Brentford Enters EFL Trophy with Under-21s

Brentford Under-21s will enter the EFL Trophy for the 2026/27 season.

What is the EFL Trophy?

The EFL Trophy is a midweek knockout cup competition including clubs from League One and League Two, plus 16 invited sides from Premier League and Championship clubs with Category One academies.

Brentford's first team has previously featured in the competition, but it will be the first time the Under-21s have been invited to compete in the trophy, with the academy having achieved Category One status in March 2026.

Why it matters for Brentford

Academy director David Rainford said: “From an academy perspective, our entry into the EFL Trophy is a positive step following our move to Category One status. It provides a genuine opportunity for our B-team players to experience senior football within a competitive and meaningful environment.”

The 16 invited Category One sides are as follows: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland, and Tottenham Hotspur.

What comes next?

The group stage will be split into 16 regional groups of four teams, eight in the Northern region and eight in the Southern region. The top two from each group progress to the knockout stages, with EFL Trophy fixtures remaining regionalised until the quarter-final stage.

The draw for the Group Stages of the 2026/27 EFL Trophy will take place live on Sky Sports News on Thursday, 25 June from 2:30 pm. | Section | Ball Numbers | | --- | --- | | Northern | Aston Villa U21s, Everton U21s, Leeds United U21s, Liverpool U21s, Manchester City U21s, Newcastle United U21s, Nottingham Forest U21s, Sunderland U21s | | Southern | Arsenal U21s, Brentford U21s, Brighton and Hove Albion U21s, Chelsea U21s, Crystal Palace U21s, Fulham U21s, Ipswich Town U21s, Tottenham Hotspur U21s |

Brentford B head coach Sam Saunders believes the tournament will add a new element of development for his side. As of 23 Jun 2026, Brentford's first team is 7th in the Premier League with 47 points from 32 games, having recently drawn 1-1 with Liverpool on 2026-05-24.

Current Standing