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EFL Trophy

England · Football

Season 2025

EFL Trophy — Today's Matches

Live scores, upcoming kick-offs, and finished results for today. Data refreshes automatically so you never miss a moment.

EFL Trophy — Playoffs

Round of 16

BBolton0
PVPort Vale1
0–1
NNorthampton4
WWalsall2
4–2
FTFleetwood Town1
DDoncaster3
1–3
AWAFC Wimbledon4
WUWest Ham United U212
4–2
STSwindon Town2
LLuton1
2–1
HHuddersfield3
RRotherham0
3–0
BRBristol Rovers3
PPlymouth4
3–4
HTHarrogate Town1
SCStockport County2
1–2

Quarter-finals

PVPort Vale0
SCStockport County4
0–4
PPlymouth1
LLuton2
1–2
AWAFC Wimbledon1
NNorthampton2
1–2

Semi-finals

NNorthampton1
LLuton2
1–2
DDoncaster0
SCStockport County1
0–1

Final

LLuton3
SCStockport County1
3–1

EFL Trophy — Standings

Current EFL Trophy 2025 standings with 64 teams. Salford City leads the table with 9 points after 3 matches, followed by Stockport County on 5 points. The table shows wins, draws, losses, goals scored and conceded, goal difference, and recent form — essential for pre-match betting analysis.

#TeamPoints
Group 1
1
SCSalford City
9
Played: 3Won: 3Drawn: 0Lost: 0Goal Diff: +6
2
SCStockport County
5
Played: 3Won: 2Drawn: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: 0
3
WUWolves U21
3
Played: 3Won: 1Drawn: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -3
4
WWigan
1
Played: 3Won: 0Drawn: 0Lost: 3Goal Diff: -3
Group 2
1
TTranmere
8
Played: 3Won: 3Drawn: 0Lost: 0Goal Diff: +2
2
BBlackpool
6
Played: 3Won: 2Drawn: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: +5
3
BBarrow
3
Played: 3Won: 1Drawn: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -4
4
NUNottingham Forest U21
1
Played: 3Won: 0Drawn: 0Lost: 3Goal Diff: -3
Group 3
1
DDoncaster
9
Played: 3Won: 3Drawn: 0Lost: 0Goal Diff: +6
2
BBradford
6
Played: 3Won: 2Drawn: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: +3
3
GGrimsby
3
Played: 3Won: 1Drawn: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -2
4
EUEverton U21
0
Played: 3Won: 0Drawn: 0Lost: 3Goal Diff: -7
Group 4
1
LLincoln
9
Played: 3Won: 3Drawn: 0Lost: 0Goal Diff: +8
2
BBarnsley
3
Played: 3Won: 1Drawn: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: 0
3
MUManchester United U21
3
Played: 3Won: 1Drawn: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -4
4
NCNotts County
3
Played: 3Won: 1Drawn: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -4
Group 5
1
BBolton
9
Played: 3Won: 3Drawn: 0Lost: 0Goal Diff: +8
2
RRotherham
6
Played: 3Won: 2Drawn: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: +2
3
MUManchester City U21
3
Played: 3Won: 1Drawn: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -1
4
OOldham
0
Played: 3Won: 0Drawn: 0Lost: 3Goal Diff: -9
Group 6
1
HTHarrogate Town
9
Played: 3Won: 3Drawn: 0Lost: 0Goal Diff: +4
2
HHuddersfield
6
Played: 3Won: 2Drawn: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: +5
3
NUNewcastle United U21
2
Played: 3Won: 1Drawn: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -6
4
MTMansfield Town
1
Played: 3Won: 0Drawn: 0Lost: 3Goal Diff: -3
Group 7
1
PVPort Vale
7
Played: 3Won: 2Drawn: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: +5
2
FTFleetwood Town
7
Played: 3Won: 3Drawn: 0Lost: 0Goal Diff: +4
3
