Sports
Watch Carabao Cup final for free – TV channel, live stream and kick-off time
Need to know
How to watch the Carabao Cup final on terrestrial TV as Arsenal and Manchester City battle for the season’s first piece of silverware
The Carabao Cup final will be available to watch for free for fans who can’t get to Wembley(Image: Sportsphoto/Allstar, Getty Images)
How to watch the Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City for free on UK TV
- ITV in Sky agreement: A sub-licensing deal, struck in 2024, permits a selection of EFL and Carabao Cup matches to be aired on terrestrial television alongside Sky Sports’ comprehensive coverage. This includes Sunday’s final.
- Duration of agreement: The existing broadcast deal extends until the conclusion of the 2026/27 season. This ensures fans can count on the final being accessible on terrestrial TV for at least another year following Sunday’s spectacle.
- Value of agreement: The sub-licensing deal is reportedly valued at around £15 million. This extra income from ITV helps boost financial distribution to all 72 EFL clubs, supporting the wider English football pyramid beyond the Premier League.
- Start time for coverage: Coverage on ITV and STV commences at 3.30pm with interviews and analysis. The match gets underway at 4.30pm.
- UK streaming: Supporters can also tune in for free via the ITVX and STV Player apps with a verified account. This enables streaming on mobile phones, tablets and smart TVs across the country.
- Sky’s involvement: While ITV offers the free-to-air option, Sky, as the main rights holder, continues to air every single match of the tournament live across its various channels and the Sky Sports+ platform.
- Sky coverage: The build-up commences on the Sky Sports Football channel at 3.30pm, while Sky Sports Main Event will also broadcast the match following the conclusion of the relegation clash between Tottenham and Nottingham Forest.
- US viewers: The match is exclusive to Paramount+. The streaming service will kick off its coverage at 11.30am ET. Although a subscription is required, new users can often utilise a seven-day free trial to watch the final.
- UK radio: BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT will provide full coverage. Both stations will deliver full live commentary, pre-match analysis and post-match reaction.
- READ MORE: ‘I scored a sensational winner against the team that rejected me to give Man City cup final glory – but I missed the celebrations’
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