FA Cup & Carabao Cup Streaming Guide 2026: Watch Every Round Live

The Magic of English Cup Football

There's nothing quite like cup football. Giant-killings, penalty shootouts, and the dream of Wembley. The FA Cup and Carabao Cup (EFL Cup) are integral parts of the English football calendar, but watching them has become increasingly complicated.

Broadcasting rights are split across multiple platforms, with some matches on BBC, others on ITV, and many not televised at all through official channels. If you support a lower-league team or want to watch every round, you need a better solution.

This guide breaks down exactly how to watch FA Cup and Carabao Cup matches in 2026, including which broadcasters show which rounds and how PremLeaguePass gives you access to every single match.

FA Cup Broadcasting Rights 2025/26

BBC Sport

The BBC shares FA Cup rights and typically broadcasts:

• 3rd Round onwards (selected matches)
• Quarter-Finals (one match exclusively)
• Semi-Finals (one match exclusively)
• The Final (shared coverage)

Pricing: Free (TV licence required)

Pros:

• Free to watch
• Available on BBC iPlayer
• Traditional cup coverage

Cons:

• Limited match selection
• No early rounds (1st and 2nd rounds)
• Only shows 1-2 matches per round
• No 4K quality

ITV Sport

ITV shares FA Cup rights with the BBC:

• 3rd Round onwards (selected matches)
• Quarter-Finals (one match exclusively)
• Semi-Finals (one match exclusively)
• The Final (shared coverage)

Pricing: Free (with ads)

Pros:

• Free to watch
• ITVX streaming available
• Good mobile app

Cons:

• Frequent ad breaks
• Limited match selection
• No early rounds
• 1080p maximum quality

The Coverage Gap

Here's the problem: BBC and ITV only show around 20 FA Cup matches per season. The FA Cup includes:

• 1st Round: 40 matches
• 2nd Round: 40 matches
• 3rd Round: 32 matches
• 4th Round: 16 matches
• 5th Round: 8 matches
• Quarter-Finals: 4 matches
• Semi-Finals: 2 matches
• Final: 1 match

Total: 143 matches, but only 20 are broadcast on BBC/ITV.

If your team is playing in the early rounds or isn't selected for TV coverage, you're out of luck with official broadcasters.

Carabao Cup Broadcasting Rights 2025/26

Sky Sports

Sky Sports holds exclusive Carabao Cup rights in the UK.

Coverage:

• All rounds from Round 2 onwards
• Semi-Finals (two-legged ties)
• Final at Wembley

Pricing: £43/month (with Sky Sports package)

Pros:

• Comprehensive coverage
• All matches available
• Expert analysis

Cons:

• Expensive subscription required
• Not included in Now TV Day Pass
• Limited to 1080p (no 4K)
• Requires long-term contract

The Problem for Lower-League Fans

If you support a Championship, League One, or League Two club, the Carabao Cup is one of your best chances for silverware. But watching your team requires a £43/month Sky Sports subscription, even if you only want to watch a few cup matches.

Complete Cup Coverage with PremLeaguePass

PremLeaguePass solves the coverage gap by offering every FA Cup and Carabao Cup match, from the first round to the finals.

What You Get

FA Cup:

• All preliminary rounds
• 1st and 2nd Rounds (all 80 matches)
• 3rd Round onwards (all 63 matches)
• Replays (when they occur)
• Total: 143 matches

Carabao Cup:

• Round 1 onwards (all 92 matches)
• Semi-Finals (both legs)
• Final at Wembley
• Total: 93 matches

Plus:

• 4K 60FPS quality on all matches
• Full match replays available within 30 minutes
• Extended highlights for quick recaps
• Multi-device support (watch on TV, phone, tablet)

Pricing Comparison

| Service | Monthly Cost | FA Cup Matches | Carabao Cup Matches | |---------|--------------|----------------|---------------------| | BBC + ITV | Free | ~20 selected | 0 | | Sky Sports | £43 | 0 | All matches | | PremLeaguePass | £15 | All 143 matches | All 93 matches |

You get complete coverage of both competitions for less than the cost of a single Now TV Sports Day Pass.

Key Dates: FA Cup 2025/26

Tournament Schedule

• 3rd Round: January 10-13, 2026
• 4th Round: January 31 - February 1, 2026
• 5th Round: February 28 - March 1, 2026
• Quarter-Finals: March 21-22, 2026
• Semi-Finals: April 18-19, 2026 (Wembley)
• Final: May 16, 2026 (Wembley)

3rd Round: When the Big Teams Enter

The FA Cup 3rd Round is when Premier League and Championship clubs enter the competition. This is traditionally "Giant-Killing Weekend" when lower-league teams get their chance against top-flight opposition.