ASAccrington ST
4
Played: 3Won: 1Drawn: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -1
4
LULeeds United U21
0
Played: 3Won: 0Drawn: 0Lost: 3Goal Diff: -8
Group 8
1
CCrewe
9
Played: 3Won: 3Drawn: 0Lost: 0Goal Diff: +10
2
CChesterfield
4
Played: 3Won: 1Drawn: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -5
3
BABurton Albion
3
Played: 3Won: 1Drawn: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -1
4
LULiverpool U21
2
Played: 3Won: 1Drawn: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -4
Group 9
1
CCardiff
6
Played: 3Won: 2Drawn: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: +2
2
ECExeter City
6
Played: 3Won: 2Drawn: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: +1
3
NCNewport County
3
Played: 3Won: 1Drawn: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -1
4
AUArsenal U21
3
Played: 3Won: 1Drawn: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -2
Group 10
1
BRBristol Rovers
8
Played: 3Won: 3Drawn: 0Lost: 0Goal Diff: +2
2
PPlymouth
6
Played: 3Won: 2Drawn: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: +5
3
CCheltenham
2
Played: 3Won: 1Drawn: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -3
4
TUTottenham Hotspur U21
2
Played: 3Won: 0Drawn: 0Lost: 3Goal Diff: -4
Group 11
1
NNorthampton
9
Played: 3Won: 3Drawn: 0Lost: 0Goal Diff: +5
2
WWalsall
5
Played: 3Won: 2Drawn: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: +1
3
SShrewsbury
3
Played: 3Won: 1Drawn: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -1
4
CUChelsea U21
1
Played: 3Won: 0Drawn: 0Lost: 3Goal Diff: -5
Group 12
1
STSwindon Town
6
Played: 3Won: 2Drawn: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: +4
2
WUWest Ham United U21
6
Played: 3Won: 2Drawn: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: +3
3
RReading
6
Played: 3Won: 2Drawn: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: +2
4
MDMilton Keynes Dons
0
Played: 3Won: 0Drawn: 0Lost: 3Goal Diff: -9
Group 13
1
SStevenage
9
Played: 3Won: 3Drawn: 0Lost: 0Goal Diff: +8
2
AWAFC Wimbledon
6
Played: 3Won: 2Drawn: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: -1
3
BBromley
2
Played: 3Won: 1Drawn: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -2
4
CUCrystal Palace U21
1
Played: 3Won: 0Drawn: 0Lost: 3Goal Diff: -5
Group 14
1
LOLeyton Orient
9
Played: 3Won: 3Drawn: 0Lost: 0Goal Diff: +4
2
PPeterborough
6
Played: 3Won: 2Drawn: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: +1
3
CTCrawley Town
3
Played: 3Won: 1Drawn: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: 0
4
AUAston Villa U21
0
Played: 3Won: 0Drawn: 0Lost: 3Goal Diff: -5
Group 15
1
CColchester
9
Played: 3Won: 3Drawn: 0Lost: 0Goal Diff: +4
2
WWycombe
6
Played: 3Won: 2Drawn: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: +4
3
GGillingham
3
Played: 3Won: 1Drawn: 0Lost: 2Goal Diff: -1
4
FUFulham U21
0
Played: 3Won: 0Drawn: 0Lost: 3Goal Diff: -7
Group 16
1
LLuton
6
Played: 3Won: 2Drawn: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: +3
2
CUCambridge United
6
Played: 3Won: 2Drawn: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: +2
3
BBarnet
5
Played: 3Won: 2Drawn: 0Lost: 1Goal Diff: -2
4
BUBrighton U21
1
Played: 3Won: 0Drawn: 0Lost: 3Goal Diff: -3
Champions League
Europa League
Conference League
Relegation

