The Carabao Cup is known for its exciting spirit across all levels of English football. It provides smaller clubs the chance to face top Premier League sides. The Carabao Cup is broadcasted by Sky Sports and ITV, attracting millions of viewers each season. The winner qualifies for the UEFA Conference League, adding European importance to the title.
The Carabao Cup, officially known as the English Football League Cup, is a men’s domestic football competition in England. It is organised by the English Football League (EFL) and has been held annually since 1960. The tournament features 92 clubs from the Premier League and the three divisions of the EFL.
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Organiser(s) English Football League Founded 1960 (as Football League Cup); 2016 (as EFL Cup) Region England, Wales Teams 92 Qualifier for UEFA Conference League Current Champions Newcastle United (1st title) Most Championships Liverpool (10 titles) Broadcaster(s) Sky Sports, ITV Website efl.com/competitions/carabao-cup Season 2025–26 EFL Cup (Carabao Cup) Final Venue Wembley Stadium (March 2026) Country England, Wales Dates 29 July 2025 – 22 March 2026 Defending Champions Newcastle United Matches Played 76 Goals Scored 207 (2.72 per match) Attendance 782,047 (10,290 per match) Top Goal Scorer Diego Gómez (5 goals)
Phase Clubs Entering at This Stage Clubs Advancing from Previous Round Number of Matches Scheduled Week (Commencing) Preliminary Round 4 clubs from EFL League Two (lowest-ranked teams not relegated from 2024–25 plus newly promoted sides) — 2 4 August 2025 First Round 20 clubs from EFL League Two, 24 from EFL League One, 24 from EFL Championship, plus 2 preliminary winners — 35 11 August 2025 Second Round 11 Premier League clubs (not participating in European competitions) 35 winners from First Round 23 25 August 2025 Third Round 9 Premier League clubs (involved in European competitions) 23 winners from Second Round 16 15 & 22 September 2025 Fourth Round — 16 winners from Third Round 8 28 October 2025 Quarter-Finals — 8 winners from Fourth Round 4 15 December 2025 Semi-Finals — 4 winners from Quarter-Finals 2 (Two-legged ties) 12 January & 2 February 2026 Final — 2 winners from Semi-Finals 1 22 March 2026 (Wembley Stadium)
Date Match Score / Pens Venue Northern Section 12 Aug 2025 Barrow vs Preston North End 0–1 Barrow-in-Furness 12 Aug 2025 Middlesbrough vs Doncaster Rovers 0–4 Middlesbrough 12 Aug 2025 Stockport County vs Crewe Alexandra 3–1 Stockport 12 Aug 2025 Accrington Stanley vs Peterborough United 2–1 Accrington 12 Aug 2025 Blackburn Rovers vs Bradford City 1–2 Blackburn 12 Aug 2025 Blackpool vs Port Vale 0–1 Blackpool 12 Aug 2025 Chesterfield vs Mansfield Town 0–2 Chesterfield 12 Aug 2025 Grimsby Town vs Shrewsbury Town 3–1 Cleethorpes 12 Aug 2025 Harrogate Town vs Lincoln City 1–3 Harrogate 12 Aug 2025 Salford City vs Rotherham United 0–0 (2–3 p) Salford 12 Aug 2025 Stoke City vs Walsall 0–0 (4–3 p) Stoke-on-Trent 12 Aug 2025 West Bromwich Albion vs Derby County 1–1 (2–3 p) West Bromwich 12 Aug 2025 Wigan Athletic vs Notts County 1–0 Wigan 12 Aug 2025 Wrexham vs Hull City 3–3 (5–3 p) Wrexham 13 Aug 2025 Barnsley vs Fleetwood Town 2–2 (5–4 p) Barnsley 13 Aug 2025 Bolton Wanderers vs Sheffield Wednesday 3–3 (2–4 p) Bolton 13 Aug 2025 Huddersfield Town vs Leicester City 2–2 (3–2 p) Huddersfield 13 Aug 2025 Birmingham City vs Sheffield United 2–1 Birmingham 19 Aug 2025 Tranmere Rovers vs Burton Albion 1–1 (4–5 p) Birkenhead Southern Section 12 Aug 2025 Swansea City vs Crawley Town 3–1 Swansea 12 Aug 2025 Newport County vs Millwall 0–1 Newport 12 Aug 2025 Bristol City vs Milton Keynes Dons 2–0 Bristol 12 Aug 2025 Bristol Rovers vs Cambridge United 0–2 Bristol 12 Aug 2025 Cardiff City vs Swindon Town 2–1 Cardiff 12 Aug 2025 Charlton Athletic vs Stevenage 3–1 Charlton 12 Aug 2025 Coventry City vs Luton Town 1–0 Coventry 12 Aug 2025 Gillingham vs AFC Wimbledon 1–1 (2–4 p) Gillingham 12 Aug 2025 Leyton Orient vs Wycombe Wanderers 0–1 Leyton 12 Aug 2025 Northampton Town vs Southampton 0–1 Northampton 12 Aug 2025 Oxford United vs Colchester United 1–0 Oxford 12 Aug 2025 Plymouth Argyle vs Queens Park Rangers 3–2 Plymouth 12 Aug 2025 Portsmouth vs Reading 1–2 Portsmouth 12 Aug 2025 Watford vs Norwich City 1–2 Watford 12 Aug 2025 Bromley vs Ipswich Town 1–1 (5–4 p) Bromley 13 Aug 2025 Cheltenham Town vs Exeter City 2–0 Cheltenham
