The English Football League Cup, officially known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons, is one of England's most exciting cup competitions. The annual knock-out competition is open to any club in the top four levels of the English Football League system. The Premier League teams so often go deep into the competition, making it a must-watch affair in the latter stages with blockbuster matches.
Newcastle United lifted their first trophy after causing a major upset against Premier League champions Liverpool in the final last season. It broke their 70-year trophy drought. The nature of the competition allows shocks and upsets and engages fans. The fans in the US will be thrilled by the magnitude of the knockout matches between the top clubs.
Record title winners Liverpool, who enter the competition at a much later stage, will be strong favourites once again. Do not take usual contenders like Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and holders Newcastle United for granted.
The second round of the Carabao Cup is about to kick off soon, and GOAL brings everything you need to know about the competition and how to watch it on Paramount+.
Carabao Cup Teams, Schedule and Key Dates
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The tournament is open to 92 teams in the English Football League. Usually, the teams from the Premier League and the teams with European football, especially, enter the tournament in Round 3 after receiving a couple of byes. The tournament follows a single-leg knockout format with penalties following the full-time whistle in case of a draw after full-time. Only the semi-finals of the tournament will follow a two-leg format.
Here is the schedule and the key dates for the 2025/26 Carabao Cup.
| Date | Fixture | Kick-Off Time (ET) | Broadcaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 26 August | Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. West Ham United | 14:30 | Paramount+ |
| Tuesday 26 August | Norwich City vs. Southampton | 14:45 | Paramount+ |
| Tuesday 26 August | Sunderland vs. Huddersfield Town | 14:45 | Paramount+ |
| Tuesday 26 August | Preston North End vs. Wrexham AFC | 14:45 | Paramount+ |
| Tuesday 26 August | Birmingham City vs. Port Vale | 14:45 | Paramount+ |
| Tuesday 26 August | Burnley vs. Derby County | 14:45 | Paramount+ |
| Tuesday 26 August | AFC Bournemouth vs. Brentford | 14:45 | Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network |
| Tuesday 26 August | Millwall vs. Coventry City | 14:45 | Paramount+ |
| Tuesday 26 August | Sheffield Wednesday vs. Leeds United | 15:00 | Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network |
| Wednesday 27 August | Fulham vs. Bristol City | 14:45 | Paramount+ |
| Wednesday 27 August | Oxford United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion | 14:45 | Paramount+ |
| Wednesday 27 August | Everton vs. Mansfield Town | 14:45 | Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network |
| Wednesday 27 August | Grimsby Town vs. Manchester United | 15:00 | Paramount+ |
Round one: w/c August 11
Round two: w/c August 25
Round three: w/c September 15 and w/c September 22
Round four: w/c 27 October 2025
Round five: w/c 15 December 2025
Semi-final first leg: w/c January 12 2026
Semi-final second leg: w/c February 2 2026
Final: Sunday, March 22 2026 at Wembley Stadium.
What is Paramount+?
Paramount+
Paramount+ is a subscription video-on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned by Paramount Global. The service launched in the United States in 2014 as CBS All Access, drawing its content from the libraries of CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, Showtime and Paramount Pictures.
Following a merger of CBS with Viacom, content was expanded in 2021, and the service was rebranded as Paramount+.
It is also home to multiple sports like Soccer, Football, Basketball and Golf. With exciting movies and sports in its lineup, Paramount+ is pretty much an essential subscription for sports and movie lovers.
Paramount+ offers a free trial to its users and is moderately priced at just $7.99 per month. It gives the users access to a wide array of sports, original shows and movies. The service is available on both Android and iOS and can be used on smart TVs with streaming devices like Roku and Fire TV Stick.
Carabao Cup Coverage on Paramount+
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The EFL's US rights were previously held by ESPN, which broadcast all games of the Carabao Cup exclusively on its ESPN+. When the previous deal expired, a bidding war ensued between multiple interested parties to snap up the EFL's rights and subsequently the Carabao Cup's.
