Stoke vs Hull Prediction & Betting Tips (25 August)

Stoke City host Hull City at the Bet365 Stadium on August 25, 2026, in an EFL Cup second-round tie that pits Championship experience against newly promoted Premier League quality. Both sides enter the competition with limited competitive minutes after pre-season schedules featuring mixed friendly results, while manager Mark Robins looks to guide the Potters past top-flight opposition early in the 2026/27 campaign.

The Potters have endured a mixed start to their Championship season, with recent home form including a 1-2 reverse against Swansea and a 1-3 defeat to Millwall exposing defensive vulnerabilities. Stoke's 2026/27 squad is expected to feature Tommy Simkin in goal, with Ben Wilmot, Ashley Phillips and Ben Gibson forming the defensive core, while Joon-Ho Bae, Sorba Thomas and Robert Bozenik provide the attacking threat in a likely 4-2-3-1 formation.

Hull City arrive in Staffordshire buoyed by their promotion to the Premier League for the 2026/27 season. The Tigers have proven they can compete away from the MKM Stadium, not least in their 1-3 victory at Millwall and a hard-fought 0-0 draw in the playoff semi-final first leg against the same opponents. Sergej Jakirovic's squad includes Ivor Pandur, John Egan, Charlie Hughes, Regan Slater, Matt Crooks, Kyle Joseph and Oli McBurnie, giving the visitors genuine top-flight depth even if rotation is expected.

European bookmakers price this cup tie at 2.80 for a Stoke win, 3.40 for the draw and 2.55 for a Hull victory, reflecting the Tigers' superior squad depth and Premier League status. Given Hull's quality and Stoke's early-season defensive frailties, our prediction is a 1-2 away win for the visitors, who should have enough to advance to the third ro