Newcastle United face Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, and will qualify for Europe next season if they win.
Eddie Howe‘s side have the chance to end an incredible trophy drought in the Carabao Cup final this weekend, when the Magpies take on the Red Devils at Wembley. It is Newcastle‘s first cup final since 1999, and a chance to lift silverware for the first time since 1969.
Cup fever has gripped Tyneside, as Toon fans prepare to travel south and support the club in its biggest game in years.
It will be a historic moment if Newcastle win the Carabao Cup, and a real statement moment for the new ownership at St James’ Park. They will hope it can be the first of many during their tenure.
It is going to be a very tough game against Manchester United, made even tougher by Nick Pope’s suspension. But the lure of a trophy and the chance to become Toon legends is all the motivation that Newcastle will need. And it is a chance to ensure European football for next season.
Three ways Newcastle can qualify for Europe this season
If Newcastle win the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, which will be refereed by David Coote, they will qualify for Europe for the first time in 10 years. Their last game in Europe was a Europa League quarter final against Benfica on April 11th 2013, when Alan Pardew’s side lost 4-2 on aggregate.
Since then, Newcastle haven’t got close to playing in Europe – until now. Given our Premier League form, Howe will have ambitions of playing in next season’s Champions League or Europa League. That looks like a possibility, with the Magpies fifth in the table after 23 games.
If we finish in the top four we will qualify for the Champions League. A fifth-place finish would put us into the Europa League, and so would a sixth-place finish if the team that wins the FA Cup are in the Premier League’s top five.
Does the winner of the Carabao Cup qualify for the Europa League?
But if Newcastle beat Man United at Wembley, they will book their place in next season’s Europa Conference League. It is UEFA’s third competition, with Roma winning the inaugural edition last season.
Previously, winning the Carabao Cup would qualify you for the Europa League, but the introduction of UEFA’s new competition in 2021 changed that.
Winning the League Cup would put Newcastle in the ECL next season, where they would enter at the playoff stage.
However, they can be promoted to the Champions League or Europa League depending on where they finish in this season’s Premier League.
No matter what competition it is, returning to Europe would be special. And we can guarantee it by winning the 2023 League Cup.
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