Try telling Newcastle United about the supposed insignificance of the Carabao Cup, after the Magpies ended their 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy in March.
Increased calendar congestion means this competition has often been treated by managers as a chance to offer run-outs to fringe players and burgeoning starlets. Those who treat the League Cup with the respect it deserves give themselves the best chance of a grand Wembley day out.
It doesn‘t boast the FA Cup’s history, the allure of continental success, nor the riches that come with merely competing in the Premier League, but this trophy is always the first on offer in the English calendar. It has its own heritage and prestige, too.
In 2025–26, the competition started as early as late July thanks to the introduction of a preliminary round, and 92 clubs are vying to play under the arch in March.
Here’s a complete overview of the 2025–26 Carabao Cup.
Northern Section
Date Result
5 August 2025 Accrington Stanley 3–1 Oldham
Southern Section
Date Result
29 July 2025 Barnet 2–2 (2–4p) Newport County
Northern Section
Date Result
12 August 2025 Barrow 0–1 Preston North End
12 August 2025 Middlesbrough 0–4 Doncaster Rovers
12 August 2025 Stockport County 3–1 Crewe Alexandra
12 August 2025 Accrington Stanley 2–1 Peterborough United
12 August 2025 Blackburn Rovers 1–2 Bradford City
12 August 2025 Blackpool 0–1 Port Vale
12 August 2025 Chesterfield 0–2 Mansfield Town
12 August 2025 Grimsby Town 3–1 Shrewsbury Town
12 August 2025 Harrogate Town 1–3 Lincoln City
12 August 2025 Salford City 0–0 (2–3 p) Rotherham United
12 August 2025 Stoke City 0–0 (4–3 p) Walsall
12 August 2025 West Brom 1–1 (2–3 p) Derby County
12 August 2025 Wigan Athletic 1–0 Notts County
12 August 2025 Wrexham 3–3 (5–3 p) Hull City
13 August 2025 Barnsley 2–2 (5–4 p) Fleetwood Town
13 August 2025 Bolton Wanderers 3–3 (2–4 p) Sheffield Wednesday
13 August 2025 Huddersfield Town 2–2 (3–2 p) Leicester City
13 August 2025 Birmingham City 2–1 Sheffield United
19 August 2025 Tranmere Rovers 1–1 (4–5 p) Burton Albion
Southern Section
Date Result
12 August 2025 Swansea City 3–1 Crawley Town
12 August 2025 Newport County 0–1 Millwall
12 August 2025 Bristol City 2–0 MK Dons
12 August 2025 Bristol Rovers 0–2 Cambridge United
12 August 2025 Cardiff City 2–1 Swindon Town
12 August 2025 Charlton Athletic 3–1 Stevenage
12 August 2025 Coventry City 1–0 Luton Town
12 August 2025 Gillingham 1–1 (2–4 p) AFC Wimbledon
12 August 2025 Leyton Orient 0–1 Wycombe Wanderers
12 August 2025 Northampton Town 0–1 Southampton
12 August 2025 Oxford United 1–0 Colchester United
12 August 2025 Plymouth Argyle 3–2 QPR
12 August 2025 Portsmouth 1–2 Reading
12 August 2025 Watford 1–2 Norwich City
12 August 2025 Bromley 1–1 (5–4 p) Ipswich Town
13 August 2025 Cheltenham Town 2–0 Exeter City
Northern Section
Date Result
26 August 2025 Accrington Stanley vs. Doncaster Rovers
26 August 2025 Barnsley vs. Rotherham United
26 August 2025 Birmingham City vs. Port Vale
26 August 2025 Burnley vs. Derby County
26 August 2025 Burton Albion vs. Lincoln City
26 August 2025 Preston North End vs. Wrexham
26 August 2025 Stoke City vs. Bradford City
26 August 2025 Sunderland vs. Huddersfield Town
26 August 2025 Wigan Athletic vs. Stockport County
26 August 2025 Sheffield Wednesday vs. Leeds United
27 August 2025 Everton vs. Mansfield Town
27 August 2025 Grimsby Town vs. Manchester United
Southern Section
Date Result
26 August 2025 Reading vs. AFC Wimbledon
26 August 2025 Cambridge United vs. Charlton Athletic
26 August 2025 Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. West Ham United
26 August 2025 Bournemouth vs. Brentford
26 August 2025 Bromley vs. Wycombe Wanderers
26 August 2025 Cardiff City vs. Cheltenham Town
26 August 2025 Millwall vs. Coventry City
26 August 2025 Norwich City vs. Southampton
26 August 2025 Swansea City vs. Plymouth Argyle
27 August 2025 Fulham vs. Bristol City
27 August 2025 Oxford United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak inspired Newcastle to glory in last season’s final. / Marc Atkins/Getty Images
This season’s Carabao Cup final will be held at Wembley Stadium on 22 March, 2026.
Wembley has held the showpiece event of this competition every year since 2008, and we were treated to a significant occasion in 2025 as Newcastle beat favourites Liverpool 2–1 to end their 70-year major domestic trophy drought.
Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool are ten-time winners of this competition. / Tom Jenkins/Getty Images
Newcastle became the 24th different club to win the League Cup earlier this year, with half of the competition’s winners only prevailing once.
No team has had more success than ten-time winners Liverpool, who were the holders entering 2024–25 after they beat Chelsea in the 2024 final, their fifth League Cup trophy lift of the 21st century.
Manchester City once monopolised this competition, with the strength in depth at Pep Guardiola’s disposal allowing them to coast through the early rounds before the big boys returned for crunch time in the new year. The Cityzens are eight-time winners, with Guardiola overseeing half of those triumphs.
Manchester United have lifted the League Cup six times, while Aston Villa and Chelsea have each prevailed on five occasions.
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