Aston Villa Women's potential group stage opponents have been confirmed for the 2023/24 FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup.
As has been the case in recent seasons, the draw itself has been split into a Northern section and a Southern section.
And Carla Ward's Villa side will be placed in the Northern part of the draw along with eight other teams across the top two divisions.
Upon the completion of the draw, the Northern section will make up two groups while the Southern section, containing 12 teams, will make up three groups.
Top spot in each group ensures qualification for the knockout stages while the best runner-up will also progress.
The group stage draw will be completed at 11:15 on Tuesday, August 1 and will be aired live on talkSPORT2.
Villa reached the knockout stages of last season's Conti Cup having overcome the likes of Manchester United and Everton in the group stage.
The team succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at Arsenal to bow out of the competition at the quarter-final stage, but will have high hopes of going at least one step further in 23/24.
All draw details and key dates can be found below.
Northern section of draw
Draw numbers
1. Everton
2. Leicester City
3. Durham
4. Blackburn Rovers
5. Liverpool
6. Manchester City
7. Sunderland
8. Sheffield United
9. Aston Villa
The first five numbers out of the bag will be placed in Group A. The remaining and last four numbers out of the bag will be placed in Group B.
Southern section of draw
Draw numbers
1. Charlton Athletic
2. Brighton & Hove Albion
3. Watford
4. Lewes
5. Tottenham Hotspur
6. Reading
7. Birmingham City
8. Crystal Palace
9. Southampton
10. London City Lionesses
11. West Ham United
12. Bristol City
The first four numbers out of the bag will be placed in Group C. The next four numbers drawn out of the bag will be placed in Group D. The remaining and final four numbers drawn out of the bag will be placed in Group E.
Dates of group stage matches
11/12 October 2023
8/9 November 2023 (only for Group A which has an extra team)
22/23 November 2023
13/14 December 2023 (only for Group A which has an extra team)
24/25 January 2024
Knockout stages
Quarter-finals – 7/8 February 2024
Semi-finals – 6/7 March 2024
Final – 31 March 2024
UWCL teams
- Chelsea will enter the competition at the Quarter Final Stage.
- If either Arsenal or Manchester United get knocked out of the UWCL in either Rounds 1 or 2 then they will enter the Conti Cup at the Group Stage (playing their first match on 8/9 November). Manchester United would be placed in Group B and a draw would take place to determine which group (C,D or E) Arsenal would join.
