Newcastle United, the holders of the Carabao Cup, are set to face Manchester City in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup 2025-26 season. The draw sets up a thrilling clash between Newcastle, who won their first domestic trophy in 70 years last March, and eight-time winners Manchester City.

Semi-Final Draw: Full Fixtures

The Carabao Cup semi-finals will feature the following match-ups:

• Newcastle United vs Manchester City
• Chelsea vs Arsenal/Crystal Palace

Chelsea will have to wait until Tuesday, 23 December, to find out whether they will face Arsenal or Crystal Palace. This delay comes after the rescheduling of the Gunners’ quarter-final against Palace to prevent the London side from playing three matches in five days, due to their participation in the Europa Conference League.

Key Dates for the Semi-Finals

The semi-finals will be played over two legs:

• First legs: Week commencing 12 January 2026
• Second legs: Week commencing 2 February 2026

Fans can expect highly competitive ties as both fixtures will determine which teams advance to the final at Wembley Stadium.

Newcastle United: Defending Champions

Newcastle United, under the management of Eddie Howe, are looking to defend the trophy after a remarkable 2-1 victory over Liverpool in last year’s final. This historic win marked Newcastle’s first major domestic trophy in seven decades and has sparked optimism among fans for a repeat performance.

Howe’s side has shown resilience and tactical discipline, making them a formidable opponent for Manchester City, who are known for their attacking flair under Pep Guardiola.

Manchester City: Eight-Time Winners

Manchester City are chasing another Carabao Cup triumph after winning the trophy eight times, including a record four consecutive victories in 2021. Despite their past successes, City have not reached the semi-finals in recent years, making this tie a highly anticipated showdown with Newcastle.

Chelsea’s Carabao Cup History

Chelsea, meanwhile, have finished as runners-up in 2022 and 2024, with their last Carabao Cup victory dating back to 2015. The Blues will be hoping to finally lift the trophy again, whether facing Arsenal or Crystal Palace in the semi-finals.

What Fans Can Expect

The semi-finals promise high-intensity matches, tactical battles, and potential upsets. Newcastle will aim to continue their historic run, while Manchester City seek to reclaim domestic dominance. With two-legged fixtures, both sides will have the opportunity to showcase their depth and strategies over 180 minutes of football.