By Cole Gallagher / August 20, 2026
EFL Cup Round 2 · Aug 26, 2026 · Elland Road, Leeds · 7:45 PM BST / 2:45 PM ET
⚽ Leeds United vs Brighton ⚽
EFL Cup books post lines closer to kickoff. Check back nearer August 26 for a live number.
Leeds United host Brighton at Elland Road in EFL Cup Round 2, with a defensive subplot running through the tie: Pascal Struijk lines up for the visitors just months after leaving Leeds for the Seagulls. It is a straight knockout format, so Daniel Farke and Fabian Hürzeler both know a slip tonight ends the run outright. Here is the full top betting sites breakdown for the tie, part of our ongoing EFL Cup Round 2 coverage.
Odds Comparison
| Sportsbook | Leeds United | Draw | Brighton |
| Sports Interaction | Check Odds → | Check Odds → | Check Odds → |
| Betovo | Check Odds → | Check Odds → | Check Odds → |
| Bet365 | Check Odds → | Check Odds → | Check Odds → |
| Tonybet | Check Odds → | Check Odds → | Check Odds → |
| Betway | Check Odds → | Check Odds → | Check Odds → |
Both Teams to Score
Total Goals
Team Analysis
Leeds United
Daniel Farke’s rebuilt spine, with James Trafford now established in goal after his £40m move from Manchester City and Harry Wilson adding a proven final ball, gives Elland Road a genuine platform on a cup night. A home draw against a well-organized Brighton side is a step up from a routine league fixture, but Farke will fancy his side’s chances in front of a crowd that has been a real asset for long stretches.
Key Storyline: James Trafford and Leeds’ reinforced spine face a well-organized Brighton side under the Elland Road lights
Brighton
Fabian Hürzeler, freshly committed through 2029, sends a Brighton side missing former Leeds defender Pascal Struijk’s old teammates a familiar face in his new colours for the return trip to Elland Road. The additions of Luka Vušković and Michael Svoboda, funded in part by selling Danny Welbeck to Chelsea and Jan Paul van Hecke to Tottenham, keep Brighton’s model of smart recruitment intact heading into a knockout tie against Struijk’s old club.
Key Storyline: Pascal Struijk returns to Elland Road with Brighton just months after his move from Leeds
Key Betting Angles
Brighton’s possession-based approach under Hürzeler has caused problems for bigger clubs before, and the Struijk subplot adds an emotional layer to a tie that is nominally winnable for the home side given Leeds’ reinforced backline. Straight knockout football tends to reward the side that controls tempo, which plays into Brighton’s hands even away from home.
We are tracking the full EFL Cup Round 2 slate, plus everything else on the board, over on worldcupbetting.ca.
Our Prediction
Cole’s Pick: a tight one, slight lean Brighton
Brighton’s style tends to travel well even in hostile atmospheres, and Struijk’s extra motivation against his old club could tip a close tie their way. Leeds’ home crowd and reinforced spine make this genuinely competitive rather than a formality either way.
Confidence: low-to-medium, this looks like one of the tighter ties on the Round 2 board
Best Bets
Latest Predictions
19+. Gambling can be addictive. If you or someone you know needs support, visit ProblemGambling.ca or call ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600.
Cole Gallagher covers soccer betting for WorldCupBetting.ca, specialising in match predictions, odds analysis and tournament futures. Based in Toronto, he has followed the Canadian men’s national team since their 2022 qualifying campaign and brings a line-shopping, data-first approach to every pick.