AFC Wimbledon host Cardiff City in the stand-out tie of the first midweek round in 2025-26 League One season.
Victory could lift AFC Wimbledon potentially to the summit in the event of results elsewhere somehow aligning in their unlikely favour, whilst Cardiff can go top if Stevenage lose elsewhere.
Team News
Ryan Johnson and Antwoine Hackford are doubts for AFC Wimbledon after the pair suffered injuries during their win at Reading.
Cardiff have no fresh injury concerns to report following a 3-0 victory over Rotherham, as Perry Ng (unspecified) and Alex Robertson (shin) near returns but it is unclear if they will be fit for this trip.
When is Kick-Off?
AFC Wimbledon host Cardiff at Cherry Red Records Stadium on Tuesday 19 August at 7:45pm BST, live on Sky Sports+ Red Button in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is AFC Wimbledon’s first league meeting against Cardiff, although they did lose a first-round League Cup tie away by 1-0 result in August 2015.
- Cardiff are making their first league visit to AFC Wimbledon’s Cherry Red Records Stadium.
- Matty Stevens has scored in each of AFC Wimbledon’s last two league games (W2).
- Two of Cardiff’s five league goals in three games were scored by Rubin Colwill.
Prediction
Following their opening-day defeat at Luton, AFC Wimbledon have found their feet with two clinically-executed wins against established third-tier teams and I personally expect a similar display against Cardiff where they will likely need to do quite a lot of defending at times.
Cardiff meanwhile clinically dispatched Rotherham in a dominant display and look like they’ve likewise quickly found their feet, especially after they grinded out a goalless draw at Port Vale in their sole away game so far this season but I do expect a much stronger performance this time on the road.
Given the recent improvement in both teams in their last two league games, this feels too close to call so I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a draw here.
Prediction: AFC Wimbledon 1-1 Cardiff
Result: AFC Wimbledon 0-1 Cardiff