EFL Cup facts for kids
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EFL Cup logo used since 2017–18 season
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| Organising body | English Football League |
|---|---|
| Founded |
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| Region |  England Wales |
| Number of teams | 92 |
| Qualifier for | UEFA Conference League play-off round |
| Current champions | Liverpool (10th title) |
| Most successful club(s) | Liverpool (10th title) |
| Television broadcasters | Sky Sports ITV Sport (highlights only) International: Broadcasters |
The EFL Cup, also known as the League Cup, is a yearly football competition for men's teams in England. It's currently called the Carabao Cup because of its sponsor. This tournament is a knockout competition, meaning if a team loses, they are out!
The English Football League (EFL) organizes it. All 92 clubs from the top four levels of English football can join. This includes teams from the Premier League and the three divisions of the English Football League (Championship, League One, and League Two).
The competition started in 1960–61 as the Football League Cup. It's one of the three main football competitions in England, along with the Premier League and the FA Cup. The EFL Cup final happens in February, earlier than the other two. It was created to make football more exciting and to use new floodlights for evening games. In 2016, the Football League changed its name to the English Football League, so the tournament became the EFL Cup.
The tournament has seven rounds. Most matches are single games, except for the semi-finals, which have two games. The final is played at Wembley Stadium, a famous neutral venue, on a Sunday. The first two rounds are split into North and South sections. Stronger teams join in later rounds. The winners get the EFL Cup trophy and a chance to play in European competitions, like the UEFA Conference League. If the winner already qualified for Europe, their spot goes to another top Premier League team. Liverpool is the most successful club, winning the cup ten times, including the 2024 final against Chelsea.
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What is the EFL Cup's Importance?
The League Cup is one of four main trophies English teams can win. However, it's often seen as less important than the league title or the FA Cup. Winners receive £100,000, which is much less than the FA Cup's £2 million prize. Premier League teams also earn a lot more from TV rights and playing in the Champions League.
Because of the lower prize money, some clubs play with younger or less experienced players. This gives smaller clubs a better chance to win against bigger teams, which is called a "giant-killing". Many top teams, like Arsenal and Manchester United, use the competition to help young players get experience in big matches. Some fans even jokingly called it the "Mickey Mouse cup".
However, in recent years, the cup has gained more respect. Big Premier League clubs have started to win it more often. Teams like Manchester City (6 wins), Manchester United (5 wins), Liverpool (5 wins), and Chelsea (3 wins) have won 19 of the tournaments between 2001 and 2024.
How Did the EFL Cup Start?
The idea for the League Cup came from Alan Hardaker, the Football League Secretary. He wanted clubs to earn more money because fewer matches were being played. He also felt the Football League needed to improve English football.
The competition started when fewer people were attending matches. There were also some disagreements between the Football League and the Football Association about sharing money.
In the late 1950s, many English clubs installed floodlights in their stadiums. This meant games could be played on weekday evenings during winter. The League Cup began in the 1960–61 season as a mid-week floodlit tournament.
Some bigger clubs didn't like the League Cup at first. They thought it added more games when fewer were needed. They felt it didn't help improve the quality of football.
Aston Villa won the very first League Cup in 1960–61. The next three finals were won by clubs that had never won a major trophy before. One of them, Norwich City, hadn't even played in the top division yet.
The League Cup helped the Football League have more power in talks with the FA and UEFA (European football's governing body). Hardaker pushed for the League Cup winner to get a spot in European competitions. Because of this, UEFA agreed to give the League Cup winner a place in European tournaments, if they were in the top division. Tottenham Hotspur was the first team to qualify for Europe by winning the cup.
Before this agreement, bigger clubs didn't take the competition seriously. But once a European spot and a final at Wembley Stadium were offered, the cup became more important. By the 1968–69 season, almost all teams wanted to play. Entry became mandatory for all Football League teams the following year.
Liverpool has won the cup the most times, with ten victories. Both Liverpool and Manchester City have won four League Cups in a row.
In 1985, English clubs were banned from European competitions for a while after a sad event involving Liverpool fans at a European Cup final. This meant League Cup winners like Norwich City and Nottingham Forest couldn't play in Europe for several years, even after the ban was lifted.
In 2016–17, the competition was renamed the EFL Cup. This was part of the Football League's change to become the English Football League.
Recent Changes to the Cup
In the early 2000s, there were talks about removing the European qualification prize from the League Cup. This is because England and France were the only countries in Europe to offer a European spot for winning their second cup competition. However, the League Cup kept its European prize. This has helped the cup stay popular, especially for fans of clubs who might not qualify for Europe any other way.
