The champion of the 2025-26 Carabao Cup will secure a spot in the playoff round for the next season’s Conference League. This marks a shift from previous years when triumphing in the tournament provided a place in the Europa League.
The champion of the 2025-26 Carabao Cup will secure a spot in the playoff round for the next season’s Conference League. This marks a shift from previous years when triumphing in the tournament provided a place in the Europa League.
This adjustment came after the launch of the Conference League in the 2021-22 season. Since then, only the Premier League team finishing highest outside the Champions League spots and the FA Cup winner earn direct entry to the Europa League.
Although winning the EFL Cup guarantees European competition, in recent seasons it has often been largely symbolic. Most victors end up qualifying for a superior European competition based on their league standings.
The last club to reach Europe solely through the EFL Cup was Swansea City in 2012-13. A repeat of this scenario is possible, depending on league and cup outcomes in any given season.
Ordinarily, the Conference League qualification goes to the next highest Premier League team after the Champions League and Europa League positions, traditionally the sixth-placed team.
However, England is on track to gain an additional Champions League berth next season due to the performance of English clubs in European competitions this year. If this occurs, the Conference League spot would drop to the seventh-placed team.
There is also a scenario where the FA Cup winner has already qualified for Europe. If the EFL Cup winner has likewise secured European football and England earns five Champions League slots, the eighth-placed club would then take the Conference League place.
These adjustments illustrate the complex interplay between domestic cup success and league standings in determining European participation.
Beyond European qualification, winning the EFL Cup also provides monetary benefits. Champions receive £100,000 in prize money for their triumph in the competition.
In addition, participation in the Conference League guarantees a minimum payment of 925,000 euros, roughly £797,400. This provides clubs with both competitive and financial motivation for winning the tournament.
This combination of European entry and prize money ensures that even for clubs unlikely to qualify through the league alone, the EFL Cup remains an important opportunity.