After multiple rounds of negotiations, CBS won the race and signed a historic deal. Trevor Birch, the EFL's chief executive, said in an official announcement that the appetite for football in the North American market has been growing year on year, allowing CBS to bag a deal and promote the tournament like never before.
The deal started from the 2024/25 season and is in its second year now. It will run through to the end of the 2027/28 season. The deal sees the streaming service show 30 Carabao Cup fixtures, including every single game from the round of 16.
How to Watch the Carabao Cup on Paramount+?
To watch the Carabao Cup on Paramount+, you need to have a valid account and subscribe to their services to catch all the action live. Here's a detailed breakdown of all the steps.
- Launch the Paramount+ App or Go to the Website: Open the Paramount+ app on your smart TV, streaming device, or mobile phone, or navigate to paramountplus.com on your computer or mobile web browser.
- Locate the Sign In Option: On the app or website, find and select the "Sign In" option.
- Choose Sign In Method: Depending on your device and subscription type, you might have options like "Sign In" (for direct account login) or "Sign in with TV Provider" (if you subscribe through a TV provider like YouTube TV).
- Enter Your Credentials: If using a direct account login, enter the email address and password associated with your Paramount+ subscription. If signing in with a TV provider, you'll be guided through the provider's login process.
- Complete the Sign-In Process: Click or tap the "Sign In" button to access your account.
- Subscribe to a package: Browse through the packages offered by Paramount+ and select the package of your liking, and proceed to checkout. Pay for the subscription through a variety of payment methods offered, and get a confirmation of your subscription.
- Start Streaming: Once you subscribe, you can browse and choose the Carabao Cup content available on Paramount+.
To enjoy an optimum Paramount+ streaming experience on all devices, have a stable and fast internet connection (3 Mbps speed for 720p HD and 5Mbps speed for 1080p HD). Minimise usage on other devices during the streaming of the games.
Make sure that you disable VPNs, have the "Best Quality" setting enabled on Paramount+ and update the app to its latest version to have a smooth viewing experience.
Paramount+ Commentators and Analysts
Part of the reason why CBS won the race to EFL rights was their famed CBS Golazo Show and their expert reporter and analyst cast. The same set of pundits work on the Carabao Cup as well, giving a rich viewing experience to the fans.
Here is the list of popular reporters and analysts for the Carabao Cup:
CBS Sports HQ – Ian Joy, Luis García, Jimmy Conrad, Heath Pearce, Thomas Rongen, Nigel Reo-Coker, Fabrizio Romano, James Benge, Jonathan Johnson, Poppy Miller
Golazo Show – Nico Cantor, Manish Bhasin, Ayo Akinwolere, Pien Meulensteen
Rules analyst – Christina Unkel
Why Watch the Carabao Cup on Paramount+?
Paramount is the primary broadcaster of the Carabao Cup. Through its extensive coverage, the streaming service offers pre- and post-match shows, including the half-time analysis. For fans who missed the live action, on-demand is available almost immediately after the match ends. Choice is available to fans as they switch between multiple games happening at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paramount+ the only way to stream the Carabao Cup in the US?
Paramount+ is the primary broadcast partner of the Carabao Cup in the US. A few games are also telecast on CBS Sports Golazo Network, a free channel.
Does Paramount+ show all the games of the Carabao Cup?
Paramount+ streams every game of the Carabao Cup.
Is there a free trial for Paramount+?
Paramount+ offers a seven-day free trial for first-time users.
Is Spanish commentary available on Paramount+?
No, Spanish commentary is not available on Paramount+
The Bottom Line
Paramount+ offers excellent soccer coverage, along with the Carabao Cup. It is also an all-rounder as it has other sports too. Its library is full of exciting content ranging from original shows to blockbuster movies.
Starting at an affordable rate, it is the first choice of many sports lovers and the only home of the Carabao Cup in the US.