The EFL Cup 2025/26 Final delivers a blockbuster showdown between Premier League leaders Arsenal and Manchester City at the iconic Wembley Stadium in London. This clash represents Arsenal’s first appearance in the competition’s final since 1993, as the Gunners aim to end a 33-year drought in the EFL Cup while pursuing quadruple glory. Manchester City, under Pep Guardiola’s management, seeks to extend their domestic dominance in a repeat of the 2018 final. With both teams sitting atop the Premier League table, this final carries massive psychological weight in the ongoing title race.
Match Preview
Arsenal enters Wembley riding a wave of momentum, having won six of their last seven matches across all competitions. The Gunners dispatched Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 in their Champions League last-16 second leg and eliminated Chelsea 4-2 on aggregate in the EFL Cup semi-finals. Manager Mikel Arteta faces selection decisions regarding goalkeeper duties between cup specialist Kepa Arrizabalaga and first-choice David Raya. Injury concerns surround captain Martin Odegaard (knee) and new signing Eberechi Eze (ankle), both listed as doubts but possible returnees for the final. Arsenal’s path to Wembley included victories over Port Vale, Brighton, Crystal Palace, and Chelsea.
Manchester City arrives after destroying Newcastle 5-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals, though their recent Champions League exit to Real Madrid still stings. Pep Guardiola expects key returns including John Stones, Savinho, and Mateo Kovacic, bolstering City’s squad depth. However, Josko Gvardiol remains sidelined, and Marc Guehi’s fitness poses concerns. Guardiola has won the EFL Cup more times than any other manager, making City dangerous favorites despite Arsenal’s home advantage at Wembley. The 2018 final saw City cruise to a 3-0 victory, but Arsenal won their most recent Wembley meeting. This final represents a pivotal moment in both clubs’ seasons, with silverware and Premier League momentum hanging in the balance.
Kickoff Time
The EFL Cup Final kicks off at 4:30 PM GMT (16:30) on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Wembley Stadium, London. Fans worldwide should note the following start times in major territories:
- United States (EST): 12:30 PM
- United States (PST): 9:30 AM
- Central Europe (CET): 5:30 PM
- India (IST): 10:00 PM
- Australia (AEDT): 3:30 AM (March 23)
- Brazil (BRT): 1:30 PM
How to watch online & on TV
The Arsenal vs Manchester City EFL Cup Final receives extensive global broadcast coverage across multiple platforms. In the United Kingdom, the match airs on Sky Football, Sky One, ITV, and streams via Sky Go UK, ITVX, and STV Player. European viewers can access the final through Sky Sports networks in Germany and Austria, Sport TV3 in Portugal, and Viaplay across Scandinavia. Subscription costs vary by region—Sky Sports typically requires a monthly package, while ITV’s coverage remains free-to-air for UK residents. Check your local broadcaster for specific pricing and availability.
