Parsons | Matthew Moss & Anthony Moore | Andrew Miller |
| Burton Albion vs Blackburn Rovers (3:00 PM) | Andrew Humphries | Jordan Brooks & Sam Wesson | Richard Aspinall |
| Cambridge United vs Barnet (1:00 PM) | Carl Brook | Kenwyn Hughes & Daniel Smith | Colman O’Meara |
| Cardiff City vs Swindon Town (3:00 PM) | Gavin Ward | Andrew Fox & Nigel Lugg | Dale Baines |
| Cheltenham Town vs Charlton Athletic (5:30 PM) | Alan Dale | Harley McKittrick & Marvyn Amphlett | Niall Smith |
| Colchester United vs Southampton (5:30 PM) | Isaac Searle | Ian Cooper & Christopher Myatt | Emily Heaslip |
| Crewe Alexandra vs Accrington Stanley (3:00 PM) | Ross Martin | Andrew Ellis & Jason Roberts | Scott Chalkley |
| Derby County vs Lincoln City (3:00 PM) | Josh Smith | Conor Brown & Daniel Woodward | William Davis |
| Fleetwood Town vs Chesterfield (3:00 PM) | Martin Coy | Conor Ledgeway & Danny Jarvis | Joe Simpson |
| Gillingham vs Luton Town (3:00 PM) | Stephen Parkinson | Daniel D’Urso & Conor Farrell | David Hutton |
| Grimsby Town vs Blackpool (3:00 PM) | Neil Hair | Aaron Hallam & Bradley Hall | Stephen Wade |
| Leicester City vs Northampton Town (3:00 PM) | Ollie Yates | Grant Taylor & Oliver Bickle | Keiran Forrest |
| Leyton Orient vs Oxford United (3:00 PM) | Alex Chilowicz | Lee Venamore & Carl Fitch-Jackson | Adrian Tranter |
| Middlesbrough vs Wrexham (8:00 PM) | Will Finnie | Shaun Hudson & Darren Williams | Aaron Bannister |
| Norwich City vs Milton Keynes Dons (3:00 PM) | Elliott Swallow | Anthony Da Costa & Karl Sear | Sunny Singh Gill |
| Preston North End vs Huddersfield Town (3:00 PM) | Sebastian Stockbridge | Jake Topp & William Cavanagh | Garreth Rhodes |
| Queens Park Rangers vs Millwall (2:00 PM) | Matthew Donohue | Bhupinder Singh Gill & Ross Murphy | Oliver Langford |
| Rotherham United vs West Bromwich Albion (5:30 PM) | Tom Reeves | Daniel Leach & Johnathon Bickerdike | Andrew Kitchen |
| Salford City vs Shrewsbury Town (3:00 PM) | Oliver Mackey | Oliver Nolan & Mark Ryder | Zharir Mustafa |
| Sheffield Wednesday vs Bolton Wanderers (3:00 PM) | Elliot Bell | Callum Gough & Jacob Graham | James Westgate |
| Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers (3:00 PM) | Leigh Doughty | Simon Robinson & Lewis Raper | Samuel Clayton |
| Stoke City vs Oldham Athletic (3:00 PM) | Edward Duckworth | Ashley Allen & James Wilson | Paul Marsden |
| Swansea City vs Birmingham City (3:00 PM) | Ruebyn Ricardo | Jacob Lehane & Matthew Sowerby | Jacob Miles |
| Watford vs Crawley Town or York City (3:00 PM) | Harry Wager | Marc Wilson & Rob Smith | Alan Young |
| West Ham United vs Portsmouth (3:00 PM) | Adam Herczeg | Alistair Nelson & Hugh Gilroy | Harrison Blair |
Important Note: The Watford match opponent will be decided later (either Crawley Town or York City).
Sunday, 9th August 2026
Mansfield Town vs Sheffield United (4:00 PM)
- Referee: Stephen Martin
- Assistant Referees: Alex James & Hristo Karaivanov
- Fourth Official: Matthew McQuillan
Monday, 10th August 2026
Plymouth Argyle vs Exeter City (8:00 PM)
- Referee: Dean Whitestone
- Assistant Referees: Jack Clench & Richard J. Morris
- Fourth Official: Harley Hetherington
Simple Guide: Who Does What?
| Role | Simple Explanation |
|---|---|
| Referee | The main boss on the pitch. Makes all final decisions (fouls, goals, cards). |
| Assistant Referees | Two helpers running along the sidelines. They flag for offsides, throw-ins, and help the referee see things they miss. |
| Fourth Official | Stands near the benches. Manages substitutions, checks player equipment, and keeps coaches calm. |
Summary
- 35 matches in the First Round of the 2026/27 League Cup have confirmed officials.
- Games run from Thursday 6th August to Monday 10th August 2026.
- Saturday 8th August is the biggest day with 30 matches!
- Every match has a referee, two assistant referees, and a fourth official.
- Notable appointments include David Webb (Wolves vs Port Vale), Ollie Yates (Leicester vs Northampton), and Adam Herczeg (West Ham vs Portsmouth).
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. Why are there so many matches on Saturday?
Most English football matches are traditionally played on Saturdays at 3:00 PM. The League Cup follows this tradition for the early rounds.
2. What happens if a referee gets injured during a game?
The fourth official steps in as the main referee. If needed, one of the assistant referees can move to the fourth official role.
3. Are these referees full-time professionals?
Many are professional referees (like those in the Premier League or EFL), while others are high-level semi-professionals climbing the ladder.
4. Can the same referee work two games in one weekend?
Usually not. Referees need rest and travel time. The list shows different referees for every match.
5. Where can I find updates if officials change?
Check the official EFL website or the Vital Football forums linked in the original article for last-minute changes.
Article based on official appointments released for the 2026/27 League Cup First Round. All match times are UK local time.
