EFL CUP FINAL 2026 tickets

The 2026 Carabao Cup final promises to be an exciting battle between two determined teams. The road to the Carabao Cup final is challenging but rewarding, offering clubs the first opportunity to claim major silverware each season. Newcastle United are the current holders after their historic 2-1 victory over Liverpool in 2025, ending their 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy. The 2025-26 competition will feature a new preliminary round for the first time, accommodating nine Premier League clubs competing in European competitions.

Important Carabao Cup final stats

Most Important Carabao Cup Final Statistics & Records

Tournament overview

• First Tournament: 1960-61 season (fourth oldest major English competition)
• Current Holders: Newcastle United (2025 - their first win)
• Total Different Winners: 24 clubs have won the Carabao Cup
• Current Sponsor: Carabao Energy Drink (since 2017)
• European Qualification: Winner qualifies for UEFA Conference League

Most successful clubs

• Most Wins: Liverpool (10 victories, last in 2024)
• Second Most Wins: Manchester City (8 victories, last in 2021)
• Third Most Wins: Manchester United (6 victories, last in 2023)
• Most Final Appearances: Liverpool (14 finals)
• Most Final Defeats: Liverpool (4 defeats)

Consecutive victories

• Four Consecutive Wins: Liverpool (1981-1984) & Manchester City (2018-2021)
• Two Consecutive Wins: Nottingham Forest (1978-1979, 1989-1990)
• First Winners: Aston Villa (1961) - beat Rotherham United 3-2 on aggregate

Individual player records

• Most Goals Overall: Ian Rush (46 goals in 75 matches)
• Most Goals in One Season: Clive Allen - Tottenham (12 goals, 1986-87)
• Most Goals in One Match: Frankie Bunn (6 goals for Oldham vs Scarborough, 1989)
• Most Final Appearances: Sergio Agüero & Fernandinho (6 finals each with Manchester City)
• Most Final Wins by Player: Sergio Agüero & Fernandinho (6 wins each)
• Youngest Player: Harvey Elliott - Liverpool (15 years, 174 days)
• Most Assists Overall: Kenny Dalglish & Robbie Fowler (joint record holders)

Managerial records

• Most Wins by Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson (4 victories with Manchester United)
• Most Recent Success: Eddie Howe (Newcastle United, 2025)
• Notable Managers: Pep Guardiola (4 wins with Manchester City), Jürgen Klopp (2 wins with Liverpool)

Final score records

• Highest Scoring Final: 4-3 (Tottenham vs Leicester City, 1999)
• Most Recent Final: Newcastle United 2-1 Liverpool (2025)
• Penalty Shootout Finals: Multiple occasions, including Liverpool 11-10 Chelsea (2022)
• Extra Time Finals: Common occurrence before penalty rule changes
• Last Replay Final: Leicester City 1-0 Middlesbrough (1997)

Attendance & venue records

• Main Venue: Wembley Stadium (current era)
• Temporary Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff (2001-2007 during Wembley rebuild)
• Historic Venues: Various grounds during two-leg final era (1961-1966)
• Final Date: Typically late February or March

Disciplinary records

• Red Cards in Finals: Occasional occurrences throughout competition history
• Most Cards in Match: Various high-tension encounters
• Penalty Shootout Finals: Multiple occasions since 1998
• VAR Introduction: Modern finals feature video assistant referee

Competition records (All rounds)

• Biggest Win Ever: West Ham United 10-0 Bury (1983) & Liverpool 10-0 Fulham (1986)
• Highest Scoring Match: Reading 5-7 Arsenal (2012)
• Famous Giant Killings: Swindon Town vs Arsenal (1969), Birmingham City vs Arsenal (2011)
• MK Dons 4-0 Manchester United (2014): Notable upset in second round

Historic milestones

• First Single-Leg Final: 1967 (QPR 3-2 West Bromwich Albion)
• First Wembley Final: 1967
• Last Two-Leg Final: 1966
• Introduction of Penalty Shootouts: 1998 (replaced replays)
• No Extra Time Rule: Introduced 2018-19 season

Sponsorship history

• Carabao Cup: 2017-present
• Capital One Cup: 2012-2016
• Carling Cup: 2003-2012
• Worthington Cup: 1998-2003
• Coca-Cola Cup: 1992-1998
• Football League Cup: 1960-1992

Special achievements

• First Major Trophy: Often the first piece of silverware available each season
• European Qualification: Winner qualifies for UEFA Conference League
• Youth Development: Platform for young players to gain experience
• Lower League Opportunities: Allows teams from all four divisions to compete

Format evolution

• 1960-1966: Two-leg finals
• 1967-1997: Single-leg finals with replays if needed
• 1998-2018: Single-leg finals with extra time and penalties
• 2018-present: Single-leg finals, straight to penalties after 90 minutes

Road to the 2025-2026 Carabao Cup final

• Preliminary Round: Week commencing 11 August 2025 (NEW)
• First Round: Week commencing 11 August 2025
• Second Round: Week commencing 25 August 2025
• Third Round: Weeks commencing 15 & 22 September 2025
• Fourth Round: Week commencing 27 October 2025
• Quarter Finals: Week commencing 16 December 2025
• Semi-Finals (First Leg): Week commencing 6 January 2026
• Semi-Finals (Second Leg): Week commencing 3 February 2026
• The Final: Sunday 22 February 2026 (Wembley Stadium)

2025-26 format changes

• New Preliminary Round: Four teams compete (Oldham Athletic, Barnet, Accrington Stanley, Newport County)
• European Club Byes: Nine Premier League clubs in Europe enter at Round 3
• Entry Points:
  • Preliminary Round: 4 teams
  • Round 1: EFL clubs (minus preliminary round losers)
  • Round 2: Non-European Premier League clubs
  • Round 3: European Premier League clubs