Carabao Cup Third Round: Premier League Giants Enter the Fray

The early rounds are almost done. The Premier League heavyweights are warming up.

The Carabao Cup third round is on the horizon, the stage where the competition starts to feel serious as Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool step in after skipping the second round thanks to their European schedules.

Chelsea and Tottenham are not there yet. They must first navigate their second-round ties this week to book a place in the hat, while those already juggling Champions League, Europa League and Conference League commitments wait to see what comes next.

When is the third-round draw?

The exact date and time are still to be rubber-stamped, but the plan is clear.

The draw is expected to take place on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, straight after Preston vs Everton, which kicks off at 8pm BST. Once the final whistle goes at Deepdale, attention will quickly turn from the pitch to the pot.

Details on who will host and conduct the draw will be confirmed closer to the night.

How to watch the draw

Sky Sports will carry the draw live, with subscribers able to stream it online via the Sky Go app.

For those who prefer rolling updates and instant reaction, Standard Sport will run a live blog tracking every ball, every tie and every twist as the 32 clubs discover their fate.

Who will be in the hat?

Ball numbers will be released on the morning of the draw, but the line-up is already taking shape.

There will be 32 clubs: the 23 winners from the second round, joined by the nine Premier League sides involved in UEFA competition this season across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

Because of the European calendar, those clubs will not face each other at this stage, and the third round will be stretched across two midweeks to ease the congestion.

When will the third round be played?

Third-round ties are scheduled over back-to-back weeks, starting from September 7 and then continuing from September 14.

By then, the early-season rhythm will be set, the fixture lists will be packed, and managers will be weighing up rotation against the lure of Wembley.