2026 EFL Cup final

2026 EFL Cup final
Wembley Stadium will host the final.
Event2025–26 EFL Cup
Arsenal Manchester City
Date22 March 2026 (2026-03-22)
VenueWembley Stadium, London

The 2026 EFL Cup final will be the final match of the 2025–26 EFL Cup. The match will take place on 22 March 2026 at Wembley Stadium in London, England,[1] between rivals Arsenal and Manchester City.[2] The clubs have met in the 2018 EFL Cup final as well as the 2014 and 2023 FA Community Shields—with the latter being Arsenal's most recent competitive title.

This will be Arsenal's ninth League Cup final, the first EFL Cup final since losing to City in 2018, and the first appearance in any final since the 2020 FA Cup final. They are seeking their first major trophy since winning the 2019–20 FA Cup and a first League Cup title since the 1992–93 edition.

This will be Manchester City's tenth League Cup final and the first EFL Cup final since their most recent win in 2021 to secure their eighth overall and joint-record fourth consecutive title. They are looking for their first major cup competition title since winning the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League.[a]

Route to the final

Main article: 2025–26 EFL Cup

Arsenal

Round Opposition Score
3 Port Vale (A) 2–0
4 Brighton & Hove Albion (H) 2–0
QF Crystal Palace (H) 1–1 (8–7 p)
SF Chelsea (A) 3–2
Chelsea (H) 1–0
Key: (H) = Home; (A) = Away

As a Premier League club involved in UEFA competitions, Arsenal entered in the third round and were drawn away to EFL League One club Port Vale. At Vale Park, on 24 September 2025, Arsenal won 2–0 with goals from Eberechi Eze – his first goal for the club – and Leandro Trossard.[3] In the fourth round Arsenal were drawn at home to fellow Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion. At the Emirates Stadium on 29 October 2025, Arsenal won 2–0 again with goals for the Gunners from Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka which sent the Gunners through to the quarter-finals.[4] In the quarter-finals Arsenal were drawn against another Premier League club in Crystal Palace. At the Emirates Stadium on 23 December 2025, Arsenal drew 1–1 with an own goal from Maxence Lacroix being equalised by Marc Guéhi. As the game finished level after regulation time, it went straight to a penalty shoot-out which Arsenal won 8–7 with Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice, Saka, Trossard, Mikel Merino, Riccardo Calafiori, Jurriën Timber and William Saliba all scoring their spot-kicks for the Gunners and Jean-Philippe Mateta, Justin Devenny, Will Hughes, Borna Sosa, Jefferson Lerma, Adam Wharton and Christantus Uche all converted their penalty kicks; Lacroix missed the decisive penalty kick to send Arsenal through to the semi-finals.[5] In the semi-finals Arsenal were drawn against another fellow Premier League club and rivals Chelsea over two legs. Arsenal won the first leg 3–2 at Stamford Bridge on 14 January 2026 with two goals for Chelsea from Alejandro Garnacho and goals for Arsenal from Ben White, Viktor Gyökeres and Martín Zubimendi.[6][7] Arsenal won the second leg 1–0 at the Emirates Stadium on 3 February 2026 with a goal from former Chelsea player Kai Havertz to give Arsenal a 4–2 aggregate victory and send them through to the final.[8]

Manchester City

Round Opposition Score
3 Huddersfield Town (A) 2–0
4 Swansea City (A) 3–1
QF Brentford (H) 2–0
SF Newcastle United (A) 2–0
Newcastle United (H) 3–1
Key: (H) = Home; (A) = Away