EFL Trophy — Results

The latest 25 completed matches in the EFL Trophy. The highest-scoring result was Salford City 2–7 Rotherham. Review recent scorelines to spot form trends, home advantage patterns, and upset results that can inform your next bet.

HomeScoreAway
Final
3 – 1
LutonL
3 – 1
SCStockport County
2026-04-12FT
Semi-finals
2 – 1
LutonL
2 – 1
NNorthampton
2026-03-04FT
0 – 1
DoncasterD
0 – 1
SCStockport County
2026-03-03FT
Quarter-finals
2 – 1
LutonL
2 – 1
PPlymouth
2026-02-24FT
0 – 0
Swindon TownST
0 – 0
PPlymouth
2026-02-10CANC
0 – 4
Port ValePV
0 – 4
SCStockport County
2026-02-10FT
1 – 2
AFC WimbledonAW
1 – 2
NNorthampton
2026-02-10FT
1 – 1
HuddersfieldH
1 – 1
DDoncaster
2026-02-10PEN
Round of 16
4 – 2
NorthamptonN
4 – 2
WWalsall
2026-01-14FT
1 – 2
LutonL
1 – 2
STSwindon Town
2026-01-13FT
3 – 0
HuddersfieldH
3 – 0
RRotherham
2026-01-13FT
3 – 1
DoncasterD
3 – 1
FTFleetwood Town
2026-01-13FT
2 – 1
Stockport CountySC
2 – 1
HTHarrogate Town
2026-01-13FT
0 – 1
BoltonB
0 – 1
PVPort Vale
2026-01-13FT
3 – 4
Bristol RoversBR
3 – 4
PPlymouth
2026-01-13FT
4 – 2
AFC WimbledonAW
4 – 2
WUWest Ham United U21
2026-01-12FT
Round of 32
0 – 1
ColchesterC
0 – 1
WUWest Ham United U21
2025-12-09FT
1 – 1
CreweC
1 – 1
SCStockport County
2025-12-03PEN
1 – 0
Swindon TownST
1 – 0
PPeterborough
2025-12-02FT
1 – 2
StevenageS
1 – 2
WWalsall
2025-12-02FT
0 – 1
Leyton OrientLO
0 – 1
PPlymouth
2025-12-02FT
2 – 7
Salford CitySC
2 – 7
RRotherham
2025-12-02FT
0 – 3
TranmereT
0 – 3
FTFleetwood Town
2025-12-02FT
0 – 2
LincolnL
0 – 2
HHuddersfield
2025-12-02FT
4 – 2
Harrogate TownHT
4 – 2
BBlackpool
2025-12-02FT
View all match results→

EFL Trophy — Team Stats

Side-by-side performance comparison of all 64 teams in the EFL Trophy. Salford City leads with 3 wins this season. The colour-coded heatmap highlights wins, losses, draws, goals scored and conceded, goal difference, and win percentage — making it easy to spot the strongest and weakest teams at a glance for betting analysis.

EFL Trophy — Betting Insights

EFL Trophy 2025 — key betting statistics across 113 matches played. Games average 3.74 goals, with 61.1% seeing both teams score and 74.3% finishing with over 2.5 goals. Home sides win 64.6% of the time while 0.0% of matches end in a draw. Clean sheets are kept in 38.9% of games, and the most common scoreline is 3-1. Use these metrics to calibrate over/under, BTTS, and correct-score strategies.

3.74Goals / Match
61.1%Both Score %
74.3%Over 2.5 / 5.5 %
84.1%Over 1.5 %
47.8%Over 3.5 %
64.6%Home Win %
0.0%Draw %
35.4%Away Win %
38.9%Clean Sheet %
0.0%0-0 %
2.20Avg Home Goals
1.54Avg Away Goals
9.6Corners/Match
3.1Cards/Match
52.6%Home Poss.
47.4%Away Poss.
+31.30Home Advantage

Most Common Scorelines

The most frequently occurring final scorelines sorted by frequency. Each bar shows the number of matches and percentage ending with that exact score. Common scorelines help calibrate correct-score betting — a scoreline appearing in 15% or more of matches may offer value at typical odds.

3-1
11.5%(13)
2-1
10.6%(12)
0-1
8.8%(10)
1-2
8.0%(9)
1-0
7.1%(8)
4-2
6.2%(7)
3-0
5.3%(6)
2-0
5.3%(6)
0-2
4.4%(5)
1-5
3.5%(4)
3.74
Avg goals / game
423
Total goals
249
Home goals
174
Away goals
Try our Poisson predictor →

EFL Trophy — Season Trends

Goals distribution across 15-minute periods of play, revealing when goals are most likely to be scored. This is critical for live betting strategies — leagues with high concentrations of late goals (76-90 min) may offer value in late-goal markets, while first-half dominant leagues favor early cash-out strategies.

0-15
16.5%
16-30
12.2%
31-45
15.5%
46-60
15.8%
61-75
15.3%
76-90
24.8%

Top Scorers

The top 15 goalscorers in the EFL Trophy 2025 season. B. Sharp leads with 5 goals, followed by L. Tolaj (4) and A. Sasu (4). These 15 players have scored 50 goals combined — key data for anytime goalscorer bets and understanding which teams depend on a single attacker.

