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Carabao Cup Semi-Finals Set: Draw on 1 February 2024

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, December 16th 2025 at 12:48 GMT by Sporting News

Carabao Cup Semi‑Finals: Dates, Times, and What to Expect

The English Football League’s (EFL) knockout competition – now known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons – is set to progress to its most crucial stage: the semi‑finals. The upcoming draw, which will determine the pairings for the final two legs of the knockout phase, is slated to take place on 1 February 2024 at 4:30 pm GMT. The announcement came from the EFL’s official channels, and the event will be live‑streamed on the EFL’s website and broadcast on Sky Sports. A small audience will attend the ceremony at the EFL headquarters in London, and former footballers will be in attendance to commentate on the draw.

When and Where the Draw Happens

The semi‑final draw will be conducted in a traditional “draw‑in‑a‑box” format, where two teams are chosen at random to face each other in a two‑legged tie. The draw will decide the order of the legs: which club plays at home first and which hosts the second. It will also determine the pairings that will take the competition to its final stage. While the exact pairings are unknown until the draw, the four teams that have already reached this round are Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Aston Villa – the victors of the quarter‑final ties that concluded on 20 January 2024.

Match Schedule

Once the pairings are set, the two legs will be played over the following week:

The aggregate score over the two matches will decide the winners who will advance to the final at Wembley Stadium. If the aggregate is level, the tie will proceed to extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot‑out – the away‑goals rule is not applied in this competition.

The final itself is scheduled for 27 February 2024 at Wembley, with a kickoff at 5:00 pm GMT. The match will be a single fixture, unlike the earlier knockout rounds, which were played over two legs from the third round onwards. The finalists will receive a trophy and a place in the 2025‑26 UEFA Europa Conference League, although the 2024‑25 Carabao Cup winners – Liverpool – already qualified for European competition via the Premier League.

A Quick Look at the Competition’s History

The Carabao Cup is the third most important domestic trophy in England after the Premier League and the FA Cup. The competition has seen numerous name changes due to sponsorship deals – from the Milk Cup in the 1970s to the Carling Cup, Capital One Cup, and now the Carabao Cup. Since its inception in 1971, 72 clubs from the Premier League, Championship, League One, and League Two compete for the trophy, offering lower‑tier clubs the chance to face Premier League giants in a knock‑out format.

The 2023‑24 edition marked the 33rd year of the competition under the Carabao Cup banner. The tournament started on 8 August 2023 with the first round involving all 24 Championship clubs, while Premier League clubs entered at later stages. By the time the semi‑final draw was announced, the competition had seen a mix of top‑flight clashes and David‑versus‑Goliath match‑ups that captured the imagination of football fans across the country.

What the Semi‑Finals Mean for Clubs

For the clubs that have made it to this stage, the semi‑finals represent a chance not only to secure a place in the final but also to secure a trophy that adds prestige and bragging rights. For Liverpool and Chelsea, the stakes are high; both clubs have a rich history in the Carabao Cup, with Liverpool having lifted the trophy in 2007, 2012, and 2015, and Chelsea winning it in 2007 and 2021. Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa, meanwhile, are looking for their first Carabao Cup triumph, which would be a significant achievement for both clubs in the modern era.

The Role of Broadcasting and Media Coverage

The draw and subsequent matches will be widely covered by broadcasters. Sky Sports will provide live commentary for the draw, and the two‑legged ties will be streamed on their “EFL Cup” channel. Additionally, the EFL’s official website and social media platforms will provide live updates, behind‑the‑scenes footage, and analysis from former players and pundits. These platforms also host detailed fixture lists, historical data, and the full competition draw from the previous rounds.

Final Thoughts

With the semi‑final draw set for 1 February, fans will soon learn which clubs will go head‑to‑head over the course of a week. The matches themselves promise to be thrilling, featuring tactical battles between top‑class managers and a chance for lower‑tier clubs to shine on a national stage. The Carabao Cup’s unique two‑leg format ensures that both teams get a fair chance to host a game, adding to the drama as aggregate scores determine the winners.

For supporters, the period between the draw and the final will be a whirlwind of anticipation. From the “who‑will‑face‑whom” suspense to the tactical speculation that follows each fixture, the semi‑finals are the culmination of a season of hard work and competition for clubs at all levels of English football. The 2024 Carabao Cup is poised to deliver memorable moments that will be etched into the sport’s rich tapestry.