Arsenal will face Manchester City in a heavyweight Carabao Cup final at Wembley, a clash that pits two of the Premier League’s most dominant forces against each other in the race for the first major domestic silverware of the 2025–26 season.
This year’s competition has been defined by elite consistency rather than surprise, with the semi-finals featuring exclusively top-flight sides. It was a clear signal of intent: the League Cup remains a serious battleground for England’s biggest clubs, not a secondary pursuit.
How the finalists booked their place
Arsenal confirmed their return to the final by edging Chelsea 1–0 in the second leg at the Emirates, completing a 3–2 aggregate victory after last month’s first-leg win. The tie underlined Mikel Arteta’s growing tactical maturity measured, disciplined, and decisive when margins were thin.
Manchester City, meanwhile, were ruthlessly efficient. Holding a 2–0 advantage from the first leg against holders Newcastle, Pep Guardiola’s side dismantled any lingering doubt with a commanding second-leg performance, cruising to a 5–1 aggregate triumph. It was a reminder that when City sense vulnerability, they rarely hesitate.
When and where is the final?
The 2025–26 Carabao Cup final will be played on Sunday, March 22, 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 4:30pm GMT. As tradition dictates, the showpiece will take place at Wembley Stadium, English football’s grandest stage.
How to watch live
Fans will have multiple options to follow the final as it unfolds:
- TV: Live coverage on Sky Sports, with build-up expected to begin around 3:00pm GMT.
- Streaming: Available via Sky Go.
- Free-to-air: The final will also be broadcast live on ITV and streamed free through ITVX.
Final preview: history, pressure and favourites
Arsenal’s appearance marks their first Carabao Cup final since 2018, when they were comprehensively beaten 3–0 by City. Since last lifting the trophy in 1993—then known as the Coca-Cola Cup—the Gunners have endured repeated near-misses, finishing runners-up in 2007 and 2011. This return to Wembley is therefore as much about psychological redemption as it is about silverware.
City’s relationship with the competition borders on ownership. Although they have not reached the final since their 2021 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, their record speaks volumes: eight League Cup titles, second only to Liverpool’s ten. For a generation, City turned this tournament into a personal domain, winning six titles in eight years, including an unprecedented run of four consecutive triumphs.
Afrovera analysis
This final is not merely a cup decider it is a referendum on momentum. For Arsenal, it represents a chance to convert progress into proof. For City, it is about reasserting hierarchy. On neutral ground, with history leaning one way and ambition pulling the other, Wembley is set for a confrontation that could define the tone of the season ahead.
