Under-21 teams and group stage draw confirmed for 2025/26 Vertu Trophy

The EFL has confirmed the 16 invited sides from Premier League Clubs with Category One Academies that will join Sky Bet League One and Sky Bet League Two Clubs in the 2025/26 Vertu Trophy competition.

This season’s under-21 sides hail from Arsenal, Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Leeds United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Group stage draw

The draw for the Group Stages of the 2025/26 Vertu Trophy will take place live on Sky Sports News on Thursday 26 June from 2:30pm. 

All 64 teams will enter from Round One and will be split into 16 regional groups of four teams, eight in the Northern region and eight in the Southern region.

The 16 invited under-21 teams will be placed into their respective Northern and Southern regional groups, with the 48 EFL Clubs placed into pre-determined Groups prior to the draw.

Consideration has been given to ensure travel time is minimised and recovery time is maximised for players. 

The ball numbers for the Group Stages Draw are as follows:

Northern Section

Group A: Salford City, Stockport County, Wigan Athletic

Group B: Barrow, Blackpool, Tranmere Rovers

Group C: Bradford City, Doncaster Rovers, Grimsby Town

Group D: Barnsley, Lincoln City, Notts County

Group E: Bolton Wanderers, Oldham Athletic, Rotherham United

Group F: Harrogate Town, Huddersfield Town, Mansfield Town

Group G: Accrington Stanley, Fleetwood Town, Port Vale

Group H: Burton Albion, Chesterfield, Crewe Alexandra

Ball Numbers

1 Everton U21
2 Leeds United U21
3 Liverpool U21
4 Manchester City U21
5 Manchester United U21
6 Newcastle United U21
7 Nottingham Forest U21
8 Wolverhampton Wanderers U21

Southern Section

Group A: Cardiff City, Exeter City, Newport County

Group B: Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham Town, Plymouth Argyle

Group C: Northampton Town, Shrewsbury Town, Walsall

Group D: Milton Keynes Dons, Reading, Swindon Town

Group E: AFC Wimbledon, Bromley, Stevenage

Group F: Crawley Town, Leyton Orient, Peterborough United

Group G: Colchester United, Gillingham, Wycombe Wanderers

Group H: Barnet, Cambridge United, Luton Town

Ball Numbers

1 Arsenal U21
2 Aston Villa U21
3 Brighton & Hove Albion U21
4 Chelsea U21
5 Crystal Palace U21
6 Fulham U21
7 Tottenham Hotspur U21
8 West Ham United U21

Vertu Trophy Group Stage matches will commence in early September, with dates to be confirmed following the EFL’s Fixture Release Day on Thursday 26 June.

Competition format

The top two from each group progress to the knockout stages, with Vertu Trophy fixtures remaining regionalised until the Quarter-Final stage.

Matches level after ninety minutes will be determined by penalty kicks up to the Semi-Final stage.

A period of 30 minutes of extra time will be played in the Final should the match be level after ninety minutes.

If still level at the end of extra time, the winners shall be determined by penalty kicks.

How to watch

The EFL’s record domestic rights deal with broadcaster Sky Sports will see every Vertu Trophy match broadcast live on Sky Sports for fans in the UK.

Prize money

EFL Clubs Participation – £20,000 per Club

Group Stages – £10,000 per win / £5,000 per draw

Round of 32 – £20,000 per win

Round of 16 – £40,000 per win

Quarter Finals – £50,000 per win

Runners Up – £50,000

Winners – £100,000

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