March 19 – A peak UK TV audience of nearly 8 million watched Newcastle United upset Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley on Sunday to claim the 2025 Carabao Cup, ending a 70-year wait for major domestic silverware.
Figures shared by the EFL show that an average of 6.3 million viewers tuned in across Sky Sports and ITV’s platforms, with the final also broadcast in 193 international territories. The record figures reflect surging interest fuelled by a new broadcast deal allowing every Carabao Cup match to be shown live in the UK for the first time.
Newcastle’s win marks their first major trophy since the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and first domestic success since the 1955 FA Cup. Goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak stunned Premier League leaders Liverpool, with Federico Chiesa’s late reply proving too little too late.
Wembley was packed with 88,513 fans – the highest attendance in Europe over the weekend – and overall tournament attendance reached 1.8 million, up 20% year-on-year.
The win also secures Newcastle a Europa League spot and caps a dramatic rise fuelled by Saudi investment.
EFL Chief Executive Officer, Trevor Birch said: “The attendance and viewership numbers for Sunday’s Final demonstrate the continued popularity of the Carabao Cup, and the value the competition holds in the football calendar for supporters up and down the country and across the world.
“It was a fitting finale to a wonderful season of Carabao Cup football, and I’d like to thank each of Sky Sports, ITV and our international broadcast partners for making it such a success.”
After losing the 2023 League Cup final against Manchester United, manager Eddie Howe, who will now forever be revered in the north-east city, admitted he was overwhelmed to finally bring silverware back to the club.
“I’ve been emotional all day to be honest, which is very unlike me around the game day,” he said. “But we just knew what was at stake today for all the people here, all the people back in Newcastle and we just wanted to do them proud. We were desperate to try and win the trophy after all the years of hurt.”
Howe is the first English manager to win a major domestic trophy in England since Harry Redknapp lifted the 2008 FA Cup with Portsmouth.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1743187714labto1743187714ofdlr1743187714owedi1743187714sni@g1743187714niwe.1743187714yrrah1743187714