The 2026 Carabao Cup Final brings together Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, 22 March 2026 — a clash between two of England’s strongest sides right now.

This isn’t just about silverware. It’s a meeting of the current Premier League title contenders, a chance for Arsenal to end a long wait for this trophy, and another opportunity for Manchester City to underline their dominance in domestic cup competitions.

🏆 Carabao Cup history: Arsenal vs Man City

There’s a big contrast in history between these two clubs in this competition.

• Arsenal have won the League Cup 2 times (last win: 1993)
• Manchester City have won it 8 times, including a dominant run in recent years

Arsenal are actually playing in their ninth League Cup final, but their record hasn’t been great, losing several finals over the years.

City, on the other hand, have turned this competition into one of their strongest, especially under Pep Guardiola, regularly going deep and winning multiple titles in the last decade.

They’ve also met in a League Cup final before — Manchester City beat Arsenal in 2018, which adds extra edge to this rematch.

🔥 Form and storyline heading into the final

This final is fascinating because both teams arrive in strong form, but with very different narratives:

• Arsenal are chasing their first League Cup in over 30 years
• They are currently flying domestically and could still win multiple trophies this season
• Manchester City remain one of the most experienced knockout teams in Europe
• City’s recent pedigree in finals gives them a psychological edge

Recent reports suggest Arsenal are unbeaten in a long run of matches heading into the final, showing strong momentum.

📊 Who is the favourite?

The odds are tight — but slightly lean towards Arsenal.

• Arsenal: around 8/11 to 10/11 to win the trophy
• Manchester City: around 11/10

That translates to roughly:

• Arsenal: ~55% chance
• Man City: ~45–48% chance

So while Arsenal are marginal favourites, this is far from one-sided.

Interestingly, earlier in the competition Manchester City were seen as favourites due to their cup pedigree, but Arsenal’s form has shifted expectations.

📺 How to watch the Carabao Cup final (UK & abroad)

UK viewers are well covered, with both free and premium options available. The match will be shown live on:

• ITV1 (free-to-air)
• Sky Sports Main Event
• Sky Sports Football
• Sky Showcase / Sky One
• Sky Sports UHD

For streaming, you can watch via:

• ITVX (free with an account)
• Sky Go (for subscribers)
• NOW (day or monthly passes)

If you’re outside the UK, ITVX is normally geo-blocked. However, many fans use a VPN to connect to a UK server and watch the match for free. Alternatively, international broadcasters like beIN Sports, Viaplay and SuperSport will show the game depending on your region.