Carabao Cup Third Round: Premier League Heavyweights Enter

The early skirmishes are almost done. The Carabao Cup is about to change gear.

After this week’s second-round ties, the competition will welcome the Premier League’s heavyweights, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool all stepping in after being handed byes thanks to their European schedules. Chelsea and Tottenham are not there yet; they still have to fight through the second round to book their spots.

Those European commitments shape everything. With clubs involved in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League trying to squeeze fixtures into an already packed calendar, the third round will be stretched across two midweeks. It also means those European sides will be kept apart at this stage, delaying any heavyweight collisions a little longer.

When is the Carabao Cup third round draw?

The exact date and time remain unconfirmed, but the plan is clear.

The draw is expected to take place on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, once Preston vs Everton has finished. That tie kicks off at 8pm BST, so the balls should be in the hat later that evening.

Details on who will host the draw and which guests will be alongside them will be revealed closer to the night.

How to watch the draw

Fans won’t have to rely on social media leaks or delayed clips.

Sky Sports subscribers can watch the draw live online via the Sky Go app, bringing the usual mix of tension and cheers as the numbers are pulled out.

For those glued to their devices, Standard Sport will run a live blog, following every twist of the draw as it happens.

Who will be in the hat?

The final list of ball numbers will be confirmed on the morning of the draw.

What is already locked in is the structure: 32 clubs in total. That includes the 23 winners from the second round, joined by the nine Premier League teams competing in UEFA’s three club competitions this season — the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

No seedings. No protection beyond keeping those European sides apart. Just the usual lottery of cup football.

When will the third round be played?

The calendar is tight, so the organisers have split the fixtures.

Third-round matches are scheduled across back-to-back weeks, starting from September 7 and then continuing from September 14. Two midweeks, one round, and the first real test of squad depth for England’s elite.

By then, we’ll know who has landed a kind draw, who has been thrown into a storm, and who might just see this cup as their quickest route to silverware.