Current Format
48 teams enter from League One and League Two.
Clubs are assigned to one of four areas for the purposes of the cup draws: Northern Section – East and West, Southern Section – East and West
- Round One, 16 games – 16 teams receive a bye to Round Two, while the remaining 32 play single game ties
- Round Two, 16 games – 32 teams play another single game tie
The cup draw pots are now merged, leaving just a Northern and Southern section
- Area Quarter Finals, 8 games – 16 teams play a single game tie
- Area Semi-Finals, 4 games – 8 teams play a single game tie
Drawing is no longer necessary for the final 4 teams
- Area finals – effectively the competition's semi-finals, the two remaining teams in each section play each other in two-legged game ties, home and away
- Final – between the Northern and Southern area winners
Read more about this topic: Football League Trophy
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