How to buy Carabao Cup tickets: EFL Cup fixtures, prices, teams & more

Whatever you prefer to call it, whether it be the Carabao Cup, the EFL Cup or the League Cup, the competition always produces high drama and unforgettable footballing memories. The quest for glory in this season’s Carabao Cup continues apace and you could be part of the thrilling competition by securing seats to an upcoming Cup encounter.

We’ve already witnessed some jaw-dropping encounters during this season’s Carabao Cup. One of the most memorable was Grimsby’s giant-killing act in the second round, when they knocked out Manchester United 12-11 on penalties, after a nailbiting shootout. We can expect plenty more classic Cup clashes over the coming months, and you could be there in person to witness them.

Let GOAL take you through all the vital Carabao Cup information you need to know, to give you a better chance of getting your hands on match tickets this season, including where to purchase them and how much they will cost.

Upcoming Carabao Cup 2025/26 fixtures

Sixteen teams currently continue in search of Carabao Cup glory, although that number will be whittled down to eight after this week’s Round of 16 matches, which are as follows:

DateGameVenueTicketsTue Oct 28, 7.45pmGrimsby vs Brentford Blundell ParkTicketsTue Oct 28, 7.45pmWycombe vs FulhamAdams ParkTicketsTue Oct 28, 8pmWrexham vs CardiffSTōK RacecourseTicketsWed Oct 29, 7.45pmArsenal vs BrightonEmirates StadiumTicketsWed Oct 29, 7.45pmLiverpool vs Crystal PalaceAnfieldTicketsWed Oct 29, 7.45pmSwansea vs Manchester CitySwansea.com StadiumTicketsWed Oct 29, 7.45pmWolves vs ChelseaMolineuxTicketsWed Oct 29, 8pmNewcastle vs TottenhamSt James' ParkTickets

What is the Carabao Cup 2025/26 format and schedule?

The Carabao Cup is a knockout tournament that includes all the teams within the English Football League (Premier League, Championship, League One & League Two). Each round consists of head-to-head matches, with the winners advancing to the next stage. Premier League teams start entering the competition from the second round, although teams involved in European competitions join from the third round.

What is the Carabao Cup 2025/26 format and schedule?

Carabao Cup 2025/26 Schedule:

Preliminary Round: w/c August 4, 2025

First Round: w/c August 11, 2025

Second Round: w/c August 25, 2025

Third Round: w/c September 15 & 22, 2025

Fourth Round: w/c October 27, 2025

Quarter-finals: w/c December 15, 2025

Semi-finals: w/c January 12 & February 2, 2026

Final: Sunday, March 22, 2026 (Wembley Stadium)

How to buy Carabao Cup 2025/26 tickets

Purchasing tickets directly from official club sites is generally considered the safest method for acquiring Carabao Cup tickets. Early booking is essential, with season ticket holders and registered members generally having the best chance of securing seats.

Carabao Cup tickets are not automatically included in the price of a team’s season ticket, but holders (and club members) will normally be given priority access periods to purchase their seats.

As well as allowing fans to experience a thrilling midweek encounter under the lights, the Carabao Cup also offers many rare opportunities to see their sides in action. It’s growing increasingly difficult for supporters to get their hands on Premier League match tickets, so these Cup ties come as a possible alternative route for some.

In addition to buying Carabao Cup tickets via official routes, fans do have the option to obtain them on the secondary market.Ticombo and StubHub are two of the leading retailers for those seeking to buy tickets through alternative channels, with tickets from £30.

How much are Carabao Cup 2025/26 tickets?

Unsurprisingly, demand for Carabao Cup tickets grows as the competition continues and we get closer to the final stages and Final. The earlier rounds will generally see tickets available at affordable prices.

Prices will also depend on several factors, including match date and where you are located within the stadium. They are likely to increase too if a high-profile team is involved in an upcoming fixture.

