The 23 participating clubs will each play six games: three at home and three away. Geography will shape the pairings, with teams divided between North and South for scheduling, but there will be no separate group tables. All clubs will compete for places in the same overall standings.
The field will not include the three English teams taking part in European competitions. That changes the make-up of the cup, but Tottenham still face a demanding first phase: all six matches are scheduled for midweek, putting squad rotation and recovery in focus.
The points system gives a result to every match. A win in normal time earns three points. If a game is level, it goes straight to penalties: the winner takes two points, while the loser receives one.
That rule could make late-game decisions especially consequential. A team unable to find a winner before the shootout can still add to its total, while a penalty victory offers less than a regulation-time win.
Only the top eight in the unified table progress. The quarter-finals are scheduled for January, followed by February semi-finals and a March final at a neutral venue. For Tottenham, the format offers a clear domestic trophy path, but leaves little room for a slow start.
The next marker is the 6 August fixture announcement. Opponents, venues and the order of those midweek games will show how the new format is likely to test Tottenham’s depth from the outset.