  1. 1BS
    B. SharpDoncaster
    5goals
  2. 2LT
    L. TolajPlymouth
    4goals
  3. 3AS
    A. SasuAFC Wimbledon
    4goals
  4. 4ET
    E. TezgelCrewe
    4goals
  5. 5PP
    P. PattersonStevenage
    3goals
  6. 6MF
    M. ForssBolton
    3goals
  7. 7JT
    J. TaylorHuddersfield
    3goals
  8. 8LN
    L. NordåsLuton
    3goals
  9. 9EK
    E. KachungaCambridge United
    3goals
  10. 10KS
    K. Simon-SwyerNorthampton
    3goals
  11. 11KL
    K. LisbiePeterborough
    3goals
  12. 12TC
    Tom CursonsHarrogate Town
    3goals
  13. 13CS
    C. StocktonSalford City
    3goals
  14. 14AS
    Adama SidibehStockport County
    3goals
  15. 15SB
    S. BanksBlackpool
    3goals

Top Assists

The leading assist providers in the EFL Trophy 2025 season. R. Curtis tops the chart with 4 assists, followed by P. Patterson (3) and G. Middleton (3). Assist leaders are often key creators whose involvement boosts their team's goalscoring — valuable context for both goalscorer and team performance markets.

  1. 1RC
    R. CurtisPlymouth
    4Assists
  2. 2PP
    P. PattersonStevenage
    3Assists
  3. 3GM
    G. MiddletonDoncaster
    3Assists
  4. 4RT
    R. TaylorBolton
    3Assists
  5. 5LF
    L. FioriniStockport County
    3Assists
  6. 6JD
    James DornellyPeterborough
    3Assists
  7. 7BS
    B. SharpDoncaster
    2Assists
  8. 8ET
    E. TezgelCrewe
    2Assists
  9. 9MH
    M. HelmFleetwood Town
    2Assists
  10. 10CS
    C. SagoeArsenal U21
    2Assists
  11. 11JW
    J. WalkerGrimsby
    2Assists
  12. 12JV
    J. ValeNorthampton
    2Assists
  13. 13SD
    S. DalbyBolton
    2Assists
  14. 14OB
    Omar BugielAFC Wimbledon
    2Assists
  15. 15OM
    O. MartinManchester United U21
    2Assists

Top Cards

Disciplinary leaders in the EFL Trophy 2025 season. Filozofe Mabete has received the most yellow cards with 3, followed by D. Kasumu (3) and Joel McGregor (2) — 32 yellows in total among listed players. On the red card side, Joel McGregor leads with 1. Card counts are essential for bookings markets and assessing which players are suspension risks.

Yellow Cards

  1. 1FM
    Filozofe MabeteSwindon Town
    3
  2. 2DK
    D. KasumuHuddersfield
    3
  3. 3JM
    Joel McGregorSwindon Town
    2
  4. 4LM
    L. MolyneuxDoncaster
    2
  5. 5MR
    M. RossPlymouth
    2
  6. 6TT
    T. TaylorNorthampton
    2
  7. 7JE
    J. EdwardsPlymouth
    2
  8. 8TE
    T. EavesNorthampton
    2
  9. 9EA
    Emeka AdeileWest Ham United U21
    2
  10. 10RH
    R. HowleyBristol Rovers
    2

Red Cards

  1. 1JM
    Joel McGregorSwindon Town
    1
  2. 2TG
    T. GaleBolton
    1
  3. 3RL
    R. Lopata-WhiteLeeds United U21
    1
  4. 4KS
    K. SzűcsPlymouth
    1
  5. 5JF
    J. FletcherManchester United U21
    1
  6. 6SB
    S. BennettCheltenham
    1
  7. 7HB
    H. BrownGrimsby
    1
  8. 8AA
    A. AbdulaiLeyton Orient
    1
  9. 9AF
    Alexei Rojas FedorushchenkoArsenal U21
    1
  10. 10BW
    Benn David WardAccrington ST
    1
Betting Analytics →

EFL Trophy — Teams

All 64 teams competing in the EFL Trophy 2025 season. Click any club to view their full squad, match history, and detailed statistics.

HHuddersfieldCCardiffRReadingWWiganBBoltonRRotherhamBBarnsleyBABurton AlbionAWAFC WimbledonBRBristol RoversFTFleetwood TownNNorthamptonWWalsallBBradfordCChesterfieldGGillinghamMDMilton Keynes DonsOOldhamPPeterboroughPVPort ValeSShrewsburySTSwindon TownDDoncasterBBlackpoolPPlymouthWWycombeLLutonASAccrington STCColchesterCTCrawley TownCCreweECExeter CityGGrimsbyNCNewport CountySStevenageBBarnetCUCambridge UnitedCCheltenhamLOLeyton OrientMTMansfield TownNCNotts CountyLLincolnTTranmereBBarrowBBromleyHTHarrogate TownSCSalford CitySCStockport CountyAUArsenal U21AUAston Villa U21BUBrighton U21CUChelsea U21EUEverton U21FUFulham U21LULiverpool U21MUManchester City U21MUManchester United U21NUNewcastle United U21TUTottenham Hotspur U21WUWest Ham United U21WUWolves U21LULeeds United U21CUCrystal Palace U21NUNottingham Forest U21

EFL Trophy — Referees

View all referees

Top 10 referees officiating in the EFL Trophy, led by S. Oldham. Compare cards issued, goals per match, and strictness to anticipate how the assigned referee might influence match flow and card-related bets.

