The 2019–20 Sunderland A.F.C. season was the club's 141st season in existence, and their second consecutive season in the third tier of English football, after relegation from the Championship in the 2017–18 season. Along with competing in League One, the club participated in the FA Cup and EFL Cup as well as the EFL Trophy. The season covers the period from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020. On 3 April, the English Football League decided to postpone all football until safe to do so due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and on 9 June, clubs voted to curtail the season, meaning the final table would be calculated by a points-per-game method with the play-offs being played behind closed doors.[3]
The first round draw was made on 20 June.[14] The second round draw was made on 13 August 2019 following the conclusion of all but one first-round matches.[15] The third round draw was confirmed on 28 August 2019, live on Sky Sports.[16] The draw for the fourth round was made on 25 September 2019.[17]