Football League Cup

The EFL Cup (referred to historically, and colloquially, as the League Cup), is an annual knockout football competition in men’s domestic English football. Organized by the English Football League (EFL), it is open to any club within the top four levels of the English football league system – 92 clubs in total – comprising the top level Premier League, and the three divisions of the English Football League’s own league competition (Championship, League One and League Two).

First held in 1960–61 as the Football League Cup, it is one of the three top-tier domestic football competitions in England, alongside the Premier League and FA Cup. It concludes in February, long before the other two, which end in May. It was introduced by the league as a response to the increasing popularity of European football, and to also exert power over the FA. It also took advantage of the roll-out of floodlights, allowing the fixtures to be played as midweek evening games.

The tournament is played over seven rounds, with single-leg ties throughout, except for the semi-finals. The final is held at Wembley Stadium which is the only tie in the competition played at a neutral venue and on a weekend (Sunday). The first two rounds are split into North and South sections, and a system of byes based on league level ensures higher ranked teams enter in later rounds, and to defer the entry of teams still involved in Europe.

Winners receive the EFL Cup and qualify for European football. They also get a place in the UEFA Europa Conference League. Should the winner also qualify for Europe through other means at the end of the season, this place is transferred to the highest-placed Premier League team not already qualified for European competition.

Although the League Cup is one of the four domestic trophies attainable by English league teams, it is of far lower prestige than the league championship or the FA Cup. League Cup winners receive £100,000 prize money (awarded by the Football League) with the runners-up receiving £50,000, considered relatively insignificant to top-flight teams, compared to the £2 million prize money of the FA Cup, which is in turn eclipsed by the Premier League’s television money (awarded on final league position) and consequent participation in the Champions League.

The League Cup is open to all 92 members of the Premier League and English Football League and is divided into seven rounds, organized so that 32 teams remain by the third round. Teams involved in European competition during the season receive a bye to the third round; the remaining Premier League teams enter at the second round, and the remaining Football League teams enter at the first round.

If the number of byes causes an odd number of teams to enter a round, another team may be given a bye (usually the highest-placed team of those relegated from the Premier League the previous season) or a preliminary round may be played between the two teams promoted from the Football Conference the previous season (or, if only one team is promoted, that team would play against the lowest-placed team not to be relegated from the Football League the previous season).

Matches in all rounds are single-legged, except for the semi-finals, which are two-legged. The final is played as a single match at Wembley Stadium. Finals that have finished level after extra time are decided by penalty shoot-out.

The best player in the League Cup Final is presented with the Alan Hardaker Trophy, named after Alan Hardaker, the former secretary of the Football League who devised the Football League Cup.

The winners receive the EFL Cup, a three-handled Georgian-style urn with a separate plinth. Designed and manufactured by Mappin & Webb, it weighs 2.976 kg and measures 27 cm by 20.5 cm. It is worth around £20,000.