| 🇬🇧 England | Sky Football, Sky Main, Sky Go UK, STV Player, ITVX, ITV, Sky One |
| 🇬🇧 Scotland | Sky Football, Sky Main, Sky Go UK, STV Player, ITVX, ITV, Sky One |
| 🇬🇧 Wales | Sky Football, Sky Main, Sky Go UK, STV Player, ITVX, ITV, Sky One |
| 🇬🇧 Northern Ireland | Sky Football, Sky Main, Sky Go UK, STV Player, ITVX, ITV, Sky One |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | Sky Football, Sky Main, Sky One, ITVX, ITV, Sky Go UK |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | Cronache Di Spogliatoio |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | Sky Go, Sky Top |
| 🇫🇷 France | SS Grandstand, SS Maximo, SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football, SS Premier League |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | Sport TV3 |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | Viaplay |
| 🇫🇮 Finland | V Sport 2 Suomi |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | Viaplay |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | Viaplay, See |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | Sky Go |
| 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | Sky Go |
| 🇭🇷 Croatia | Arena 1 HR |
| 🇺🇦 Ukraine | Setanta Sports |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | Disney+, ESPN |
| 🇮🇳 India | FanCode |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football, SS Maximo, Sporty TV |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | GOtv Football, DStv Now, SS Maximo, SS Maximo 2, Sporty TV |
| 🇦🇴 Angola | SS Maximo, SS Maximo 2, SS Premier League, SS Grandstand, DStv Now, GOtv Football |
| 🇬🇭 Ghana | SS Premier League, DStv Now, SS Maximo, GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2, SS Grandstand, Sporty TV |
| 🇸🇩 Sudan | SS Maximo, GOtv Football, DStv Now, SS Maximo 2, SS Grandstand, SS Premier League |
| 🇸🇳 Senegal | SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football, SS Grandstand, DStv Now, SS Premier League, SS Maximo |
| 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | DStv Now, SS Grandstand, GOtv Football, SS Premier League, SS Maximo 2, SS Maximo |
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | DStv Now, SS Maximo, GOtv Football, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo 2, SS Premier League, Sporty TV |
| 🇨🇲 Cameroon | SS Maximo, SS Maximo 2, SS Premier League, GOtv Football, DStv Now, SS Grandstand |
| 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | SS Premier League, SS Grandstand, GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2, SS Maximo, DStv Now |
| 🇷🇼 Rwanda | SS Premier League, SS Maximo 2, SS Grandstand, GOtv Football, SS Maximo, Sporty TV |
| 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast | SS Premier League, DStv Now, GOtv Football, SS Maximo, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇲🇱 Mali | SS Premier League, GOtv Football, DStv Now, SS Maximo, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇿🇲 Zambia | SS Maximo, SS Maximo 2, SS Premier League, GOtv Football, SS Grandstand |
| 🇲🇷 Mauritania | SS Grandstand, GOtv Football, SS Maximo, SS Premier League, DStv Now, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇳🇦 Namibia | SS Maximo, SS Grandstand, DStv Now, SS Maximo 2, SS Premier League, GOtv Football |
| 🇧🇼 Botswana | DStv Now, SS Premier League, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo, SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football |
| 🇹🇬 Togo | DStv Now, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo 2, SS Premier League, SS Maximo, GOtv Football |
| 🇲🇼 Malawi | SS Maximo 2, SS Maximo, SS Premier League, DStv Now, SS Grandstand, GOtv Football |
| 🇧🇯 Benin | SS Premier League, GOtv Football, SS Maximo, SS Maximo 2, SS Grandstand |
| 🇬🇲 Gambia | SS Grandstand, SS Premier League, GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2, DStv Now, SS Maximo |
| 🇱🇸 Lesotho | SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football, SS Premier League, SS Maximo, DStv Now, SS Grandstand |
| 🇺🇬 Uganda | SS Maximo 2, SS Grandstand, GOtv Football, SS Premier League, DStv Now, SS Maximo, Sporty TV |
| 🇬🇦 Gabon | SS Premier League, SS Maximo, SS Grandstand, GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2, DStv Now |
| 🇧🇮 Burundi | SS Grandstand, GOtv Football, DStv Now, SS Premier League, SS Maximo, SS Maximo 2, Sporty TV |
| 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo | DStv Now, SS Premier League, SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football, SS Maximo, SS Grandstand |
| 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso | SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football, SS Maximo, DStv Now, SS Premier League, SS Grandstand |
| 🇬🇳 Guinea | SS Maximo, SS Maximo 2, SS Grandstand, SS Premier League, DStv Now, GOtv Football, Sporty TV |
| 🇨🇻 Cape Verde | SS Premier League, DStv Now, SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo |
| 🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo | GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2, SS Premier League, SS Grandstand, DStv Now, SS Maximo, Sporty TV |
| 🇳🇪 Niger | DStv Now, SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football, SS Premier League, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo |
| 🇲🇬 Madagascar | SS Grandstand, SS Maximo, SS Maximo 2, DStv Now, SS Premier League, GOtv Football |
| 🇨🇫 Central African Republic | SS Premier League, SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo |
| 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | GOtv Football, SS Maximo, SS Grandstand, SS Premier League, DStv Now, SS Maximo 2, Sporty TV |
| 🇲🇿 Mozambique | SS Maximo, GOtv Football, DStv Now, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo 2, SS Premier League, Sporty TV |
| 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | DStv Now, SS Maximo 2, SS Grandstand, SS Premier League, GOtv Football, SS Maximo |
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania | SS Premier League, SS Grandstand, DStv Now, GOtv Football, SS Maximo, SS Maximo 2, Sporty TV |
| 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea | GOtv Football, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo, SS Premier League, DStv Now, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇸🇿 Eswatini | SS Maximo, DStv Now, GOtv Football, SS Premier League, SS Maximo 2, SS Grandstand |
| 🇰🇲 Comoros | SS Maximo, SS Grandstand, SS Premier League, GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇱🇷 Liberia | SS Premier League, GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2, SS Grandstand, DStv Now, SS Maximo |
| 🇲🇺 Mauritius | DStv Now, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo 2, GOtv Football, SS Premier League, SS Maximo |
| 🇹🇩 Chad | SS Grandstand, SS Maximo 2, SS Premier League, SS Maximo, GOtv Football, DStv Now |
| 🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe | SS Grandstand, SS Maximo, SS Maximo 2, SS Premier League, GOtv Football |
| 🇸🇨 Seychelles | DStv Now, SS Maximo, SS Grandstand, SS Premier League, GOtv Football, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇩🇯 Djibouti | DStv Now, GOtv Football, SS Grandstand, SS Maximo, SS Premier League, SS Maximo 2 |
| 🇪🇷 Eritrea | DStv Now, SS Maximo 2, SS Maximo, GOtv Football, SS Grandstand, SS Premier League |
| 🇸🇴 Somalia | SS Maximo 2, SS Premier League, SS Maximo, GOtv Football, SS Grandstand |
How to watch anywhere with VPN
Traveling abroad or facing regional restrictions? A Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows you to bypass geo-blocks and access your home streaming services from anywhere in the world. VPNs encrypt your internet connection and route it through servers in your chosen country, making it appear as if you’re browsing from that location. This technology works seamlessly across devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and Smart TVs.
Follow these steps to watch the EFL Cup Final using a VPN:
- Subscribe to a reputable VPN service with servers in your target country (e.g., UK for Sky Sports/ITV access)
- Download and install the VPN app on your device (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, or Smart TV)
- Connect to a server in the appropriate country—choose a UK server for British broadcasters
- Log in to your streaming platform (Sky Go, ITVX, etc.) and the match will appear as available
- Start streaming the Arsenal vs Manchester City final in high definition
How to watch at Sportsbooks
Many online sportsbooks offer live streaming services for major football matches, including the EFL Cup Final. This option proves particularly convenient for bettors who want to watch the action while placing in-play wagers. Most betting sites require only a funded account or a small qualifying bet placed within the previous 24 hours to unlock streaming access. The video quality typically matches broadcast standards, and streams work across desktop and mobile devices.
Here’s how to access sportsbook streams:
- Register an account with a licensed sportsbook that offers live streaming in your jurisdiction
- Deposit funds into your account—minimum amounts vary but usually start around $10/€10/£10
- Navigate to the match page for Arsenal vs Manchester City on March 22, 2026
- Look for the ‘Watch Live’ or play icon next to the fixture listing
- Click to launch the stream—some platforms require a small qualifying bet to activate streaming
The EFL Cup Final between Arsenal and Manchester City promises to be a defining moment in the 2025/26 season. Don’t miss this Wembley spectacle as two Premier League giants battle for silverware and psychological supremacy. Visit TipsGG after the final whistle for comprehensive match analysis, player ratings, and tactical breakdowns of this historic showdown.