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 second season, despite ongoing issues including low attendance, boycotts, and controversy.
Leeds United won the inaugural final against Sutton United, winning 2-1 in front of 3,062 fans at Gander Green Lane.
The first group games for that season started in October 2024, with official details first emerging about the tournament confirmed on the 18th September
Several clubs are again opting out, with statements confirming their decisions as the new season’s fixtures are released.
👥 Confirmed groups
🗓️ Fixture schedule
💰 Prize money
🔁 How our clubs are benefitingThe National League Cup is BACK! 🏆
Here’s all you need to know 👇
— Enterprise National League (@NL_Enterprise) July 15, 2025
NATIONAL LEAGUE STATEMENT:
The National League Cup returns this season with games getting underway in little over a month.
In its second 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.
Leeds United won last season’s competition – narrowly beating Sutton United in front of 3,062 fans at the VBS Community Stadium.
Here is everything you need to know about the National League Cup.
What format will the National League Cup take?
The National League Cup is 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.
Which teams are competing for the 2025/2026 season? The following teams have entered the competition for the new season:
Group A
Blackburn Rovers
Burnley
Everton
Manchester United
Morecambe
Rochdale
Solihull Moors
Tamworth
Group B
Leicester City
Nottingham Forest
West Bromwich Albion
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Braintree Town
Brackley Town
Forest Green Rovers
Wealdstone
Group C
Brighton & Hove Albion
Fulham
Southampton
West Ham United
Aldershot Town
Sutton United
Truro City
Woking
Group D
Leeds United
Middlesbrough
Newcastle United
Sunderland
Boston United
FC Halifax Town
Gateshead
Scunthorpe United
Where will games be played?
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 – 12/13 August
Match Round 2 – 16/17 September
Match Round 3 – 21/22 October
Match Round 4 – 25/26 November
Quarter Final – 27/28 January
Semi Final – 17/18 February
Final – 17/18 March
What were National League Cup attendances like last season?
The cumulative attendance across the 71 Competition fixtures was 40,972, with a highest attendance of 3,681 (Rochdale v Manchester United). The lowest was 91 at Woking v Derby County).
There was an average attendance of 577 per game across the entirety of the competition, an average attendance of 507 during the group stages and an average attendance of 1,215 during the knockout stages including 3,062 at the Final.
A little look at last season’s National League Cup 🏆🎆 pic.twitter.com/d7At6aWJVY
— Enterprise National League (@NL_Enterprise) July 15, 2025
What prize money is on offer from the National League Cup?
There is a prize pot of £1m that only participating National division clubs benefit from. National League North and South clubs also financially benefit from this prize pot. PL2 clubs do not receive any prize money or participation fee for playing in the National League Cup.
Have National League clubs benefitted from their relationship with Premier League clubs?
The number of player loans from Premier League clubs to the National League and below are at their highest number in over ten seasons (76), with 57 of these loans going to the National League, National League North or National League South.
The number of loans solely between Premier League and National League (Step 1) clubs saw a slight increase. This growth was concentrated on the January transfer window – after the National League Cup group stages had taken place.
Success stories include Ben Crompton who joined Tamworth after playing against them in the National League Cup with Sunderland. He went on to be a key part in a top-half finish for the Lambs on their first season back in the National League and played an integral part to their run to the FA Cup Third Round which included giant killings against League One pair Huddersfield Town and Burton Albion.
Luca Thomas signed for FC Halifax Town from Leeds United in January. He scored three goals in 20 appearances for the Shaymen on their way to booking a play-off place. After scoring on his debut, Thomas bagged arguably the goal of the season when he scored from deep inside his own half against Wealdstone.
Growing list of clubs turn down invitation to play in the 2025/26 National League Cup
Seven National League clubs officially confirmed they turned down a place in the National League Cup this season:
York City, Altrincham, Southend United, Hartlepool United, Eastleigh, Carlisle United & Yeovil Town
— Thomas Feaheny (@ThomasFeaheny) July 15, 2025
Every attendance of the 2024/25 National League Cup with it ‘set to continue’ despite low turnout
This is how fans responded as the 2025/26 National League Cup group stage draw and Premier League 2 sides was revealed…
@Andrew_Shrimper: Nobody cares, lads.
@HenryFCHT: Same group as last year, how fun! Got rid of FA cup replays for Middlesbrough kids on a Tuesday night infront of 50 fans.
@HollingdrakeTom: @FCHTOnline shame on you
@tomventro03: got enough teams this year?
@RyanSufc: Just accept that we don’t want this competition and bin it 👎
@CallumScreen: I think I could play in this competition this is how irrelevant it is.
@Leef96: Glad we decided not to partake in that tin pot trophy
@lammymps: Bore off! Biggest waste of time ever! Get the bloody thing binned for Christ sake
@JSWC1995: Shove your shit tournament up your arse.
@FyldeJord: Trying to justify it by only admitting attendances of 550. Get rid lads
@1889_bedders: What a stupid competition this is 🤣🤣
@Owenfgrfan: Get this tinpot trophy away from our ground please and thank-you. I will not be attending
@daggercraig82: Here’s all you need to know. The @fa and co have caved in to the bully’s from the premier league into scrapping fa cup replays but we’ll make up a bullshit comp to try make up for it. Sorted it
@Ben_Benneyworth: Why are we still competing in this? How on earth does this benefit us? Why does this “thing” still even exist? Any ideas? @wokingfc
@AllThingsTCFC: Win this, get a million pounds, thanks for coming
@andrew_jw89: You’ll get the usual squawking but I’m glad this competition is back. Thoroughly enjoyed it last year with every game in the Group Stages being live-streamed as it was a great opportunity to learn about players. Same arrangement needed this year! 🤞
@Ben_YCFCsankey: Shame especially on FRG and Scunthorpe as they don’t need the money from this at all, can’t wait to see Leeds U21 do the double 👍🏻😂
@ChipsyYCFC: Average attendance of under 600 a game last season was it? Absolutely delighted #ycfc are refusing to get involved in this nonsense
@MessyRAFC: What are we doing ffs… if we don’t go up this season serious questions need to be asked why we feel the need to enter this crap. #RAFC
@Jackalbion96: I might have to be a scab and do the Truro city trip sadly
@RochdaleFan: Can see the clubs reasoning for joining the National League Cup for financial benefits and the hope of attracting new fans, but can’t say I am exactly thrilled about the competition. It’s meaningless games, where our sole focus should be on the league. #RAFC
