Changes to the Carabao Cup: What You Need to Know

The Carabao Cup is set to undergo significant changes starting from the 2024/25 season.

These alterations have been prompted by the expansion of UEFA’s club competitions and are aimed at improving the tournament’s format and reducing fixture congestion.

Carabao Cup Seeding System

One of the key changes is the introduction of a seeding system. Here’s how it works:

• European Clubs: Teams participating in European competitions (such as the Champions League and Europa League) will be kept apart in the draw for the third round. This measure ensures that they don’t clash with European fixtures in September.
• Two-Legged Semi-Finals: Despite the changes, two-legged semi-finals will remain intact. The English Football League (EFL) insisted on preserving this format due to Premier League clubs’ failure to deliver a proposed £900 million football support system.

The Carabao Cup seeding system's criteria have not yet been made clear. Manchester City’s coach Pep Guardiola quickly commented with his team expecting a huge round of fixtures next season.

He said, “Next season, when we play in the Champions League, hopefully we will qualify, it is the same week as the Carabao Cup,”.

“How are we going to play? Will we play EDS [development squad] in the Carabao Cup?

Fixture Congestion and Overkill

These tweaks highlight the growing overkill of the football calendar. The expanded UEFA competitions already impact other commitments, and the upcoming 32-team Club World Cup will add further strain.

While top Premier League sides like Carabao Cup winners Liverpool won’t face Arsenal, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Tottenham, or Manchester United early in the Carabao Cup, there are chances of them meeting later in the tournament.

Carabao Cup Changes Impact on Smaller Clubs

While the changes benefit top clubs, they pose challenges for smaller teams. The abolition of FA Cup replays may relieve Liverpool and other Premier League sides, but it’s a setback for lower-league clubs.

For smaller teams, an extra cup game could generate crucial revenue for years of financial security.

Conclusion

The Carabao Cup’s new format aims to balance accommodating European clubs and maintaining the excitement of domestic football. As we eagerly await the start of the 2024/25 season, we’ll see how these changes play out on the pitch.