1S. Oldham
Officiated
18
0
0
Y/M
0.00
R/M
0.00
Goals
68
2B. Toner
Officiated
18
0
0
Y/M
0.00
R/M
0.00
Goals
64
3C. Hicks
Officiated
17
0
0
Y/M
0.00
R/M
0.00
Goals
49
4C. Brook
Officiated
16
0
0
Y/M
0.00
R/M
0.00
Goals
59
5A. Young
Officiated
15
0
0
Y/M
0.00
R/M
0.00
Goals
63
6R. Joyce
Officiated
14
0
0
Y/M
0.00
R/M
0.00
Goals
47
7D. Rock
Officiated
14
0
0
Y/M
0.00
R/M
0.00
Goals
49
8O. Yates
Officiated
13
0
0
Y/M
0.00
R/M
0.00
Goals
36
9A. Backhouse
Officiated
13
0
0
Y/M
0.00
R/M
0.00
Goals
31
10W. Finnie
Officiated
12
3
0
Y/M
0.25
R/M
0.00
Goals
40

EFL Trophy — Past Seasons

Browse 8 archived seasons of the EFL Trophy, from 2017 to 2024. Each season page includes full standings, top scorers, and match results — useful for comparing historical performance and identifying long-term betting patterns.

History 16 Mar 2025

Founded1983Preceded byAssociate Members' Cup

The EFL Trophy emerged in 1983 as the Associate Members' Cup, initially designed to provide competitive football for clubs outside the top divisions. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the competition evolved through various sponsorship arrangements, including the Freight Rover Trophy and Sherpa Van Trophy eras. In 2016, the competition was rebranded as the EFL Trophy and underwent significant structural reform to include Premier League under-21 academies alongside the 48 professional EFL clubs. This expansion transformed the tournament into a development platform for academy football while maintaining opportunities for lower-league clubs to compete for silverware. The introduction of the group stage format in 2016 replaced the traditional straight knockout, creating a more balanced and geographically sensible structure that has become the modern format.

  • —1983 — Associate Members' Cup established for Football League clubs outside the top divisions
  • —1985 — Freight Rover Trophy final at Wembley Stadium becomes a fixture in the English football calendar
  • —2015 — Bristol City wins the trophy, their third title in the competition's history
  • —2016 — Competition rebranded as EFL Trophy with new group stage format and academy team inclusion
  • —2019 — Salford City wins the trophy in their first season in the Football League
  • —2022 — Peterborough United claims their third EFL Trophy title, equalling Bristol City's record

Competition Format 16 Mar 2025

Teams64

The EFL Trophy operates through a unique two-stage format combining group play and knockout rounds. All 64 teams—48 EFL clubs from Leagues One and Two plus 16 Premier League under-21 academies—enter at the group stage, divided into 16 regional groups of four teams. Teams play three matches within their group on a home-and-away basis where geographically feasible, earning three points for a win and one for a draw. The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage, which proceeds as a straight elimination tournament. This structure ensures geographical balance while maintaining competitive integrity, allowing lower-league clubs genuine opportunities to progress and compete for the trophy without the financial burden of extensive travel.

Records 16 Mar 2025

Most titlesBristol City (3)

The 2024/25 season saw 127 matches played across all rounds, generating 404 total goals at an average of 3.18 per match, demonstrating the competition's attacking nature and suitability for development football.

Analysis 16 Mar 2025

Current Season Analysis

Salford City has established themselves as the dominant force in the 2024/25 EFL Trophy group stage, maintaining an impressive perfect record. With three matches played and three consecutive victories, the club has accumulated 9 points and scored 9 goals while conceding only 3, demonstrating both defensive solidity and attacking prowess. Their goal difference of +6 places them clear at the summit of their group, with a 100% win rate that showcases their credentials as serious contenders for the trophy.

Stockport County occupy second position with a respectable 5 points from three matches, having won two games and suffered one defeat. Their record of 7 goals for and 7 against reflects a more balanced group dynamic, with their 67% win rate indicating consistency despite the one setback. The club remains firmly positioned to advance from their group and challenge in the knockout stages, though they trail Salford City's early dominance.

