Season 2026-27 · 2025-26

EFL Cup

84 ties
all times London time
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Every round

8 rounds · 84 ties

The Carabao Cup is the knockout for the 92 Premier League and EFL clubs. This season it opens with a rare preliminary round: nine Premier League clubs are in Europe rather than the usual seven, so the field must be trimmed to 70 before round one for the numbers to close on a 32-club third round. Clubs enter in waves — the EFL in round one, the eleven Premier League clubs not in Europe in round two, the nine European qualifiers in round three. A tie is one match with straight penalties if level after ninety minutes; only the two-legged semi-finals and the final have extra time. The final is at Wembley on 21 March 2027, and the winner earns a place in the 2027-28 Conference League play-off round.

Who plays · Four League Two clubs — York City, Rochdale, Tranmere Rovers and Crawley Town: the two promoted into the division and the two lowest finishers not relegated, per the EFL's revised format — trim the field by two.

Draw · Made 3 June 2026.

When · Tranmere v Rochdale on Saturday 1 August, York v Crawley on Monday 3 August 2026.

How it works · One match at the first-drawn club's ground; level after ninety minutes goes straight to penalties — no replays and, before the semi-finals, no extra time.

2 ties · complete
Saturday 1 August
Monday 3 August

Who plays · All 68 remaining EFL clubs — 24 Championship, 24 League One and 20 League Two — join the two preliminary-round winners: 70 clubs, 35 ties.

Draw · Made 25 June 2026, live on Sky Sports News, in northern and southern sections.

When · Wednesday 6 to Monday 10 August 2026, most ties on Saturday the 8th; the two ties involving preliminary-round winners are dated once those are played.

How it works · One match, drawn regionally north and south; straight to penalties if level.

35 ties · complete
Thursday 6 August
Friday 7 August
Saturday 8 August
Sunday 9 August
Monday 10 August

Who plays · The eleven Premier League clubs not in European competition enter against the 35 first-round winners — 46 clubs, 23 ties.

Draw · Not yet announced; by convention it is broadcast shortly after round one finishes.

When · Midweek, in the week of Monday 24 August 2026.

How it works · Still drawn in northern and southern sections — the last regionalised round; straight to penalties if level.

23 ties · complete
Tuesday 25 August
Wednesday 26 August
Thursday 27 August

Who plays · The nine European qualifiers — Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Brighton, Sunderland and Crystal Palace — enter against the 23 second-round winners: 32 clubs, 16 ties.

Draw · Not yet announced.

When · Split across two midweeks, the weeks of 7 and 14 September 2026, around the European fixture list.

How it works · The first national, single-pot draw; straight to penalties if level.

16 ties · complete
Tuesday 8 September
Wednesday 9 September
Tuesday 15 September
Wednesday 16 September
Thursday 17 September

Who plays · The last 16 — 8 ties.

Draw · Not yet announced.

When · Midweek, in the week of Monday 26 October 2026.

How it works · One match; straight to penalties if level.

Up next — the current round
Tuesday 27 October
Wednesday 28 October
Thursday 29 October

Quarter-finals

Fixtures to come

Who plays · The last eight — 4 ties. The EFL styles this Round Five.

Draw · Not yet announced.

When · Midweek, in the week of Monday 14 December 2026.

How it works · One match; straight to penalties if level.

Semi-finals

Fixtures to come

Who plays · The last four, over two legs at the clubs' own grounds.

Draw · Not yet announced.

When · First legs in the week of 11 January, second legs in the week of 1 February 2027.

How it works · Aggregate over two legs, no away-goals rule; level after the second leg means extra time, then penalties.

Final

Fixtures to come

Who plays · The final, at Wembley Stadium. The winner takes the 2027-28 Conference League play-off place.

When · Sunday 21 March 2027.

How it works · One match; extra time, then penalties if level.