The race for the first major trophy of the season is off and running, with the start of the 2025/26 Carabao Cup.
Reigning champions Newcastle United defeated Liverpool 2-1 in last season's final and will be seeking a repeat of their first silverware in 70 years in a reshuffled competition this season.
Those two teams will be joined by clubs from across the Premier League and EFL pyramid competing to be crowned champions in the final at Wembley in March 2026.
Here we take a look at the best odds and tips for this season's Carabao Cup.
Carabao Cup 2025/26 winner odds, latest betting
| Odds via Sky Bet | |
|---|---|
| Liverpool | 5/1 |
| Manchester City | 6/1 |
| Arsenal | 8/1 |
| Newcastle United | 9/1 |
| Chelsea | 9/1 |
| Aston Villa | 12/1 |
| Manchester United | 12/1 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 12/1 |
* Odds correct at time of publish and will be updated as the season progresses
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Carabao Cup 2025/26 fixtures
Preliminary round
| Tuesday July, 29 (7:30 p.m.) | Barnet vs. Newport County |
| Tuesday August, 5 (7:45 p.m.) | Accrington Stanley vs. Oldham Athletic |
First round
| TBC | Barnet/Newport vs. Millwall |
| TBC | Accrington/Oldham vs. Peterborough United |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7 p.m.) | Swansea City vs. Crawley Town |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:30 p.m.) | Barrow vs. Preston North End |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:30 p.m.) | Middlesbrough vs. Doncaster Rovers |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:30 p.m.) | Stockport County vs. Crewe Alexandra |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Blackburn Rovers vs. Bradford City |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Blackpool vs. Port Vale |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Bristol City vs. Milton Keynes Dons |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Bristol Rovers vs. Cambridge United |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Cardiff City vs. Swindon Town |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Charlton Athletic vs. Stevenage |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Chesterfield vs. Mansfield Town |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Coventry City vs. Luton Town |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Gillingham vs. AFC Wimbledon |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Grimsby Town vs. Shrewsbury Town |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Harrogate Town vs. Lincoln City |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Leyton Orient vs. Wycombe Wanderers |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Northampton Town vs. Southampton |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Oxford United vs. Colchester United |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Plymouth Argyle vs. Queens Park Rangers |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Portsmouth vs. Reading |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Salford City vs. Rotherham United |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Stoke City vs. Walsall |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Tranmere Rovers vs. Burton Albion |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Watford vs. Norwich City |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | West Bromwich Albion vs. Derby County |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Wigan Athletic vs. Notts County |
| Tuesday August, 12 (7:45 p.m.) | Wrexham vs. Hull City |
| Tuesday August, 12 (8 p.m.) | Bromley vs. Ipswich Town |
| Wednesday, August, 13 (7:45 p.m.) | Barnsley vs. Fleetwood Town |
| Wednesday, August, 13 (7:45 p.m.) | Bolton Wanderers vs. Sheffield Wednesday |
| Wednesday, August, 13 (7:45 p.m.) | Cheltenham Town vs. Exeter City |
| Wednesday, August, 13 (7:45 p.m.) | Huddersfield Town vs. Leicester City |
| Wednesday August, 13 (8 p.m.) | Birmingham City vs. Sheffield United |
Carabao Cup 2025/26 round dates
- Preliminary round: July, 29 - August, 5
- First round: August, 12 - August 13
- Second round: w/c August, 25
- Third round: w/c September, 15 & w/c September, 22
- Fourth round: w/c October, 27
- Quarter-finals: w/c December, 15
- Semi-finals: w/c January, 12 & w/c February, 2
- Final: March, 22
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When and where is the Carabao Cup final 2025/26?
This season's Carabao Cup final is due to take place on Sunday, March 22.
Like last season, it is a slightly delayed final from previous years due to the expanded UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League league phases.
It will, as ever, take place at Wembley Stadium where two teams will be whittled down from the 92 entrants.