The battle for the third qualification spot reveals the competitive depth of the competition. Wolves U21 currently hold third place with 3 points from three matches, while Wigan Athletic occupy fourth with just 1 point from their three games. The Academy side's 33% win rate contrasts sharply with Wigan's winless campaign, which has yielded only a single point from draws. This early-season struggle for Wigan suggests potential difficulties in their group's knockout progression, though the tournament's group stage remains fluid with matches ongoing.

Aaron Collins of Bolton Wanderers has emerged as the tournament's leading goalscorer with 6 goals, establishing himself as the standout individual performer in the 2024/25 competition. His prolific form highlights the development opportunities the EFL Trophy provides for talented players in lower divisions, with his goals directly contributing to Bolton's competitive challenge throughout the group stage.

The inclusion of 16 Premier League under-21 academy teams continues to add an intriguing dimension to the competition, with sides such as Aston Villa U21 and Manchester City U21 competing alongside established EFL professionals. This unique blend of development football and lower-league ambition creates unpredictable matchups, with academy sides providing both quality opposition and opportunities for established clubs to test younger players in competitive fixtures.

The Role of Academy Football in Modern Competition

The integration of Premier League under-21 academies has fundamentally transformed the EFL Trophy since 2016. These 16 academy sides provide a competitive outlet for developing talent while offering EFL clubs the prestige of competing against academy squads from England's elite clubs. The arrangement benefits all parties: academy players gain meaningful competitive experience in structured tournaments, EFL clubs enjoy higher-profile fixtures that enhance their commercial appeal, and the competition itself maintains strong attendance and engagement through this mixture of professional and development football.

The regional group structure ensures that academy teams are distributed geographically, preventing excessive travel while maintaining competitive balance. This thoughtful format design has made the EFL Trophy increasingly popular among lower-league clubs, who view the competition as a genuine opportunity to claim silverware and gain exposure on the national stage. The tournament's accessibility—with 32 of 64 teams advancing from the group stage—ensures that most participating clubs have realistic knockout aspirations, maintaining engagement throughout the season.

Historical Significance and Club Records

Bristol City's three EFL Trophy titles (1986, 2003, 2015) established them as the competition's most successful club before Peterborough United matched their record with victories in 2013/14, 2016/17, and 2021/22. These achievements underscore how the competition provides genuine silverware opportunities for ambitious lower-league clubs, with both clubs using their trophy success as stepping stones toward promotion and higher-division consolidation. The frequency of recent titles—particularly Peterborough's three wins within nine seasons—demonstrates the tournament's evolution into a significant competitive platform rather than a secondary consideration.

The competition's history reflects the changing landscape of English football, from its origins as the Associate Members' Cup in 1983 through various sponsorship eras including the Freight Rover Trophy and Sherpa Van Trophy periods. Each iteration brought different challenges and opportunities, but the fundamental purpose remained constant: providing competitive football for clubs outside the elite divisions. The modernization in 2016, introducing academy teams and restructuring the format, positioned the EFL Trophy as a contemporary competition that balances tradition with innovation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many teams compete in the EFL Trophy?

Exactly 64 teams compete in the EFL Trophy: 48 clubs from Football League One and League Two, plus 16 Premier League under-21 academy sides. This ensures a balanced competition combining professional and development football.

What is the format of the EFL Trophy?

The EFL Trophy uses a group stage followed by knockout rounds. All 64 teams are divided into 16 regional groups of four, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage, which proceeds as straight elimination.

When was the EFL Trophy founded?

The EFL Trophy was first established in 1983 as the Associate Members' Cup. It was rebranded as the EFL Trophy in 2016 and restructured to include Premier League under-21 academies alongside the 48 professional EFL clubs.

Which clubs have won the EFL Trophy the most times?

Bristol City and Peterborough United share the record with three titles each. Bristol City won in 1986, 2003, and 2015, while Peterborough United won in 2013/14, 2016/17, and 2021/22.

Is there European football at stake in the EFL Trophy?

No, the EFL Trophy does not provide European competition qualification. It is a domestic knockout competition designed primarily to provide silverware opportunities for lower-league clubs and development football for academy sides.

How does the group stage tiebreaker work?

When teams are equal on points in their group, tiebreakers are applied in this order: goal difference, goals scored, then head-to-head record between the tied teams. This ensures fairness across the geographically dispersed regional groups.

API data: 26 Apr 2026 · Stats updated: 29 Apr 2026 · Content updated: 16 Mar 2025