Carabao Cup Third Round: Premier League Heavyweights Join

The early skirmishes are nearly over. The Carabao Cup is about to change gear.

The third round is looming, and with it come the Premier League heavyweights. Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool are all waiting in the wings, having skipped the second round thanks to their European schedules. Their entrance always shifts the mood: what has felt like a warm-up suddenly starts to look like a proper cup campaign.

Chelsea and Tottenham are not there yet. They, along with the rest of the top-flight sides outside European competition, must still fight through their second-round ties this week to book a place in the hat. For some, it will be routine. For others, this is where the season’s first real shock can land.

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 after Preston vs Everton on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. That match kicks off at 8pm BST, and once it’s done, attention will switch straight to the bowl of numbered balls and the familiar tension of who-gets-who.

Details on who will host the draw and which guests will be involved are set to be confirmed closer to the night.

How to watch the draw

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

For those who prefer every twist and turn written out in real time, Standard Sport will run a live blog covering each tie as it’s pulled out.

Who will be in the hat?

Thirty-two clubs will make up the third-round draw.

They will be the 23 winners from the second round, joined by the nine Premier League teams competing in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League this season.

Because of those European commitments, the competition has had to bend. The third round will be split across two midweeks, with ties scheduled from September 7 and then again from September 14. It also means those European sides will be kept apart at this stage, avoiding early heavyweight collisions while they juggle packed calendars.

For now, it’s simple. Win your second-round tie, get your number, and wait. The next two midweeks in September are where the Carabao Cup starts to feel serious.