Carlisle United now know when next season will start - provided they pull off their great escape.

The EFL have announced the confirmed start dates for the 2025/26 campaign.

The League Two season will kick off on the weekend of August 2 and 3.

United have 16 games left to ensure they will be involved that weekend, the Cumbrians currently six points adrift of safety at the foot of League Two.

The fourth tier's 2025/26 kick-off weekend is the same as that for League One.

The Championship season will kick off a week later on the weekend of August 9-10.

Carlisle are desperately hoping to avoid relegation to non-league for only the second time in their history.

The National League season start dates for 2025/26 are yet to be announced. This season the fifth tier got under way on the same weekend as League Two.