The FA Cup and League Cup 2020/21 campaigns will see some significant changes as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, both in scheduling and prize money.

Arsenal's Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang holds the winner's trophy as the team celebrates victory after the English FA Cup final football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium in London, on August 1, 2020. - Arsenal won the match 2-1. (Photo by Catherine Ivill / POOL / AFP)
Arsenal’s Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang holds the winner’s trophy on August 1, 2020. (Photo by Catherine Ivill / POOL / AFP)

There are a whole host of changes to the domestic cups next season, unsurprisingly.

For the EFL Cup, the first four rounds will all take place in September. The first round on 5th September, followed by the second on 15th-16th, and the third and fourth in the two midweeks directly after that. Arsenal will enter in the third round, as they’re in European competition.

There are no more two-legged semi-finals this year either. The final will take place at the end of February (28th, in this case) as usual.

It sounds like the claims that teams in European competition might avoid the League Cup altogether were wide of the mark.

As for the FA Cup, the prize money is half of what it was last year. Whilst Arsenal received £3.6m for winning the trophy earlier this month, next year’s winners will only get £1.8m.

There are also no FA Cup replays this season. Like with the League Cup, the competition is cutting back to the minimum number of games to ease fixture congestion.

As a side note, the Premier League will confirm next season’s fixture list by next Friday, August 21st.