Date Match Score / Pens Venue Northern Section 26 Aug 2025 Accrington Stanley vs Doncaster Rovers 0–2 Accrington 26 Aug 2025 Barnsley vs Rotherham United 2–1 Barnsley 26 Aug 2025 Birmingham City vs Port Vale 0–1 Birmingham 26 Aug 2025 Burnley vs Derby County 2–1 Burnley 26 Aug 2025 Burton Albion vs Lincoln City 0–1 Burton upon Trent 26 Aug 2025 Preston North End vs Wrexham 2–3 Preston 26 Aug 2025 Stoke City vs Bradford City 0–3 Stoke-on-Trent 26 Aug 2025 Sunderland vs Huddersfield Town 1–1 (5–6 p) Sunderland 26 Aug 2025 Wigan Athletic vs Stockport County 1–0 Wigan 26 Aug 2025 Sheffield Wednesday vs Leeds United 1–1 (3–0 p) Sheffield 27 Aug 2025 Everton vs Mansfield Town 2–0 Liverpool 27 Aug 2025 Grimsby Town vs Manchester United 2–2 (12–11 p) Cleethorpes Southern Section 26 Aug 2025 Reading vs AFC Wimbledon 2–1 Reading 26 Aug 2025 Cambridge United vs Charlton Athletic 3–1 Cambridge 26 Aug 2025 Wolverhampton Wanderers vs West Ham United 3–2 Wolverhampton 26 Aug 2025 Bournemouth vs Brentford 0–2 Bournemouth 26 Aug 2025 Bromley vs Wycombe Wanderers 1–1 (4–5 p) Bromley 26 Aug 2025 Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town 3–0 Cardiff 26 Aug 2025 Millwall vs Coventry City 2–1 Bermondsey 26 Aug 2025 Norwich City vs Southampton 0–3 Norwich 26 Aug 2025 Swansea City vs Plymouth Argyle 1–1 (5–3 p) Swansea 27 Aug 2025 Fulham vs Bristol City 2–0 Fulham 27 Aug 2025 Oxford United vs Brighton & Hove Albion 0–6 Oxford
Tier Teams Remaining / Total Premier League 15 / 20 Championship 5 / 24 League One 10 / 24 League Two 2 / 24 Total 32 / 92
Date Match Score / Pens Venue 16 Sep 2025 Sheffield Wednesday vs Grimsby Town 0–1 Sheffield 16 Sep 2025 Brentford vs Aston Villa 1–1 (4–2 p) Brentford 16 Sep 2025 Crystal Palace vs Millwall 1–1 (4–2 p) Selhurst 17 Sep 2025 Swansea City vs Nottingham Forest 3–2 Swansea 23 Sep 2025 Barnsley vs Brighton & Hove Albion 0–6 Barnsley 23 Sep 2025 Burnley vs Cardiff City 1–2 Burnley 23 Sep 2025 Fulham vs Cambridge United 1–0 Fulham 23 Sep 2025 Lincoln City vs Chelsea 1–2 Lincoln 23 Sep 2025 Wigan Athletic vs Wycombe Wanderers 0–2 Wigan 23 Sep 2025 Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Everton 2–0 Wolverhampton 23 Sep 2025 Wrexham vs Reading 2–0 Wrexham 23 Sep 2025 Liverpool vs Southampton 2–1 Liverpool 24 Sep 2025 Huddersfield Town vs Manchester City 0–2 Huddersfield 24 Sep 2025 Newcastle United vs Bradford City 4–1 Newcastle upon Tyne 24 Sep 2025 Tottenham Hotspur vs Doncaster Rovers 3–0 Tottenham 24 Sep 2025 Port Vale vs Arsenal 0–2 Stoke-on-Trent
Tier Teams Remaining / Total Premier League 11 / 20 Championship 2 / 24 League One 2 / 24 League Two 1 / 24 Total 16 / 92
Date Match Score / Pens Venue 28 Oct 2025 Grimsby Town vs Brentford 0–5 Cleethorpes 28 Oct 2025 Wycombe Wanderers vs Fulham 1–1 (4–5 p) High Wycombe 28 Oct 2025 Wrexham vs Cardiff City 1–2 Wrexham 29 Oct 2025 Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion 2–0 Holloway 29 Oct 2025 Liverpool vs Crystal Palace 0–3 Liverpool 29 Oct 2025 Swansea City vs Manchester City 1–3 Swansea 29 Oct 2025 Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Chelsea 3–4 Wolverhampton 29 Oct 2025 Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 Newcastle upon Tyne
Tier Teams Remaining / Total Premier League 7 / 20 Championship 0 / 24 League One 1 / 24 League Two 0 / 24 Total 8 / 92
Date Match Venue 16 Dec 2025 Cardiff City vs Chelsea Cardiff 17 Dec 2025 Manchester City vs Brentford Manchester 17 Dec 2025 Newcastle United vs Fulham Newcastle upon Tyne 23 Dec 2025 Arsenal vs Crystal Palace Holloway
The below table shows the EFL cup draw for the latest match results and upcoming matches.
