EFL Cup PREVIEW 3 Aug 2026: York City host Crawley Town with a trip to Watford at stake

York City host Crawley Town on Monday evening (19:30 kick-off) in the EFL Cup preliminary round, the first competitive fixture of the season for both clubs. The tie has an added prize attached: the winner travels to Championship side Watford in the first round proper on Saturday 8 August.

League football follows quickly for both. York City open League Two at home to Bristol Rovers on 15 August and Crawley Town at home to Crewe Alexandra the same day, and the clubs meet in the league at York on 19 December and at Crawley on 9 January.