Carabao Cup Third Round: Premier League Teams Enter
The early rounds are almost done. The Premier League heavyweights are warming up.
The Carabao Cup third round is on the horizon, and this is the stage where the competition suddenly feels a lot more serious. Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool are all poised to join the fray after receiving byes thanks to their European schedules, while others are still fighting just to be there.
Chelsea and Tottenham are among those who must first navigate second-round ties this week to book their spots. For them, there’s no safety net. One bad night, and the glamour of the third round disappears.
When is the third-round draw?
The exact date and time for the Carabao Cup third round draw have not yet been confirmed.
The plan, though, is clear enough. It is expected to take place after Preston vs Everton, which kicks off at 8pm BST on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Once the final whistle goes at Deepdale, attention turns straight to the bowls and ball numbers.
Details on who will front the draw, and which guests will help pull out the ties, will be confirmed closer to the night.
How to watch the draw
Sky Sports will carry the draw live on TV, with subscribers also able to stream it via the Sky Go app.
For those who prefer a rolling update and instant reaction, Standard Sport will run a live blog following every tie as it comes out of the hat.
Who will be in the hat?
The morning of the draw will bring the full list of ball numbers, but the format is already set.
Thirty-two clubs will be involved:
- The 23 winners from the second round
- The nine Premier League sides competing in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League this season
One key wrinkle: those European clubs will not be paired against each other at this stage, a quirk of scheduling as they juggle domestic and continental commitments across a packed calendar.
When will the ties be played?
The third-round fixtures will be spread across two consecutive midweeks.
Matches are scheduled to take place from the week beginning September 7, and then again from September 14, as the competition weaves itself into an already congested early-season programme.
By the end of those two weeks, the Carabao Cup will look very different. The field will be smaller. The stakes, much higher.
