Leicester City learn EFL Trophy group rivals before Thursday's fixture release | OneFootball

Leicester City have learned their first opponents of 2026/27, with Stevenage and Walsall joining them in EFL Trophy Group B ahead of Thursday’s fixture release.

According to LeicesterMercury.co.uk, City are in the Southern section of a 16-group format. A Premier League Under-21 side will complete the pool.

One of Arsenal, Brentford, Brighton, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Ipswich or Tottenham will join them, with the draw at 2.30pm on Thursday.

The top two progress to the knockouts, which remain regionalised until the quarter-finals. Ties level after 90 minutes, up to and including the semi-finals, are decided by penalties.

Each EFL club must start at least four outfield first teamers. Qualifying players are those who started either match directly before or after the tie, those with 40 or more senior starts, or anyone with at least the 10th-most starts for the club that season.

City begin pre-season in July with three games in a week. They face Northampton Town at Seagrave on July 11, travel to Bristol Rovers on July 14, then Burton Albion on July 18.

Thursday also brings the full EFL calendar, including the League One schedule. City will learn their Carabao Cup first round opponents for the weekend of August 8-9.

Source: LeicesterMercury.co.uk