Tottenham Hotspur will host Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup second round during the week of August 24. After finishing outside European competition last season, Spurs enter the League Cup early against a second-division opponent at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, marking their first meeting since 2011.
The Carabao Cup Round 2 Draw and Regional Split
The Carabao Cup second-round draw brought together the winners of the first-round ties alongside the 11 Premier League clubs not involved in European competition this season. Like the opening phase of the tournament, the draw was regionalised and split into Southern and Northern section ties.
This regional formatting ensured that capital-representing clubs such as Brentford, Fulham, Charlton, Leyton Orient, Millwall, West Ham, and AFC Wimbledon avoided long midweek journeys to northern grounds. Instead, the regional split significantly increased the probability of local fixtures and London derbies.
Tottenham’s Path to Charlton Athletic
For Tottenham, missing out on European qualification last term translates to a direct entry into the second round of the League Cup. The draw handed Spurs a home fixture against Charlton Athletic at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Charlton finished 19th out of 24 teams in the table last season. Their attacking output proved limited, with midfielder Sonny Carey leading the team as their top scorer with just eight goals across the campaign. While teams naturally hope to steer clear of Premier League and Championship opposition in the early rounds, drawing a low-finishing second-division side at home represents a favorable pairing that allows Spurs to avoid tricky away trips to smaller, hostile grounds.
The fixture marks the first time Tottenham has played Charlton since a 3-0 win for Spurs in the FA Cup back in 2011.
Capital Clashes and Premier League Entry
While Tottenham secured a home tie against second-tier opposition, other Premier League sides entering the hat faced varying fortunes across the Southern and Northern sections. Chelsea received a home match against Luton Town, managed by Jack Wilshere, at Stamford Bridge. Fulham drew League One outfit AFC Wimbledon to Craven Cottage, and Brentford face a trip to Birmingham City at St Andrew’s.
In other notable ties, West Ham travel away for an all-Championship encounter against Southampton, while Newcastle United host West Bromwich Albion in the north draw. Everton manager David Moyes returns to Preston, the club where his managerial career began, to face the second-tier side. Meanwhile, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest were paired together in an all-Premier League clash in the northern division.
Tournament Schedule and Upcoming Rounds
The second-round matches will take place the week commencing August 24, though exact dates and kickoff times remain unconfirmed by league officials.
The remaining Premier League teams will enter the competition in the third round. That stage will be split across two separate weeks: the week commencing September 7 and the week commencing September 14, with clubs participating in the Champions League slated for the later week.
