The Papa John’s Trophy is back for the 2021/22 season – keep track of the teams taking part and all the fixtures and results.
The competition formerly known as the EFL Trophy was won by Sunderland in 2020/21 and is back for the 2021/22 season, featuring clubs from League One and League Two, as well as 16 invited U21 teams from Premier League and Championship clubs with Category One academy status.
A total of 64 teams will compete again this time, bidding to reach the Wembley final on Sunday April 3, 2022.
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Watch Sunderland lift the 2020/21 Papa John’s Trophy following their first win at Wembley since 1973!
Who is taking part?
As well as 48 sides from Leagues One and Two, the following teams have been invited to take part in 2021/22:Arsenal U21
EFL clubs must have at least four ‘qualifying’ outfield players in their line-ups, with players needing to meet these 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
- A club can play any eligible goalkeeper in the competition
What’s the format?
The invited U21 teams have been placed into respective Northern and Southern section groups, with one U21 side in each group.
There are 16 groups of four teams, with each side playing each other once in the regionalised group stage. Invited clubs will be the ‘away’ side in each match in the group stage.
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