Notable 3rd Round Ties (2026):

• Non-league sides vs Premier League clubs
• Local derbies and grudge matches
• Potential upsets and shocks

With PremLeaguePass, you can watch every single 3rd Round match, not just the 4-5 selected by BBC and ITV.

Key Dates: Carabao Cup 2025/26

Tournament Schedule

• Round 2: August 26-27, 2025 (completed)
• Round 3: September 23-24, 2025 (completed)
• Round 4: October 28-29, 2025 (completed)
• Quarter-Finals: December 17-18, 2025 (completed)
• Semi-Finals (1st Leg): January 7-8, 2026
• Semi-Finals (2nd Leg): February 4-5, 2026
• Final: March 1, 2026 (Wembley)

The Carabao Cup is currently at the Semi-Final stage, with four teams battling for a place at Wembley.

How to Watch: Setup Guide

Step 1: Subscribe to PremLeaguePass

Choose your plan:

• 1 Month: £15 (perfect for cup runs)
• 3 Months: £40 (covers FA Cup knockout stages)
• 12 Months: £120 (full season + next season's early rounds)

Step 2: Choose Your Device

Cup matches work perfectly on:

• Amazon Firestick 4K (most popular)
• Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony)
• Apple TV 4K
• Mobile devices (iOS/Android)

Step 3: Install Your IPTV Player

Recommended apps:

• TiviMate (Android/Firestick) - Best EPG for finding matches
• IPTV Smarters Pro (iOS/Apple TV) - Clean interface
• OTT Navigator (All platforms) - Advanced search features

Step 4: Set Up Notifications

Never miss your team's cup match:

1. Open your IPTV app settings
2. Enable "Match Notifications"
3. Select your favourite teams
4. Get alerts 15 minutes before kickoff

Why Cup Football is Different

Giant-Killings and Upsets

The magic of the FA Cup is that anyone can beat anyone on the day. Recent shocks include:

• Non-league teams beating Premier League sides
• Lower-league clubs reaching the 5th Round
• Penalty shootout drama

With PremLeaguePass, you can watch these giant-killings live, not just see the highlights later.

Replays and Extra Time

FA Cup matches (up to the 5th Round) go to replays if the score is level after 90 minutes. These midweek replays are often not shown on BBC or ITV.

PremLeaguePass shows every replay live, so you never miss the decisive match.

Squad Rotation and Youth Players

Cup matches are when managers rotate their squads and give young players a chance. If you want to see your club's academy prospects in action, you need to watch these matches live.

Beyond the Cups: What Else is Included

Your PremLeaguePass subscription includes far more than just FA Cup and Carabao Cup:

English Football

• Premier League (all 380 matches)
• EFL Championship, League One, League Two
• National League (top non-league division)
• Women's FA Cup and Women's League Cup

International Competitions

• Champions League, Europa League
• International friendlies and qualifiers
• World Cup and European Championship (when applicable)

Other Sports

• UFC and Boxing PPV events
• NFL, NBA, NHL
• Formula 1, MotoGP
• Cricket, Rugby, Tennis

All for £15/month with no contract.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Can't Find Your Team's Match

If you can't locate your team's cup match:

1. Check the EPG (Electronic Programme Guide) in your IPTV app
2. Use the search function (search for your team name)
3. Browse by category (look under "Football" > "Domestic Cups")
4. Contact support via WhatsApp for direct links

Stream Quality Issues

For the best streaming experience:

• Use a wired Ethernet connection for 4K quality
• Close background apps before the match
• Restart your device if you experience buffering
• Lower to 1080p if your internet is slow

Try Before You Buy: 24-hour Free Trial

Not sure if IPTV is right for you? Test it during an FA Cup or Carabao Cup match with our 24-hour free trial.

What's included:

• Full access to all cup matches
• 4K 60FPS streaming quality
• EPG and catch-up features
• Technical support

Get Your Free Trial

Final Verdict: How to Watch Cup Football in 2026

Choose BBC/ITV if:

• You only watch the biggest FA Cup matches
• You're happy with limited coverage
• You don't mind missing early rounds

Choose Sky Sports if:

• You already have Sky for Premier League
• You only care about Carabao Cup
• You're willing to pay £43/month

Choose PremLeaguePass if:

• You want to watch every FA Cup match
• You want complete Carabao Cup coverage
• You support a lower-league team
• You want 4K quality and replays
• You want to save money (£15 vs £43/month)

For true cup football fans, PremLeaguePass is the only service that shows every match.

Get Started Today

Ready to watch every FA Cup and Carabao Cup match?

1. Start Your 24-hour Free Trial - Test during a live cup match
2. View Pricing Plans - From £15/month, no contract
3. Contact Support - Setup help via WhatsApp

Don't miss your team's cup run. Join PremLeaguePass today.