How to watch Carabao Cup 2026/27: live stream EFL Cup online from anywhere
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The Carabao Cup 2026/27 kicks off on Thursday, August 6th, 2026, with Round One played across a full weekend for the first time. Manchester City defend the trophy after beating Arsenal 2-0 in the March 2026 final, while 92 clubs from England and Wales, including Welsh sides Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham, and Newport County, compete for the season's first major piece of silverware. Coverage is split across several platforms depending on where you are watching from.
If you are traveling abroad, your home streaming service will block access outside its country. A VPN can help you keep watching with the subscription you already have.
Where to watch Carabao Cup 2026/27
Below is an overview of confirmed official broadcasters for the 2026/27 Carabao Cup by country.
| Country | Platform | Price | Coverage | Free trial | Notes |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports / Sky Sports+ (stream via Sky or NOW) | Sky Sports from £22/month; NOW Sports £34.99/month | All matches | — | NOW is the contract-free option; Sky Sports+ streams every tie |
| United Kingdom (free) | ITVX | Free | Selected fixtures (at least 9 per season, incl. the final) | — | Free account, email only; covers only ITV's selected picks; geo-blocked outside the UK |
| United States | Paramount+ | From $8.99/month | 250+ EFL and Carabao Cup matches per season | — | CBS Sports holds exclusive US rights; some games on CBS Sports Network |
| United States (free) | CBS Sports Golazo Network | Free | Select matches during the season | — | No subscription required; also on the CBS Sports app and Pluto TV |
| Canada | DAZN | From CA$24.99/month | Carabao Cup included in the football package | — | Annual plan pricing; rolling monthly costs more |
| Australia | beIN Sports Connect | AU$15.99/month or AU$159.99/year | Every match | 7 days (via Kayo Sports) | No lock-in contract; also available through Foxtel and Kayo |
How to watch Carabao Cup 2026/27 from abroad with a VPN
Carabao Cup streams are tied to the country you are in. If you travel abroad, your home service blocks access by detecting your foreign IP address, whether that is Sky Sports or ITVX in the UK, Paramount+ in the US, DAZN in Canada, or beIN Sports in Australia. A VPN routes your connection through a server in your home country, so your usual subscription works exactly as it does at home.
- Choose a reliable VPN. We recommend NordVPN for streaming live sport. It retained 86% of base speed in Cybernews testing and reliably unblocks major sports platforms such as ITVX, Sky Sports, Paramount+, and DAZN.
- Download and install the VPN app on your device. Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and most smart TVs.
- Connect to a server in your home country. This gives you an IP address that your streaming service accepts.
- Open your streaming app and log in as usual. If the site still detects your location, clear your cookies or use a private browser window.
- Find the Carabao Cup live stream and start watching. Keep the VPN connected for the full match.
Sky Sports, Paramount+, DAZN, and beIN Sports all block access outside their home country, even for paying subscribers. Connect to a server back home with NordVPN and your streaming service works as normal, with fast HD quality on any device.
How to watch the Carabao Cup while traveling
Fans traveling abroad. Whatever service you use at home, it stops working once you cross a border. Connect to a VPN server in your home country before opening the app, and the steps in the guide above apply. Note that ITV's free ITVX streams in the UK cover only selected ties, so even UK viewers need a Sky Sports or NOW subscription for full coverage abroad.
United States. Paramount+ carries the Carabao Cup in the US, with plans from $8.99/month. CBS Sports holds the rights through the 2027/28 season and shows more than 250 EFL and Carabao Cup matches per year. Select games also stream free on CBS Sports Golazo Network during the season, though Round One fixtures this weekend are exclusive to Paramount+.
Canada. DAZN includes the Carabao Cup in its football package, starting from CA$24.99/month on an annual plan.
Australia. beIN Sports Connect shows every match live for AU$15.99/month, with no lock-in contract. Kayo Sports and Foxtel also carry beIN channels, and Kayo offers a 7-day free trial for new customers.
Why you need a VPN
Broadcasters pay for the right to show the Carabao Cup only in specific countries. Sky Sports and ITV share the UK rights, CBS covers the US, DAZN has Canada, and beIN Sports has Australia. Because rights are split this way, your home service blocks you the moment you travel, even if you pay for it.
That affects every subscriber. Open Sky Sports, Paramount+, DAZN, or beIN Sports Connect from abroad and the platform detects your foreign IP address and denies access. A VPN routes your connection through a server in your home country, so the service treats you as a domestic viewer and your streams load as normal.
In the UK, selected ties also stream free on ITVX, including the final, but ITV's picks cover a small fraction of the competition. Full coverage everywhere requires a paid subscription, and a VPN simply keeps the service you already have working while you travel. For a full comparison of VPN options, see our guide to the best VPNs for streaming.
