Fulham vs AFC Wimbledon – Match preview and team news | OneFootball

Craven Cottage stages a first-ever competitive meeting between Fulham and AFC Wimbledon on Thursday, with a place in the Carabao Cup third round at stake.

Fulham enter off the back of a narrow 2-3 defeat to Chelsea on the Premier League’s opening weekend, Alvaro Arbeloa’s first game in charge, while Wimbledon have gone six matches without a win across all competitions and are yet to score in League One this season.

Wimbledon reached this stage only after Callum Maycock’s dramatic 97th-minute equaliser forced a penalty shootout against Newport County, which the Dons went on to win. Fulham, whose 146-year history has never produced a major trophy, reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals last season and will see this competition as a realistic route to silverware. Steven Sessegnon, who began his career at Fulham before moving on, could line up for Wimbledon against his former club.

Fulham vs AFC Wimbledon – Match preview and team news

Date: Thursday, 27 August 2026 Kick-off: 20:00 BST Venue: Craven Cottage

Team news

Fulham

Captain Tom Cairney remains sidelined with a knee injury and is not expected back until later in the autumn. Joachim Andersen is available again having served the final match of a three-game suspension against Chelsea, though Arbeloa may still use the tie to rest him. Several substitutes from the Chelsea game, including Ryan Sessegnon, Rodrigo Muniz, Harrison Reed and Shea Charles, are pushing for starts.

AFC Wimbledon

Johnnie Jackson has no confirmed unavailable players, giving him a fully fit squad to select from. Veteran defender Andy Yiadom is available and could make his full debut for the club. Callum Maycock, whose stoppage-time equaliser rescued the first-round tie against Newport County, is among those pushing for inclusion.

Form

Fulham

Arbeloa’s opening game brought encouraging attacking moments but exposed defensive vulnerabilities, Gonzalo Garcia marking his debut with a goal and Joshua King also on the scoresheet in the loss to Chelsea. Fulham have won two of their last five matches in all competitions. The head coach is still searching for the right defensive balance to match his side’s attacking threat.

AFC Wimbledon

Jackson’s side have drawn three and lost one of their first four competitive fixtures this season, a run that includes a goalless draw with Reading and a 3-0 defeat to Huddersfield Town in the league. Wimbledon are yet to find the net in League One this term, their most pressing concern heading into a daunting test at Craven Cottage. The penalty shootout win over Newport County offered a rare source of confidence.

Predicted lineups

Fulham predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Lecomte; Tete, Cuenca, De Fougerolles, Sessegnon; Charles, Reed; Kevin, King, Smith Rowe; Muniz

AFC Wimbledon predicted XI (3-5-2): McDonnell; Yiadom, Sweeney, Johnson; Sessegnon, Smith, Maycock, Nelson, Seddon; Browne, Sasu

How to watch Fulham vs AFC Wimbledon?

The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports+.

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