The road to Wembley has reached its penultimate stage. Following Arsenal’s dramatic penalty shootout victory over Crystal Palace on Tuesday night, the field for the 2025/26 EFL Cup (Carabao Cup) Semi-Finals is officially set.
The draw has delivered two blockbuster matchups: a high-stakes North-South battle and an all-London derby.
The Semi-Final Matchups
Tie,First Leg,Second Leg
Newcastle United vs. Manchester City,St James' Park (Jan 13),Etihad Stadium (Feb 4)Chelsea vs. Arsenal,Stamford Bridge (Jan 14),Emirates Stadium (Feb 3)
Tie 1: Newcastle United vs. Manchester City
A clash between the defending champions and the tournament’s most dominant force of the last decade.
Newcastle’s Path: The holders reached the final four after a gritty 2–1 win over Fulham, secured by a 90th-minute header from Lewis Miley.
Eddie Howe’s men are desperate to become the first team since Manchester City (2018–2021) to retain the trophy.
City’s Path: Pep Guardiola’s side breezed past Brentford with a 2–0 victory. Having rotated heavily in the earlier rounds, City are expected to field a full-strength XI as they hunt for their first League Cup since 2021.
Key Stat: This is the first time these two "oil-rich" giants have met in a major domestic cup semi-final.
Tie 2: Chelsea vs. Arsenal
A massive London derby that guarantees a capital city representative in the final.
Arsenal’s Path: The Gunners survived a scare at the Emirates, beating Crystal Palace 8–7 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in normal time.
Kepa Arrizabalaga was the hero, saving the final penalty against his former London rivals' neighbors.
Chelsea’s Path: Enzo Maresca’s "Blues" took a more direct route, dispatching League One leaders Cardiff City 3–1. Alejandro Garnacho has been the standout performer for Chelsea in this competition, netting three goals in the last two rounds.
The Schedule: The first leg at Stamford Bridge takes place on Wednesday, January 14, with the return leg at the Emirates on Tuesday, February 3.
Key Dates for Your Diary
Semi-Final First Legs: Week commencing January 12, 2026.
Semi-Final Second Legs: Week commencing February 2, 2026.
The Final: Sunday, March 22, 2026 (Wembley Stadium).
Note: All four matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football, with the Arsenal vs. Chelsea second leg also set to be simulcast on ITV1.
The Verdict: With the Premier League's "Big Four" currently occupying the top spots in the league as well, this is one of the most high-quality semi-final lineups in the history of the competition.