Stuart McCall's Bantams have been pitted against Stoke City, Morecambe and Bury in the first-ever group draw made by the EFL Trophy (formerly Johnstone's Paint Trophy).
City's first match in the EFL Trophy during the 2016/2017 campaign will be against Stoke at the Northern Commercials Stadium on the week commencing 29 August 2016.
The Bantams will also be at home on the week commencing 3 October 2016 against fellow League 1 side Bury.
McCall's men will finish their group fixtures away at Morecambe on the week commencing 7 November 2016.
Ticket details and further information will be confirmed in due course.
EFL Trophy rules
Team Selection - All invited Category 1 clubs to donate all group stage proceeds to the shared pot, along with 20% of any knockout stage tie and 15% of any Semi-Final or Final.
- After deductions of expenses, proceeds split into 45% each for home and away sides, with 10% going into pool account shared equally by League One and League Two clubs
Match Proceeds
- £100,000 for the competition winner
- £10,000 for a win, £5,000 for a draw
- Enhanced prize fund expected to £1,950,000
Prize Fund
- Further details to be confirmed on how winners will to be determined if game is drawn after 90 minutes
- To be held at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 2nd April
Final
- Further details to be confirmed on how winners will to be determined if game is drawn after 90 minutes
- 'Free' draw on a single game basis; no second leg
- Ties to take place week commencing Monday 20th February
Semi Finals
- Penalties to follow 90 minutes if the ties end in a draw
- 'Free' draws on a single game basis
- Fourth Round ties to take place week commencing Monday 23rd January
- Third Round ties to take place week commencing Monday 9th January
Third Round, Fourth Round (Quarter Finals)
- Group winners to face home game against runners-up of different group
- Organised on regionalised basis
- Ties to take place week commencing Monday 5th December
Second Round
- The top two teams in each of the 16 groups progress
- Drawn games will be followed by a penalty shoot-out after 90 minutes with an additional point being awarded to the winners
- Three points for a win, one for a draw
- Clubs to play each other once, either at home or away
- Each group to include one invited team along with at least one side from both League One and League Two
- Organised on regionalised basis
- Three matches in weeks commencing Monday 29th August, Monday 3rd October and Monday 7th November
Group Stage
- EFL clubs must start a minimum of five 'first team' players as per previous competition rules
- All 'invited' Category 1 teams must include at least six Under-21* players in starting line-ups (*as of 30th June 2016)
Team Selection - All invited Category 1 clubs to donate all group stage proceeds to the shared pot, along with 20% of any knockout stage tie and 15% of any Semi-Final or Final.
- After deductions of expenses, proceeds split into 45% each for home and away sides, with 10% going into pool account shared equally by League One and League Two clubs
Match Proceeds
- £100,000 for the competition winner
- £10,000 for a win, £5,000 for a draw
- Enhanced prize fund expected to £1,950,000
Prize Fund
- Further details to be confirmed on how winners will to be determined if game is drawn after 90 minutes
- To be held at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 2nd April
Final
- Further details to be confirmed on how winners will to be determined if game is drawn after 90 minutes
- 'Free' draw on a single game basis; no second leg
- Ties to take place week commencing Monday 20th February
Semi Finals
- Penalties to follow 90 minutes if the ties end in a draw
- 'Free' draws on a single game basis
- Fourth Round ties to take place week commencing Monday 23rd January
- Third Round ties to take place week commencing Monday 9th January
Third Round, Fourth Round (Quarter Finals)
- Group winners to face home game against runners-up of different group
- Organised on regionalised basis
- Ties to take place week commencing Monday 5th December
Second Round
- The top two teams in each of the 16 groups progress
- Drawn games will be followed by a penalty shoot-out after 90 minutes with an additional point being awarded to the winners
- Three points for a win, one for a draw
- Clubs to play each other once, either at home or away
- Each group to include one invited team along with at least one side from both League One and League Two
- Organised on regionalised basis
- Three matches in weeks commencing Monday 29th August, Monday 3rd October and Monday 7th November
Group Stage
- EFL clubs must start a minimum of five 'first team' players as per previous competition rules
- All 'invited' Category 1 teams must include at least six Under-21* players in starting line-ups (*as of 30th June 2016)