Why are the EFL Cup semifinals played over two legs?

The EFL Cup, known historically as the League Cup and currently as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the first major trophy up for grabs in the domestic English soccer season, with the 2025/26 competition nearing its conclusion as the two-legged semifinals get underway this week.

Which teams are in the 2025/26 EFL Cup semifinals?

Newcastle United, who lifted the trophy for the first time last season, face eight-time winners Manchester City in the first semifinal.

In the other, five-time champions Chelsea take on Premier League leaders Arsenal, who have surprisingly only ever won the trophy twice (1986/87 and 1992/93).

League Cup tradition

For most domestic cup ties in most countries, the saying “anything can happen in a one-off game” often applies. But that is famously not the case in the EFL Cup semifinals. The five previous rounds were all made up of single-leg matches played at the home of one of the two participants. The final will, of course, be a one-off match played at Wembley Stadium.

But the last four sees the qualified teams go head to head over two legs, one at the home of each. Why? “Because it’s always been like that” seems to be the most straightforward answer.

Since the EFL Cup was formed in 1960/61, the semifinals have always been played over two legs, which was also the case for some of the other rounds at different points in the competition’s history. For instance, the first six finals were two-legged affairs, as was the first round between 1975/76 and 2000/01.

What tie-breaker is used in the EFL Cup semifinals?

The semifinals also differ from earlier rounds in that extra time (two periods of 15 minutes) and potentially a penalty shootout take place if a tie is level after 180 minutes. That is also the case in the final after 90 minutes.

Between round one and the quarterfinals, no extra time is played if the teams are level, with the game going straight to penalties.

Up until 2018/19, away goals were used at the end of 120 minutes if the semifinals went to extra time, but didn’t come into play after 90 minutes. That rule was scrapped ahead of the 2018/19 competition, since when extra time has only been used in the semifinals and final.

2025/26 EFL Cup semifinals: fixtures, results, dates, kick-off times

When is the 2025/26 EFL Cup final?

The 2025/26 EFL Cup final will be a one-off game played at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday March 22, 2026.

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