EFL Trophy 2016-17

The 2016–17 EFL Trophy will be the 33rd season in the history of the competition, a knock-out tournament for English football clubs in League One and League Two, the third and fourth tiers of the English football, and also including 16 Premier League academy/U21 sides as part of a trial.

In all, 64 clubs will enter the competition. Barnsley are the reigning champions but are unable to defend their title following promotion to the Championship. On 9 June 2016, also the first day of UEFA Euro 2016, the newly branded EFL announced that the 2016–17 competition will include sixteen 'category 1 Premier League academy/under-21 sides'. The first round will now consist of sixteen regional groups of four teams, with the top two from each group progressing to the knock-out round. The reception to the trial by League One and Two fans was largely negative.

Format
Full details for the 2016–17 Football League Trophy will be finalised by 24 June 2016.