Round Match Score Date 1/8-finals Newcastle vs Tottenham 2–0 29.10.25 Arsenal vs Brighton 2–0 29.10.25 Liverpool vs Crystal Palace 0–3 29.10.25 Swansea vs Manchester City 1–3 29.10.25 Wolves vs Chelsea 3–4 29.10.25 Wrexham vs Cardiff 1–2 28.10.25 Grimsby vs Brentford 0–5 28.10.25 Wycombe vs Fulham 1–1 (1–2 pens) 28.10.25 1/16-finals Port Vale vs Arsenal 0–2 24.09.25 Huddersfield vs Manchester City 0–2 24.09.25 Newcastle vs Bradford City 4–1 24.09.25 Tottenham vs Doncaster 3–0 24.09.25 Liverpool vs Southampton 2–1 23.09.25 Barnsley vs Brighton 0–6 23.09.25 Burnley vs Cardiff 1–2 23.09.25 Fulham vs Cambridge Utd 1–0 23.09.25 Lincoln vs Chelsea 1–2 23.09.25 Wigan vs Wycombe 0–2 23.09.25 Wolves vs Everton 2–0 23.09.25 Wrexham vs Reading 2–0 23.09.25 Swansea vs Nottingham 3–2 17.09.25 Brentford vs Aston Villa 1–1 (2–1 pens) 16.09.25 Crystal Palace vs Millwall 1–1 (2–1 pens) 16.09.25 Sheffield Wed vs Grimsby 0–1 16.09.25
Round Match Date Time Quarter-finals Cardiff vs Chelsea 16.12.25 23:00 Manchester City vs Brentford 17.12.25 22:30 Newcastle vs Fulham 17.12.25 23:15 Arsenal vs Crystal Palace 23.12.25 23:00 Semi-finals — 14.01.26 22:45 Final — 25.03.26 22:45
Club Years Won Total Titles Liverpool 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2012, 2022, 2024 10 Manchester City 1970, 1976, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 8 Manchester United 1992, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2017, 2023 6 Aston Villa 1961, 1975, 1977, 1994, 1996 5 Chelsea 1965, 1998, 2005, 2007, 2015 5 Tottenham Hotspur 1971, 1973, 1999, 2008 4 Nottingham Forest 1978, 1979, 1989, 1990 4 Leicester City 1964, 1997, 2000 3 Wolves 1974, 1980 2 Norwich City 1962, 1985 2 Arsenal 1987, 1993 2 Birmingham City 1963, 2011 2 West Bromwich Albion 1966 1 Queens Park Rangers 1967 1 Leeds United 1968 1 Swindon Town 1969 1 Stoke City 1972 1 Oxford United 1986 1 Luton Town 1988 1 Sheffield Wednesday 1991 1 Blackburn Rovers 2002 1 Middlesbrough 2004 1 Swansea City 2013 1 Newcastle United 2025 1
Rank Player Club Goals 1 Diego Gómez Brighton 5 2 Ben Close Doncaster 2 2 Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu Plymouth 2 2 Cameron Burgess Swansea 2 2 Fábio Carvalho Brentford 2 2 Ibrahim Fullah Charlton 2 2 Joel Colwill Cardiff City 2
Rank Player Club Assists 1 Tom Watson Brighton 3 2 Bruno Guimarães Newcastle 2 2 Diego Coppola Brighton 2 2 Emmanuel Agbadou Wolves 2 2 Federico Chiesa Liverpool 2 2 Harrison Armstrong Everton 2 2 Harry Howell Brighton 2 2 Jamie Gittens Chelsea 2 2 James McClean Wrexham 2 2 Myles Lewis-Skelly Arsenal 2
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Chelsea have lifted the Carabao Cup five times.
Sergio Agüero and Fernandinho share the record with six EFL Cup titles each.
The competition is open to all 92 clubs from the Premier League and the English Football League.
Newcastle United are the current Carabao Cup champions for the 2024–25 season.
The Carabao Cup has had many memorable finals and legendary winners over the decades. Liverpool are the most successful club in the competition’s history, with 10 titles. Newcastle United are the current champions, claiming their first title. The tournament continues to be one of the most exciting and respected events in English football.
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