EFL Cup PREVIEW 9 Aug 2026: Mansfield host Sheffield United in Carabao Cup rematch

Mansfield Town open their season on Sunday when they welcome Sheffield United to the One Call Stadium in the Carabao Cup, with kick-off scheduled for 4pm and the tie shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football. It also serves as United's 2026/27 curtain-raiser, coming six days before Mansfield's League One campaign begins at home to Doncaster Rovers.

The two clubs last met in the FA Cup earlier this year, a tie Sheffield United exited after a seven-goal thriller at Bramall Lane. Mansfield had raced into a 4-1 lead after 57 minutes, and although United fought back, they could not find an equaliser, with the game finishing 4-3 in Nigel Clough's side's favour.

Clough is bracing for a strong United line-up again, citing the depth in Chris Wilder's squad. "You do look at the quality of their squad and see the Bamfords, the Hamers, who was excellent against us", he said, adding that both clubs are likely to field close to full-strength teams as they build towards their league openers.

On team news, Baily Cargill and Luke Bolton will both be absent for Mansfield on Sunday — Cargill still working back from a hamstring problem and Bolton only just returning to pre-season training. Sheffield United go into the game on the back of four wins and two draws from six summer friendlies, despite what has been a disappointing summer on the transfer front for the Blades, and after exiting the competition at the first hurdle last season with a 2-1 defeat to Birmingham City at St Andrew's.