The Carabao Cup is back for 2026/27 as clubs across the top four divisions of English football battle it out to reach the final at Wembley on March 21. FourFourTwo is here with all the broadcast information you need to watch every game live.
? Free Stream: ITV (UK) / CBS Sports Golazo Network (US)
? UK: Sky Sports
? US: Paramount+
? Australia: beIN Sports
? Watch from anywhere: Try NordVPN 100% risk free
The Carabao Cup – also known as the English Football League Cup, or EFL Cup – was established in 1960 and is English football’s secondary cup competition. Unlike the FA Cup, which includes clubs from all the way down the football pyramid, the EFL Cup features only teams from the Premier League down to League Two.
This year, the first round is taking place across the weekend of August 6-10, with 35 fixtures involving clubs from the Championship, League One and League Two. Premier League teams who aren’t playing in Europe in 2026/27 join the competition in round two, before the sides participating in the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League enter in the third round. Manchester City are the EFL Cup holders after beating Arsenal 2-0 in last season’s final to lift the trophy for the ninth time.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to watch Carabao Cup live streams in the UK, US, and around the world, and how you can use a VPN to tune in while you’re abroad.
Can you watch the Carabao Cup for free?
The Carabao Cup will have at least one game per round available free-to-air in the UK on ITV and the free ITVX streaming service.
In the US, a limited number of games will also be available to watch for free via the CBS Sports Golazo Network.
The games expected to be free this week are:
- Bristol City vs Walsall — CBS Sports Golazo Network
- Wolves vs Port Vale — CBS Sports Golazo Network
- Wrexham vs Middlesbrough — ITV
Abroad for a round of the Carabao Cup? You need a VPN to unlock your stream — find out more below.
How to watch the Carabao Cup from abroad
Chances are you’ll find yourself overseas when some Carabao Cup games are taking place, but does that mean you have to miss the action? No, it doesn’t… a VPN will ensure you get your coverage from anywhere.
Carabao Cup live streams are geo-restricted on all streaming services, but a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a neat way around this, unpicking the geo-locks by altering your device’s digital location. It’s great for accessing your usual streaming services while on the move, and it does wonders for your internet security, too.
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How to watch the Carabao Cup in the UK?
Every Carabao Cup game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with select matches on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football. Every other fixture will be available on Sky Sports+.
As mentioned above, ITV will have live coverage of at least one game per round, including the final. Matches shown on ITV and ITVX will be completely free.
Watch every Carabao Cup game on Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the main rights-holder for the 2026/2027 Carabao Cup in the UK, with every game live on Sky Sports’ channels or the Sky+ bonus streaming offering. Plans start from £35 a month on a long-term TV contract, while new customers on a 24-month Sky TV contract can add Sky Sports for £22 a month. You can also stream short-term for a similar cost via Now TV.
Watch Carabao Cup games for free on ITV
In order to give the competition more exposure, Sky Sports is sharing at least one Carabao Cup fixture per round with public broadcaster ITV, including the final. These games are live on ITV1 and the ITVX streaming platform, which is free to use with a registration.
How to watch the Carabao Cup in the US
Paramount+ is the home of the Carabao Cup in the USA, with select games available to stream live.
Some matches will also be shown live for free on the CBS Sports Golazo Network.
Watch the Carabao Cup on Paramount+
Select Carabao Cup fixtures are shown live on the Paramount+ Essential package for $8.99 a month or $89.99 a year, which also gets you every single Champions League and Europa League game live. Bargain!View Deal
How to watch the Carabao Cup in Australia
Fans in Australia can watch every Carabao Cup match live on beIN Sports, with all games available on the beIN Sports Connect streaming platform.
Plans start from $15.99 a month or $159.99 a year, and you can also take advantage of a one-week free trial.
Watch the Carabao Cup on beIN Sports
Watch every Carabao Cup 2026/27 game live on beIN Sports for $15.99 a month or $159.99 a year, which includes a 7-day free trial. beIN Sports will also have live coverage of several matches in the Championship, League One and League Two, including the play-offs.View Deal
Other Carabao Cup live streams around the world
English football is popular all over the world so it’s no surprise you can watch Carabao Cup live streams in dozens of countries. Here are a few providers in select locations:
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Africa
Carabao Cup coverage in Africa is mostly shared between BeIN Sports and SuperSport.
BeIN Sports have the rights in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia.
SuperSport have the rights in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sa?o Tome? and Pri?ncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, St Helena and Ascension, Sudan, Swaziland, United Republic of Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Canada
DAZN has the rights to Carabao Cup live streams in Canada.
Hong Kong
Viewers in Hong Kong can tune into Carabao Cup action on TVB.
New Zealand
beIN Sports is your destination to watch the Carabao Cup 2026/27 in New Zealand.
South Africa
Carabao Cup fans in South Africa can watch all the action via subscription service SuperSport.
Carabao Cup — Round 1 Fixtures
All times BST
Thursday 6 August
7:45pm — Bristol City vs Walsall
Friday 7 August
7:45pm — Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Port Vale
7:45pm — Wycombe Wanderers vs Stevenage
8:00pm — Middlesbrough vs Wrexham
Saturday 8 August
1:00pm — Cambridge United vs Barnet
2:00pm — Queens Park Rangers vs Millwall
3:00pm — AFC Wimbledon vs Newport County
3:00pm — Barnsley vs Wigan Athletic
3:00pm — Bradford City vs Rochdale
3:00pm — Bristol Rovers vs Peterborough United
3:00pm — Bromley vs Reading
3:00pm — Burnley vs Notts County
3:00pm — Burton Albion vs Blackburn Rovers
3:00pm — Cardiff City vs Swindon Town
3:00pm — Crewe Alexandra vs Accrington Stanley
3:00pm — Derby County vs Lincoln City
3:00pm — Fleetwood Town vs Chesterfield
3:00pm — Gillingham vs Luton Town
3:00pm — Grimsby Town vs Blackpool
3:00pm — Leicester City vs Northampton Town
3:00pm — Leyton Orient vs Oxford United
3:00pm — Norwich City vs MK Dons
3:00pm — Preston North End vs Huddersfield Town
3:00pm — Salford City vs Shrewsbury Town
3:00pm — Sheffield Wednesday vs Bolton Wanderers
3:00pm — Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers
3:00pm — Stoke City vs Oldham Athletic
3:00pm — Swansea City vs Birmingham City
3:00pm — Watford vs Crawley Town
3:00pm — West Ham United vs Portsmouth
5:30pm — Cheltenham Town vs Charlton Athletic
5:30pm — Colchester United vs Southampton
5:30pm — Rotherham United vs West Bromwich Albion
Sunday 9 August
4:00pm — Mansfield Town vs Sheffield United
Monday 10 August
8:00pm — Plymouth Argyle vs Exeter City
What are the Carabao Cup 2026/27 round dates?
- Round One: 6-10 August 2026
- Round Two: w/c 24 August 2026
- Round Three: w/c 7 September and w/c 14 September 2026
- Round Four: w/c 26 October 2026
- Quarter Finals: w/c 14 December 2026
- Semi-Final First Leg: w/c 11 January 2027
- Semi-Final Second Leg: w/c 1 February 2027
- Final: Sunday 21 March 2027
We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
