English Football League Cup (EFL Cup) Schedule Introduction: The English Football League Cup, also known as the EFL Cup, is an annual knockout competition for football clubs in England. It is one of the top domestic competitions in England, second only to the Premier League. First Round: The first round of the EFL Cup typically takes place in August and features 70 teams from the lower divisions of English football. The draw for this round is split into north and south sections. Matches are played on a single-leg basis. Second Round: The second round takes place in August and sees the 35 winners from the first round joined by Premier League teams not involved in European competition. Like the first round, the draw is split into north and south sections and matches are played on a single-leg basis. Third Round: The third round of the EFL Cup takes place in September and sees the 25 winners from the second round joined by the seven Premier League teams involved in European competition. This is also the point when the draw becomes open, meaning any team can play any other. Matches are played on a single-leg basis. Fourth Round: The fourth round takes place in October and features the 16 winners from the third round. As with the previous round, the draw is open at this stage, and matches are played on a single-leg basis. Quarter-Finals: The quarter-finals of the EFL Cup take place in December and feature the eight winners from the fourth round. Once again, the draw is open, and matches are played on a single-leg basis. Semi-Finals: The semi-finals of the EFL Cup are played over two legs and typically take place in January. The draw is open, meaning any team can play any other. Final: The EFL Cup final is typically played at the end of February or beginning of March at Wembley Stadium in London. The two teams that have made it through the previous rounds face each other in a single match, and the winner is crowned EFL Cup champion. Conclusion: The EFL Cup is an exciting competition that provides a platform for English football clubs to showcase their talent and compete for a top domestic trophy. The many rounds and open draw create a lot of excitement and possibilities for smaller teams to upset the bigger clubs.。
语音朗读：