[1] The current competition begins with 16 regional groups, each containing 4 teams and divided between northern and southern sections depending on the clubs' geographic locations.

The top two from each group qualify for the knockout stages before the two winners meet in late March or early April in the final at Wembley Stadium.

[6] The first season under the new name saw 16 Category One academies of Premier League and EFL Championship clubs join the competition.

The eight group winners qualified for the quarter-finals, and the knockout stages were played as a single leg, with the game going to extra time and penalties if necessary.

[12] For a number of seasons in the early to mid-1990s, the competition ran with seven 3-team groups, two teams in each section receiving a bye into the knockout stages.

This was a direct result of the folding of Aldershot and Maidstone United necessitating a reorganisation of the competition to accommodate fewer than 48 teams in the tournament.

The number of invitees increased to 12 from 2002–03, resulting in 14 first-round ties, and two teams in each regional section gaining a bye into the second round.

The top two from each group progress to the knockout stages; up to and including the quarter-final remains regionalised before becoming an open draw from the semi-finals onwards.

The final in 1984 was due to be played at the then Wembley Stadium, but owing to damage caused to the pitch during the Horse of the Year Show, it was moved to Boothferry Park in Hull.

[citation needed] Source:[18][19][20] The overall record attendance for the final is 85,021, set at the Wembley Stadium in 2019 by Portsmouth and Sunderland.

[22] The 2020 and 2021 finals were played behind closed doors, but clubs raised money for charity by selling supporters virtual tickets.