National League Cup: Dates, teams, format, schedule, prize money & more

The National League Cup is a brand new competition which is set to launch in the 2024/25 campaign.

Comprising 16 clubs from the National League and 16 under-21 teams that compete in Premier League 2, the competition has been created as part of the Elite Player Performance Plan, which is aimed at improving the quality and volume of homegrown players.

The top 14 teams in last season's National League that were not promoted, along with the two teams relegated from League Two, were invited to take part.

However, Barnet, Eastleigh, Solihull Moors and Southend opted against participating, and their spots were filled by Dagenham & Redbridge, Ebbsfleet United, Wealdstone and Woking.

Below is everything you need to know about the National League Cup.

National League Cup dates

The 2024/25 National League Cup is scheduled to commence on the 1st October and will conclude with the final, which will either be played on the 1st or 2nd April.

National League Cup teams

National League

• Aldershot Town
• Altrincham
• Boston United
• Braintree Town
• Dagenham & Redbridge
• Ebbsfleet United
• Forest Green Rovers
• Gateshead
• Halifax Town
• Maidenhead United
• Oldham Athletic
• Rochdale
• Sutton United
• Tamworth
• Wealdstone
• Woking

Premier League 2

• Blackburn Rovers
• Brighton
• Derby County
• Fulham
• Leeds United
• Manchester United
• Middlesbrough
• Newcastle United
• Nottingham Forest
• Southampton
• Stoke City
• Sunderland
• Tottenham Hotspur
• West Brom
• West Ham
• Wolves

National League Cup format

The National League Cup consists of a group stage which is then followed by knockout rounds.

All 32 teams are divided into four groups of eight, with an even split of National League clubs and Premier League 2 sides.

The two best-placed teams in each group will advance to the quarter-finals, which precedes the semi-finals and final to determine a winner.

Replicating the format in the EFL Trophy, all Premier League 2 teams will play all of their matches away from home, meaning all National League clubs will play their fixtures on home soil.

No side from the same division will oppose each other in the group stage. All matches will be played in midweek.

National League Cup groups

Group A

• Aldershot Town
• Maidenhead United
• Wealdstone
• Woking
• Brighton U21
• Fulham U21
• Derby County U21
• Southampton U21

Group B

• Altrincham
• Forest Green Rovers
• Oldham Athletic
• Rochdale
• Blackburn Rovers U21
• Manchester United U21
• Stoke City U21
• Wolves U21

Group C

• Boston United
• Gateshead
• Halifax Town
• Tamworth
• Leeds United U21
• Middlesbrough U21
• Newcastle United U21
• Sunderland U21

Group D

• Braintree Town
• Dagenham & Redbridge
• Ebbsfleet United
• Sutton United
• Nottingham Forest U21
• Tottenham Hotspur U21
• West Brom U21
• West Ham U21

National League Cup schedule

Group Stage

Match round 1: 1-2 October 2024
Match round 2: 5-6 November 2024
Match round 3: 3-4 December 2024
Match round 4: 21-22 January 2025

Knockout Rounds

Quarter-finals: 5-6 February 2025
Semi-finals: 11-12 March 2025
Final: 1-2 April 2025

National League Cup prize money

The Premier League is delivering a total prize fund of £1million which will be distributed only to the National League clubs competing in the competition.

On top of the prize money, National League clubs will also keep all gate receipts from their fixtures in the competition.