How to catch the Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City for free on UK TV
ITV in Sky deal: A sub-licensing agreement, reached in 2024, permits a selection of EFL and Carabao Cup matches to be aired on terrestrial television alongside Sky Sports' own comprehensive coverage. This includes Sunday's final.
Length of deal: The current broadcast agreement extends until the conclusion of the 2026/27 season. This ensures fans can count on the final being accessible on terrestrial TV for at least one more year following Sunday's spectacle, reports the Mirror.
Cost of deal: The sub-licensing deal is reportedly valued at approximately £15 million. This additional income from ITV helps boost the financial distribution to all 72 EFL clubs, supporting the wider English football pyramid beyond the Premier League.
Coverage start time: Coverage on ITV and STV commences at 3.30pm with interviews and analysis. The match gets underway at 4.30pm.
UK streaming: Fans can also watch for free on the ITVX and STV Player apps with a verified account. This enables streaming on mobile phones, tablets and smart TVs nationwide.
Sky's role: Whilst ITV offers the free-to-air alternative, Sky, as the primary rights holder, continues to broadcast every single match of the tournament live across its various channels and the Sky Sports+ platform.
Sky coverage: The pre-match analysis starts on the Sky Sports Football channel at 3.30pm, whilst Sky Sports Main Event will also broadcast the match following the conclusion of the relegation battle between Tottenham and Nottingham Forest
US viewers: The match is exclusive to Paramount+. The streaming service will commence its coverage at 11.30am ET. Although it requires a subscription, new users can often utilise a seven-day free trial to catch the final.
UK radio: Commentary will be provided by BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT. Both stations will offer comprehensive live commentary, pre-match build-up and post-match reaction.