Using Liverpool as an example, their Premier League tickets through official routes range from £9 - £61 for EPL encounters, but those highest-priced non-hospitality seats can drop almost 50% to around £35 if a non-EPL side are the opponents in a Carabao Cup clash at Anfield.

Remember to keep tabs on the clubs’ official ticket portals for additional information about availability. Carabao Cup match tickets on secondary resale sites such as Ticombo and StubHub are currently available from £30 upwards.

What Carabao Cup 2025/26 hospitality packages are available?

Hospitality, in regards to football, is the name given to an upscale matchday package that goes above and beyond the usual regular ticket experience.

These experiences can range from simply offering entrance to pre-match lounges and bars to soak up the atmosphere, to a selection of dining options, ranging from buffet to multiple-course meals, and all the way up to private suites for a limited number of guests.

It's worth checking out the official club sites to view the full range of hospitality packages and premium tickets available for forthcoming Carabao Cup matches. Prices depend not only on the package chosen, but the number of guests, and the fixture in question. Higher profile games where there is a bigger demand, are likely to see increased prices across the board.

How to watch Carabao Cup 2025/26 matches

For UK viewers, Sky Sports are showing/streaming every match from this season’s Carabao Cup live. As well as being able to watch all the games on Sky Sports, you can also stream them on NOW and the Sky Sports app.

NOW is an instant streaming service offering access to all Sky Sports channels, every Sky Sports+ stream, and much more. It's an app, so customers can sign up and stream instantly across over 60 devices. NOW Sports Memberships also give customers access to all live Sky Sports+ streams as well as Sky Sports documentaries and selected replays and highlights on demand within your membership period. The various membership packages are as follows:

6-Month Saver Membership: £26 a month (6-month minimum term) - Then £34.99 per month unless cancelled.

Day Membership: £14.99 - One-off payment - Your NOW Sports Day Membership starts immediately after purchase and lasts for 24 hours

Flexible Month Membership: £29.99 a month for 6 months - Cancel anytime.

The Carabao Cup Final can also be viewed live all over the world. CBS Sports is the home of the English Football League (EFL) and Carabao Cup in the United States after agreeing a four-deal in 2024, whilst Paramount+ have the rights to show Carabao Cup live streams. The Paramount+ Essential package costs $7.99 per month or $59.99 per year, while Paramount+ with Showtime (which allows you to stream over 40,000 movies and TV episodes without ads) costs $12.99 per month or $119.99 per year.

In Australia, you can watch Carabao Cup live streams on BeIN Sports. A subscription will cost you $15.99 AUD per month or $159.99 AUD per year, which works out at 12 months for the price of 10. You can also get a week's free trial on both options.

What to expect from Carabao Cup 2025/26?

Newcastle’s 70-year search for domestic silverware finally came to an end when they beat Liverpool 2-1 in March to lift the Carabao Cup aloft at Wembley. As well as a monumental moment for the devoted Toon Army, it was also an inspiration for many clubs and supporters around the country who continue to dream of trophy success of their own.

Liverpool may have been left heartbroken at Wembley last March, but they remain top of the all-time League Cup honours’ list, with 10 successes since the competition first launched in 1961. The Mersey Reds are two trophy triumphs clear of Manchester City, who were amazingly crowned Carabao Cup champions four years on the bounce (2018-2021). That four-win streak emulated Liverpool’s famous winning run between 1981-1984.

Although the Premier League big guns have dominated the Carabao Cup in recent times, minnows from the lower leagues have had their moments in the spotlight down the years. The last club outside the top flight to reach the League Cup Final was Bradford City in 2013. The League Two outfit shocked the likes of Arsenal and Aston Villa en route to Wembley that year. The Bantams were routed 5-0 by Swansea in the Final, but their dramatic run became part of Cup folklore. You have to go back to 1991 though, for the last time a non-top tier side got their name etched in the trophy. Sheffield Wednesday, from the then Second Division, beat a Manchester United team that included the likes of Bryan Robson, Mark Hughes and Paul Ince to reign supreme.

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