EFL CUP Tickets

What Is the Carabao Cup?

The Carabao Cup is England's second major knockout cup competition, sitting alongside the FA Cup as one of the pillars of the domestic football calendar. Founded in 1960 as the Football League Cup, the tournament has carried a string of sponsorship names over the decades, including the Milk Cup, Coca-Cola Cup, Worthington Cup and Carling Cup, before Thai energy drink brand Carabao took over naming rights in 2017.

Open to all 92 clubs in the Premier League and English Football League, the Carabao Cup offers something no league campaign can replicate: the genuine possibility that a club from the lower divisions can topple a Premier League giant on any given night. Beyond the prestige of lifting silverware at Wembley, the winner earns a place in the UEFA Europa Conference League, adding a European incentive that raises the stakes for every participating club.

Carabao Cup Format and Structure

The Carabao Cup is a straightforward knockout tournament comprising seven rounds and a final. Its staggered entry system ensures a level playing field in the early stages. Clubs from League One and League Two enter in Round 1, while Championship sides and Premier League clubs without European commitments join from Round 2. Teams involved in UEFA competitions enter from Round 3.

Every tie up to and including the quarter-finals is decided in a single match. If the score is level after 90 minutes, the contest goes directly to a penalty shootout with no extra time, keeping the action fast and decisive. The semi-finals are the exception: they are played over two legs, home and away, giving both clubs a fair chance to reach the showpiece. The final takes place at Wembley Stadium, England's national football ground, in front of up to 90,000 supporters.

Carabao Cup Winners and History

The Carabao Cup's honour roll reads like a who's who of English football, yet it has also produced its share of surprise champions. Liverpool FC lead the all-time standings with a record 10 titles, a tally that underlines the club's sustained success across generations. Manchester City sit second with 9 trophies, including the most recent edition, won under the guidance of Pep Guardiola. Manchester United have lifted the cup 6 times.

Other notable winners include Tottenham Hotspur (4 titles), Aston Villa, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City. The cup regularly delivers memorable upsets, with lower-league clubs producing giant-killing runs that capture the imagination of football fans across the country. It is precisely this unpredictability that makes every round appointment viewing.

Key Teams to Watch

Liverpool FC

Liverpool are the most successful club in Carabao Cup history with 10 titles, a record that speaks to the importance the club places on this competition. Anfield, their iconic 61,000-seat home on Merseyside, creates one of the most intimidating atmospheres in European football. With a squad that blends experienced internationals with exciting young talent, Liverpool remain serious contenders every season. The club's depth means they can rotate heavily in earlier rounds and still field a side capable of winning comfortably.

Manchester City

Manchester City have emerged as the dominant force in modern Carabao Cup football, amassing 9 titles and counting. Under Pep Guardiola, City have made the competition something of a personal possession, lifting the trophy in multiple consecutive seasons. The Etihad Stadium (53,400 capacity) provides a formidable home advantage, and the club's extraordinary squad depth means they can field a competitive team even when resting first-choice players. City enter every edition as one of the favourites, and any run in the tournament inevitably passes through them.

Manchester United

Manchester United's 6 Carabao Cup titles place them among the competition's most decorated clubs. Old Trafford, the 74,310-seat "Theatre of Dreams", remains one of the most iconic venues in world football. United's history in this competition includes memorable finals and dramatic runs that have defined eras. With continued investment in the squad and a passionate fanbase that fills the stadium for every cup tie, United are always a serious threat in the knockout rounds.

Arsenal

Arsenal may not top the Carabao Cup's all-time winners list, but the Gunners are a consistent presence in the latter stages of the competition. The Emirates Stadium (60,704) offers a modern, atmospheric setting for cup nights, and the club's talented squad, packed with technical quality and pace, is well suited to the demands of knockout football. Arsenal's desire to compete on all fronts makes them dangerous opponents for any club drawn against them.

Chelsea

Chelsea's cup pedigree is well established, with multiple Carabao Cup triumphs adding to an impressive trophy cabinet. Stamford Bridge (40,341) in west London provides a tight, electric atmosphere on cup nights. The club's tradition of investing in squad depth means they can rotate effectively without losing quality, and their record of reaching finals and semi-finals in recent seasons confirms their status as perennial contenders in this competition.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur have won the Carabao Cup 4 times and remain one of the competition's most storied participants. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (62,850), one of the finest football grounds in the world, gives Spurs a spectacular home advantage. The club's hunger for silverware drives a genuine commitment to the cup, and their blend of attacking talent and tactical versatility makes them a dangerous proposition in knockout football.

Iconic Carabao Cup Venues

Wembley Stadium stands as the ultimate destination for every Carabao Cup campaign. With a capacity of 90,000, the arch-topped national stadium provides a spectacular backdrop for the final each season, drawing fans from across the country for English football's mid-season showpiece.

What makes the Carabao Cup special, however, is the journey to Wembley. Early rounds take supporters to smaller, atmospheric grounds where the noise is closer, the passion is rawer, and the possibility of an upset feels tangible. A midweek floodlit cup tie at a League One or League Two ground offers a fundamentally different matchday experience from anything the Premier League can provide.

As the competition progresses, ties move to some of England's most celebrated stadiums. Old Trafford, Anfield, the Emirates Stadium and the Etihad Stadium all host quarter-final and semi-final matches that draw capacity crowds and generate unforgettable atmospheres.

How to Buy Carabao Cup Tickets on TicketGol

Securing your Carabao Cup tickets on TicketGol is simple:

1. Find your match. Search by team, round or date to browse all available Carabao Cup fixtures.
2. Compare prices. See every seller's price for each section of the ground, displayed side by side so you always find the best deal.
3. Pick your seats. Choose from multiple seating categories to match your budget and preference.
4. Pay securely. Complete your checkout through our encrypted payment system and receive mobile e-tickets straight to your inbox.

Carabao Cup Ticket Prices

Carabao Cup ticket prices vary depending on the round, the teams involved, and the venue. Early-round ties at lower-league grounds are among the most affordable live football experiences in England, making the cup an excellent entry point for fans looking to watch competitive football without Premier League price tags. As the competition advances into the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the Wembley final, prices increase in line with demand.

There are currently 0 Carabao Cup fixtures available on TicketGol, with tickets starting from and reaching for the most sought-after matches. If you are looking for a great value option, on is available from just .