As Arsenal gear up to play West Ham in the Carabao Cup, behind-the-scenes changes could significantly reshape the competition’s future.

For the first time in its 63-year history, the League Cup may transition to one-leg semi-finals from next season, according to a recent report in Sports Mail.

Arsenal will face West Ham on Wednesday night in the Carabao Cup, amid significant changes that could soon alter the structure of the tournament.

For the first time in its 63-year history, the League Cup could switch to one-leg semi-finals starting next season.

The EFL has informed clubs about the proposal, which awaits confirmation pending the Premier League’s agreement on a new funding package. This package, worth around £900 million over six years, could be the key to enabling the change.

The EFL has historically resisted the idea of one-leg semi-finals, primarily due to financial implications. However, the Carabao Cup is a substantial commercial asset, contributing to about a third of the EFL’s domestic television deal with Sky Sports.

Currently, the two-leg semi-finals are scheduled in midweek slots in January, a time when no other football matches occur, making them particularly appealing to broadcasters.

Despite this, the EFL has successfully negotiated a clause in their new £935 million TV deal with Sky Sports for the upcoming season that permits them to remove the two-leg semi-finals without financial penalties.

The increased funding offer from the Premier League and the elimination of a rebate risk from broadcasters appear to have persuaded the EFL to agree to this historic change. While the precise details have yet to be settled, one-off semi-finals may allow the use of neutral venues for the first time in the tournament’s history.

Since 2020, the EFL and the Premier League have been in talks over a so-called ‘New Deal for Football’, and it appears they are close to agreement.

This package would see lower-division clubs receive 14.75% of the combined broadcast revenues of the two organisations from next year, in addition to interim funding from the top flight this season. Although Premier League clubs still have to approve the offer, there is growing confidence from all parties involved that an agreement can be reached before this season concludes.

This proposed deal would also require Premier League clubs to play their first teams in the Carabao Cup. This is a significant change, as the tournament has sometimes been treated as a development competition by top-flight clubs, much to the enjoyment of fans.