Carabao Cup Fourth-Round Draw Details

The Carabao Cup is beginning to tighten. The early clutter has gone, the field is down again, and 16 clubs are now one win from the quarter-finals.

With the Premier League’s European contenders entering the competition, the third round had to be split across different nights. That staggered schedule now gives way to something cleaner: a straight fourth-round slate, all focused on the chase for a place in the last eight of English football’s secondary cup.

There is no regional split, no safety net of seeding. Anyone can draw anyone, which means some heavyweight ties are almost inevitable as the tournament starts to simmer.

Here’s how the next step unfolds.

When is the Carabao Cup fourth-round draw?

The draw will be made on Wednesday 16 September, immediately after the Round Three clash between Manchester United and Brighton at Old Trafford.

That game kicks off at 8pm BST, so the draw is expected to take place some time after 10pm BST, once the final whistle and post-match formalities are done.

How can fans watch the draw?

Sky Sports will carry the draw live.

Presenter Pien Meulensteen will lead the coverage, with Jamie Redknapp and Ashley Young overseeing the draw itself as the remaining clubs discover their route towards Wembley.

What are the ball numbers?

The EFL will confirm the ball numbers on Wednesday morning, releasing the full list across its official channels ahead of the Manchester United vs Brighton tie.

When will the fourth round be played?

Fourth-round ties are scheduled for the week commencing 26 October.

All fixtures will be single-legged, leaving no room for error. One night, one result, and for eight clubs, a ticket to the quarter-finals.