.svg&w=384&q=75 "Naijagoal logo"){kind=small}
Carabao Cup Third Round: Premier League Heavyweights Enter
The Carabao Cup is about to change gear. The third round is looming, and with it comes the arrival of the Premier League’s biggest hitters.
Chelsea and Tottenham still have work to do in the second round this week, fighting to secure their passage. Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool, though, are already waiting in the wings, handed a bye thanks to their European schedules.
That European congestion shapes the competition. Clubs involved in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League will not be drawn against each other in this round, and the ties will be spread across two midweeks to ease the load.
This is where the tournament starts to feel serious.
When is the third-round draw?
The exact date and time have not yet been rubber-stamped, but the draw is expected to take place on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, after Preston vs Everton. That game kicks off at 8pm BST, with the draw to follow once the action at Deepdale is done.
Details on who will host and conduct the draw will be revealed closer to the night.
How to watch the draw
Sky Sports will carry the draw live, with subscribers able to stream it through the Sky Go app.
For those who prefer every twist and turn in text, Standard Sport will run a live blog, tracking each ball as it’s pulled and every tie as it’s confirmed.
Who will be in the hat?
Ball numbers for the third round will be finalised on the morning of the draw, once the second-round dust has settled.
In total, 32 clubs will go into the pot:
- The 23 winners from the second round
- The nine Premier League sides involved in UEFA competition this season across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League
That mix guarantees a blend of underdogs, mid-table hopefuls and genuine title contenders.
When will the third-round ties be played?
The third round will not be squeezed into a single midweek. Instead, matches are set to be staged across back-to-back weeks, starting from September 7 and then continuing from September 14.
By then, the giants will be in, the schedule will be brutal, and the first real statements of intent in this season’s Carabao Cup will be made.