Carabao Cup 2026/27 season schedule and key dates
The competition runs from August 2026 to March 2027, with Premier League clubs entering in Round Two and clubs in European competition joining in Round Three.
| Stage | Dates | Notes |
| Round One | August 6th-10th, 2026 | First round played on a weekend for the first time |
| Round Two | Week commencing August 24th, 2026 | Remaining Premier League clubs enter |
| Round Three | Weeks commencing September 7th and 14th, 2026 | European competition clubs enter |
| Round Four | Week commencing October 26th, 2026 | — |
| Quarterfinals | December 2026 | — |
| Semifinal first legs | Week commencing January 11th, 2027 | Two-legged semifinals |
| Semifinal second legs | Week commencing February 1st, 2027 | — |
| Final | Sunday, March 21st, 2027 | Wembley Stadium; free on ITV and ITVX in the UK |
Round One fixtures and where to watch
Round One features 35 ties across five days. Here are the standout fixtures with confirmed broadcast details. Every tie streams live on Sky Sports+ in the UK, and US coverage this round is on Paramount+.
| Date | Fixture | Kickoff (BST) | UK broadcast | US streaming |
| Thu, Aug 6th | Bristol City v Walsall | 7:45 PM | Sky Sports+ | Paramount+ |
| Fri, Aug 7th | Wolves v Port Vale | 7:45 PM | Sky Sports+ | Paramount+ |
| Fri, Aug 7th | Wycombe Wanderers v Stevenage | 7:45 PM | Sky Sports+ | Paramount+ |
| Fri, Aug 7th | Middlesbrough v Wrexham | 8:00 PM | ITV1 / ITVX (free), Sky Sports | Paramount+ |
| Sat, Aug 8th | QPR v Millwall | 2:00 PM | Sky Sports+ | Paramount+ |
| Sat, Aug 8th | Burnley v Notts County | 3:00 PM | Sky Sports+ | Paramount+ |
| Sat, Aug 8th | West Ham United v Portsmouth | 3:00 PM | Sky Sports+ | Paramount+ |
| Sat, Aug 8th | Leicester City v Northampton Town | 3:00 PM | Sky Sports+ | Paramount+ |
| Sat, Aug 8th | Swansea City v Birmingham City | 3:00 PM | Sky Sports+ | Paramount+ |
| Sat, Aug 8th | Colchester United v Southampton | 5:30 PM | Sky Sports | Paramount+ |
| Sun, Aug 9th | Mansfield Town v Sheffield United | 4:00 PM | Sky Sports+ | Paramount+ |
| Mon, Aug 10th | Plymouth Argyle v Exeter City | 8:00 PM | Sky Sports | Paramount+ |
Middlesbrough v Wrexham is ITV's confirmed free-to-air pick for Round One, and the Monday night Devon derby between Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City closes the round.
Season preview
Manchester City arrive as defending champions after winning their ninth League Cup in March, when Nico O'Reilly's two headers sealed a 2-0 win over Arsenal at Wembley. City remain the benchmark in this competition, having lifted the trophy six times in the past decade.
Arsenal will want to go one better after losing the final. The beaten finalists have been among the strongest sides in England over the past two seasons, and the Carabao Cup is a realistic target given their squad depth.
Liverpool and Chelsea both enter in the later rounds due to European commitments and historically treat the competition seriously once the semifinals approach. Newcastle United, winners in 2024/25, showed last season how quickly fortunes change in this tournament after City ended their reign.
The Carabao Cup is a straight knockout. Ties are single-leg until the semifinals, which are played over two legs in January and February. The staggered entry system means early rounds are dominated by Championship, League One, and League Two clubs, which regularly produces upsets before the Premier League's biggest names join. The competition also includes the Welsh clubs in the EFL, so Wrexham's trip to Middlesbrough in Round One is an all-Championship tie rather than a cross-border curiosity.
Frequently asked questions
How can I watch the Carabao Cup if I am traveling abroad?
Start with the official broadcaster in the country you are in: Paramount+ in the US, DAZN in Canada, and beIN Sports Connect in Australia. If you want your usual home coverage while abroad, your service will block access outside its country. Connect to a VPN server in your home country and log in as normal. This applies to Sky Sports and NOW in the UK, Paramount+ in the US, DAZN in Canada, and beIN Sports in Australia.
Does ITVX show every Carabao Cup match?
No. ITV shows at least nine matches per season free-to-air: one tie from each of the first four rounds, an additional later-round tie, both legs of one semifinal, and the final. Sky Sports and Sky Sports+ cover every match, streamed live via Sky or NOW.
Can I watch the Carabao Cup for free in the US?
Select matches stream free on CBS Sports Golazo Network during the season, available on the CBS Sports app, CBSSports.com, and Pluto TV with no subscription. However, no Round One fixture this weekend is on the free Golazo feed, so Paramount+ is required for the opening round. Full coverage of the competition sits on Paramount+.
Which VPN should I use to watch the Carabao Cup abroad?
We recommend NordVPN for streaming your home service from abroad, thanks to its fast servers and reliable unblocking. See our guide to the best VPNs for streaming for a full comparison.
When is the Carabao Cup final 2027?
The final takes place on Sunday, March 21st, 2027, at Wembley Stadium. It will be shown live on Sky Sports and free-to-air on ITV and ITVX in the UK.
