The Group Stage draws for the EFL Trophy will take place live on talkSPORT on Friday 12 July.
The Group Stage draws for the EFL Trophy will take place live on talkSPORT on Friday 12 July.
MK Dons will discover which two EFL clubs they will face, along with their Category 1 Invited Club opponent, next week for this season’s competition.
The EFL Trophy is a 64-team competition with 48 Teams from League One and Two and 16 Category One Academy Clubs ‘Invited Teams'.
Competition Format
Group Stages
- 16 groups of 4 teams.
- Each group will contain one Invited Team.
- Three EFL Clubs will make up the group.
- The groups will be formed to minimise the travel distance for EFL Clubs.
- The Invited Team will play all group games away.
- Each EFL Club will play two group games at home.
- Clubs will be awarded 3 points for a win, and 1 point for a draw.
- In the event of a drawn game after 90 minutes, a penalty shootout will be held with the victorious team gaining an extra point.
- The top two placed teams will progress to the knock-out rounds. In the event of points being level, positions will be determined by using established criteria.
Round 2
- Round 2 will remain regionalised with the group winners at home against a second-placed team from a different qualifying group.
- Invited Teams will be required to play games at their first team stadium if drawn at home, unless an exemption is granted.
Round 3
- Round 3 will remain regionalised.
- Invited Teams will be required to play games at their first team stadium if drawn at home, unless an exemption is granted.
Quarter Finals
- Quarter Finals (8 teams) will be drawn without any geographical restrictions.
- If the scores are level after 90 minutes, the game will be determined by penalty kicks.
- Invited Teams will be required to play games at their first team stadium if drawn at home, unless an exemption is granted.
Semi-Finals
- The Semi-Finals will be played at the first team stadium of the team drawn first in both ties.
- If the scores are level after 90 minutes, the game will be determined by penalty kicks.
The Final
- The Final will be played at Wembley Stadium. If the scores are level after 90 minutes, extra time will be played and if the teams are still level, the winner will be determined by penalty kicks.
Match Dates (2019/20)
Group Stages
Match 1 w/c 2nd September 2019
Match 2 w/c 7th October 2019
Match 3 w/c 11th November 2019
Knock-out Rounds
Round 2 w/c 2nd December 2019
Round 3 w/c 6th January 2020
Quarter Final w/c 20th January 2020
Semi-Final w/c 17th February 2020
Final Sunday 5th April 2020
Player Eligibility
For EFL clubs
- 4 qualifying outfield players from 10.
- A Club can play any eligible goalkeeper in the Competition.
- A qualifying outfield player will be one who meets any of the following requirements:-
- Any Player who started the previous or following first team fixture.
- Any Player who is in the top 10 Players at the Club who have made the most starting appearances in League and Domestic Cup Competitions that season.
- Any Player with 40 or more First Team appearances in their career.
- Any Player on loan from a Premier League Club or any EFL Category One Academy Club.
For Invited teams
- 6 from 11 in the starting line-up at U21 level as at 30th June in the preceding season.
- Teams may only include 2 players on the team sheet over 21 who have made 40 or more senior appearances (measured as at the 30th June in the preceding Season).
- A senior appearance will be defined as having played in a professional first team fixture. A non-playing substitute does not count.