Big Upsets in the EFL Cup
"Giant-killings" are when smaller teams beat much bigger ones. They are less famous in the League Cup than in the FA Cup because non-league teams don't play. However, there have been some amazing upsets:
- In the 1966–67 final, Third Division team Queens Park Rangers came back from 2-0 down to beat top-flight West Bromwich Albion 3-2. This was the first final at Wembley.
- Two years later, in 1968–69, Third Division Swindon Town beat Arsenal 3-1 after extra time in the final.
- In 1974–75, Fourth Division team Chester beat defending league champions Leeds United 3-0 on their way to the semi-finals.
- In 1995–96, Manchester United lost 3-0 at home to York City. York won 4-3 on total goals. Manchester United went on to win the Premier League and FA Cup that season and didn't lose another home game!
- Grimsby Town had several upsets. In 1997–98, they beat Premier League teams Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester City. In 2001–02, they beat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield.
- In 2010, Liverpool lost to Northampton Town, one of the lowest-ranked teams in League Two.
- In 2012–13, League Two team Bradford City knocked out three Premier League teams! They were the lowest-ranked team to reach the final since 1962. However, they lost to Swansea City in the final. Swansea became the first team from outside England to win a major English trophy.
- In the 2022–23 competition, Gillingham (from League Two) beat Brentford (from the Premier League) on penalties. There were 79 places between them in the league system!
How is the EFL Cup Played?
The League Cup is open to all 92 teams in the Premier League and English Football League. It has seven rounds. By the third round, 32 teams are left.
Teams playing in European competitions join in the third round. Other Premier League teams join in the second round. All other Football League teams start in the first round.
Most matches are single games. If scores are tied, they go straight to a penalty shoot-out. The semi-finals are played over two games, but the away goals rule was removed in 2018–19. The final is a single game.
The Final Match
For the first six seasons, the final was played over two games, one at each team's home stadium. Since 1967, the final has been a single match at Wembley Stadium. From 2001 to 2007, the final was held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff while the new Wembley was being built.
Until 1997, if a final was tied after extra time, it would be replayed at a different stadium. The 1977 final between Aston Villa and Everton needed two replays!
Since 1998, if the final is tied after extra time, it's decided by a penalty shoot-out. The final is usually played in late February or early March.
Since 1989–90, the best player in the League Cup final receives the Alan Hardaker Trophy. It's named after Alan Hardaker, who helped create the competition.
Who Has Won the EFL Cup?
| Team | Winners | Years won | Runners-up | Years runners-up | Final appearances |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 10 | 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1994–95, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2011–12, 2021–22, 2023–24 | 4 | 1977–78, 1986–87, 2004–05, 2015–16 | 14 |
| Manchester City | 8 | 1969–70, 1975–76, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21 | 1 | 1973–74 | 9 |
| Manchester United | 6 | 1991–92, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2016–17, 2022–23 | 4 | 1982–83, 1990–91, 1993–94, 2002–03 | 10 |
| Chelsea | 5 | 1964–65, 1997–98, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2014–15 | 5 | 1971–72, 2007–08, 2018–19, 2021–22, 2023–24 | 10 |
| Aston Villa | 5 | 1960–61, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1993–94, 1995–96 | 4 | 1962–63, 1970–71, 2009–10, 2019–20 | 9 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 4 | 1970–71, 1972–73, 1998–99, 2007–08 | 5 | 1981–82, 2001–02, 2008–09, 2014–15, 2020–21 | 9 |
| Nottingham Forest | 4 | 1977–78, 1978–79, 1988–89, 1989–90 | 2 | 1979–80, 1991–92 | 6 |
| Leicester City | 3 | 1963–64, 1996–97, 1999–2000 | 2 | 1964–65, 1998–99 | 5 |
| Arsenal | 2 | 1986–87, 1992–93 | 6 | 1967–68, 1968–69, 1987–88, 2006–07, 2010–11, 2017–18 | 8 |
| Norwich City | 2 | 1961–62, 1984–85 | 2 | 1972–73, 1974–75 | 4 |
| Birmingham City | 2 | 1962–63, 2010–11 | 1 | 2000–01 | 3 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2 | 1973–74, 1979–80 | 0 | — | 2 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 1 | 1965–66 | 2 | 1966–67, 1969–70 | 3 |
| Middlesbrough | 1 | 2003–04 | 2 | 1996–97, 1997–98 | 3 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 1 | 1966–67 | 1 | 1985–86 | 2 |
| Leeds United | 1 | 1967–68 | 1 | 1995–96 | 2 |
| Stoke City | 1 | 1971–72 | 1 | 1963–64 | 2 |
| Luton Town | 1 | 1987–88 | 1 | 1988–89 | 2 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 1 | 1990–91 | 1 | 1992–93 | 2 |
| Swindon Town | 1 | 1968–69 | 0 | — | 1 |
| Oxford United | 1 | 1985–86 | 0 | — | 1 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 1 | 2001–02 | 0 | — | 1 |
| Swansea City | 1 | 2012–13 | 0 | — | 1 |
| West Ham United | 0 | — | 2 | 1965–66, 1980–81 | 2 |
| Newcastle United | 0 | — | 2 | 1975–76, 2022–23 | 2 |
| Everton | 0 | — | 2 | 1976–77, 1983–84 | 2 |
| Southampton | 0 | — | 2 | 1978–79, 2016–17 | 2 |
| Sunderland | 0 | — | 2 | 1984–85, 2013–14 | 2 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 0 | — | 2 | 1994–95, 2003–04 | 2 |
| Rotherham United | 0 | — | 1 | 1960–61 | 1 |
| Rochdale | 0 | — | 1 | 1961–62 | 1 |
| Oldham Athletic | 0 | — | 1 | 1989–90 | 1 |
| Tranmere Rovers | 0 | — | 1 | 1999–2000 | 1 |
| Wigan Athletic | 0 | — | 1 | 2005–06 | 1 |
| Cardiff City | 0 | — | 1 | 2011–12 | 1 |
| Bradford City | 0 | — | 1 | 2012–13 | 1 |
What are the EFL Cup's Sponsors?