As a Premier League club involved in UEFA competitions, Manchester City entered in the third round and were drawn away to EFL League One club Huddersfield Town. At Kirklees Stadium, on 24 September 2025, Manchester City won 2–0 with goals from Phil Foden and Savinho.[9] In the fourth round, they were drawn away to EFL Championship side Swansea City, played away at Swansea.com Stadium on 29 October 2025. The match finished 3–1 for the visitors, with Gonçalo Franco opening the scoring for Swansea City before three goals from Jérémy Doku, Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki for Manchester City.[10] In the quarter-finals, City were drawn at home to fellow Premier League side Brentford, where they won 2–0 at City of Manchester Stadium on 17 December 2025 with goals from Cherki and Savinho.[11] In the two-legged semi-final, City were drawn against cup holders Newcastle United, with the first leg played at St James' Park on 13 January 2026. City won 2–0 courtesy of freshly-signed Antoine Semenyo and Cherki.[12] The second leg was played on 4 February, with Manchester City winning 3–1. Marmoush scored twice and Tijjani Reijnders scored once before Anthony Elanga picked up a consolation goal for Newcastle, giving Manchester City a 5–1 aggregate victory and sending them to the final.[13]

Match

Background

This will see Arsenal play in their first major cup final since the 2020 FA Cup final, which they won against London rivals Chelsea, and seek their second major trophy under the management of their former player and captain Mikel Arteta. This final is a repeat of the 2018 EFL Cup final, when Arsène Wenger's Arsenal lost 3–0 to City, with Arteta as Pep Guardiola's assistant manager. Both clubs could still win the quadruple of the EFL Cup, the FA Cup, the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League, which would be the first time an English team has achieved such a feat.

The clubs have been rivals since 2008, and competed for the Premier League title in the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons, with City winning on both occasions.

Details

ArsenalvManchester City
Referee: Peter Bankes

Match rules

Broadcasting

The final will be televised live in the United Kingdom via pay-TV broadcaster Sky, who will show the game on Sky One, as well as the Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football channels. The match will also be available free-to-air on ITV1 (STV in Scotland). The final will be available for streaming on Sky Go and Now, with ITV's coverage also streamed live on ITVX and STV Player. On radio, match coverage will air on BBC Radio 5 Live and Talksport.


Notes

  1. ^ Excluding their subsequent triumphs in the 2023 UEFA Super Cup, 2023 FIFA Club World Cup, and 2024 FA Community Shield, which are not considered as "major titles", as well as the 2023–24 Premier League, which is not a cup competition.

References

  1. ^ Yomtov, Jesse (3 February 2026). "When is Carabao Cup final? Arsenal beats Chelsea, awaits Man City-Newcastle winner". USA Today. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  2. ^ "Arsenal reach Carabao Cup Final after last-gasp Havertz goal". EFL.com. English Football League. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  3. ^ Rose, Gary (24 September 2025). "Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal: Eberechi Eze score first Gunners goal in EFL Cup win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  4. ^ Howell, Alex (29 October 2025). "Arsenal 2-0 Brighton: Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka goals send Arsenal through". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  5. ^ Howell, Alex (23 December 2025). "Arsenal beat Crystal Palace on penalties for place in EFL Cup semi-final against Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  6. ^ "Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal: Viktor Gyokeres ends goal drought as Gunners edge first leg of Carabao Cup semi-final". Sky Sports. 14 January 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  7. ^ Kinsella, Nizaar (14 January 2026). "Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal: Gunners have EFL Cup semi-final advantage but Garnacho gives Blues hope". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  8. ^ Howell, Alex (3 February 2026). "Carabao Cup: Arsenal beat Chelsea to reach first major cup final for almost six years". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  9. ^ "Foden, Savinho score as Man City ease past Huddersfield". ESPN. PA Media. 24 September 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  10. ^ "Erling Haaland sits as Man City reach Carabao Cup quarters". ESPN. PA Media. 29 October 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  11. ^ "Cherki channels Haaland in leading Man City to Carabao Cup semifinals". ESPN. Associated Press. 17 December 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  12. ^ "Semenyo scores again as Man City get semifinal edge over Newcastle". ESPN. PA Media. 13 January 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Manchester City roll past Newcastle into cup final with Arsenal". ESPN. PA Media. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
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