Table of Contents
Overview & Format
Season: 65th edition (2025–26) of the EFL Cup, also branded as the Carabao Cup.Wikipedia
Participants: 92 clubs from Premier League and the English Football League’s top four tiers.Wikipedia
Defending Champions: Newcastle United, who lifted the trophy in 2024–
European Reward: Winner secures a spot in the play-off round of the UEFA Conference League 2026–27.
New Format: A preliminary round has been reinstated to accommodate scheduling constraints for European-playing clubs, involving four lower-tier league teams.
Round-by-Round Schedule
The tournament unfolds as follows:
| Round | Dates |
|---|---|
| Preliminary Round | W/C 4 August 2025 |
| First Round | W/C 11 August 2025 |
| Second Round | W/C 25 August 2025 |
| Third Round | W/C 15 & W/C 22 September 2025 |
| Fourth Round (Round 5) | W/C 27 October 2025 |
| Quarter-finals | W/C 15 December 2025 |
| Semi-final 1st Leg | W/C 12 January 2026 |
| Semi-final 2nd Leg | W/C 2 February 2026 |
| Final | Saturday, 22 March 2026 at Wembley |
Highlights by Round
Preliminary Round: Features Barnet vs Newport County and Accrington Stanley vs Oldham Athletic.Wikipedia
First Round: Match-ups include Birmingham vs Sheffield United, Wolves vs West Ham, Grimsby Town vs Manchester United, among others.
Second Round & Beyond: Winners advance week by week through single-legged ties until semi-finals, which are two-legged affairs.
How to Watch Live in the UK (TV & Streaming)
Sky Sports continues to be the primary broadcaster, offering live coverage across Sky Sports channels and Sky Sports+.Wikipedia
ITV also broadcasts selected matches free-to-air, including 10 Carabao Cup ties and 10 EFL fixtures.
For streaming, fans can use the Sky Go or ITVX apps. Highlights are available on the Carabao Cup YouTube channel, ITV, and ITVX.
Fixtures & Results—Where to Track
101GreatGoals.com provides comprehensive fixtures, results, draw updates, round-by-round breakdowns, and broadcast info.
EFL Official Site maintains a “Match Hub” with fixtures, stats, draw info, and updates.
365Scores, Flashscore, and Livesport are reliable for live scores, upcoming matches, and real-time statistics.
Why It Matters
Beyond the silverware, the EFL Cup offers:
A route into European competition via the UEFA Conference League.Wikipedia
A platform for lower-tier clubs and managers to showcase their mettle on national TV.
Exciting, often unpredictable knockout matchups—like Grimsby’s clash with Manchester United, symbolizing football’s magic.The TimesThe Sun
Coverage that spreads across both traditional broadcast and streaming services, making the cup accessible to diverse audiences.The SunEFL Analysis+1
Summary
Competition: EFL Cup 2025/26 (Carabao Cup)
New Feature: Preliminary round introduced to streamline fixtures.
Kick-off: Early August 2025; Final in March 2026 at Wembley.
European Spot: Winner qualifies for UEFA Conference League playoff.
Viewing Options: Sky Sports (paid), ITV (free-to-air), and online streaming.
Follow Live: Via EFL, 101GreatGoals, Livesport, Flashscore, and more.