From 1981 onwards, the League Cup has had different sponsors. This means the cup is named after its sponsor, unlike the FA Cup.
| Period | Sponsor | Name | Trophy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960–1981 | N/A | Football League Cup | Original |
| 1981–1986 | Milk Marketing Board | Milk Cup | Sponsor designed |
| 1986–1990 | Littlewoods | Littlewoods Challenge Cup | |
| 1990–1992 | Rumbelows | Rumbelows Cup | Original |
| 1992–1998 | Coca-Cola | Coca-Cola Cup | |
| 1998–2003 | Worthington's | Worthington Cup | |
| 2003–2012 | Carling | Carling Cup | |
| 2012–2016 | Capital One | Capital One Cup | |
| 2016–2017 | N/A | EFL Cup | |
| 2017–present | Carabao Energy Drink | Carabao Cup |
The EFL Cup Trophy
The winners receive the EFL Cup. There have been three different designs for the trophy. The one used now is the original. It's a fancy, three-handled cup with a separate base. It was made by Mappin & Webb, weighs about 3 kg, and is worth around £20,000.
The original trophy was used until 1981. Then, the first sponsor, Milk Marketing Board, created their own trophy. The next sponsor, Littlewoods, also had their own trophy. But since 1990, all sponsors have used the original trophy again.
Where Can You Watch the EFL Cup?
In the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, Sky Sports broadcasts 15 live matches until 2024. ITV Sport shows highlights from some matches starting in 2022/23.
From the 2024/25 season, all matches will be shown live on Sky Sports.
EFL Cup Records
Here are some interesting records from the EFL Cup (as of 2024):
- Most tournament wins (team): 10 – Liverpool
- Most consecutive tournament wins (team): 4 – Liverpool (1981–1984) and Manchester City (2018–2021)
- Most final appearances (team): 14 – Liverpool
- Most tournament wins (individual): 6
- Sergio Agüero and Fernandinho for Manchester City
- Most final appearances (individual): 6
- Ian Rush for Liverpool
- Emile Heskey for Leicester City, Liverpool, and Aston Villa
- Fernandinho for Manchester City
- Most goals scored (individual, career): 49 – Ian Rush
- Most goals scored (individual, season): 12 – Clive Allen for Tottenham Hotspur (1989–90)
- Most goals scored (individual, match): 6 – Frankie Bunn for Oldham Athletic (vs Scarborough, 1989)
- Biggest win:
- West Ham United 10–0 Bury (1983)
- Liverpool 10–0 Fulham (1986)
- Biggest win in a final: Swansea City 5–0 Bradford City (2013)
- Highest scoring game: 12 goals
- Most penalties scored in a penalty shoot-out: 27
- Liverpool 14–13 Middlesbrough (2014)
- Derby County 14–13 Carlisle United (2016)
- Youngest player: Harvey Elliott (15 years, 174 days) – for Fulham (2018)
- Youngest goalscorer in the final: Norman Whiteside (17 years, 323 days) – for Manchester United (1983)
- Lowest league tier of a League Cup winner: tier 3
- Queens Park Rangers (1966–67)
- Swindon Town (1968–69)
- Lowest league tier of a League Cup runner-up: tier 4
- Rochdale (1961–62)
- Bradford City (2012–13)
See also
In Spanish: Copa de la Liga (Inglaterra) para niños
