The 2026-27 Carabao Cup bracket is one of the most fun printables in English soccer, and this free version lets you map the entire road to Wembley on a single page. Print it, fill it in from the Third Round through the Final, and follow every shock result along the way.
How the 2026-27 Carabao Cup Bracket Works
The Carabao Cup (officially the EFL Cup) is a straight knockout from start to finish. Every tie is a single match, with no replays. If the score is level after 90 minutes the game goes straight to extra time and then penalties, so a bracket is the perfect way to follow it. Only the semi-finals are played over two legs, home and away, decided on aggregate.
Rounds One and Two are split into northern and southern sections to cut down on travel for the smaller clubs. From the Third Round it becomes one open, unseeded draw, which is where our printable bracket picks up. That means all 32 remaining clubs can be drawn against anyone, and the giant-killings really start to fly.
2026-27 Carabao Cup Round Dates
| Round | Week / Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Round | Aug 1-2, 2026 | Four lowest-ranked clubs |
| First Round | w/c Aug 3, 2026 | 70 EFL clubs, regionalised |
| Second Round | w/c Aug 24, 2026 | Most Premier League clubs enter |
| Third Round | w/c Sep 7 & 14, 2026 | European clubs enter, open draw |
| Fourth Round | w/c Oct 26, 2026 | Last 16 |
| Quarter-Finals | w/c Dec 14, 2026 | Round Five |
| Semi-Final, Leg 1 | w/c Jan 11, 2027 | Two legs |
| Semi-Final, Leg 2 | w/c Feb 1, 2027 | Two legs |
| The Final | Sun Mar 21, 2027 | Wembley Stadium |
Dates are the scheduled competition weeks and can shift for television selections. For more midweek soccer to print and follow, see our 2026-27 Champions League league-phase schedule.
When Do the Big Clubs Enter?
The nine Premier League clubs playing in European competition are held back and enter at the Third Round in mid-September. Every other Premier League side joins at the Second Round in late August. That staggered entry is why the Third Round draw is the headline event of the early Carabao Cup calendar, and why our printable bracket starts there. You can read the full club list on the official English Football League site.
How to Fill Out Your Carabao Cup Bracket
Print the bracket page, then write in the 32 Third Round ties as they are drawn. Pick a winner for each, work your way across to the two-legged semi-finals, and name your Wembley finalists. Page two has a round-by-round dates and results log so you can track how your picks hold up. Circle one lower-league dark horse before a ball is kicked; the Carabao Cup almost always rewards it.
Want more free brackets and schedules to print? Browse the full library at SportsBrackets.net.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026-27 Carabao Cup final?
The final is scheduled for Sunday, March 21, 2027 at Wembley Stadium in London.
How many rounds are in the Carabao Cup?
There are seven rounds after the preliminary round: First Round, Second Round, Third Round, Fourth Round, Quarter-Finals, two-legged Semi-Finals, and the Final.
Are there replays in the Carabao Cup?
No. Every tie except the semi-finals is a single match. If it is level after 90 minutes it goes straight to extra time and, if needed, penalties.
What does the winner get?
Along with the trophy, the winner earns a place in the play-off round of the 2027-28 UEFA Conference League.
