The Carabao Cup draw is one of the most anticipated moments of the English domestic football season, as clubs discover their opponents in the next stage of the competition.
For the 2026/27 Carabao Cup, the third-round draw has now taken place, setting up several intriguing ties involving Premier League heavyweights. The draw was made on Wednesday, August 26, after the conclusion of the second-round action.
Among the standout fixtures are Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion, Ipswich Town vs Arsenal and Manchester City vs Norwich City.
Here is everything you need to know about the Carabao Cup draw, including the teams involved, key fixtures, dates and how the draw works.
What Is the Carabao Cup?
The Carabao Cup is the official name of the English Football League Cup, one of England’s major domestic knockout competitions.
The tournament involves clubs from the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two.
Unlike the FA Cup, which includes an even wider range of English clubs, the Carabao Cup is contested by the 92 clubs in the top four divisions.
The competition provides clubs with another opportunity to win silverware and qualify for European football.
When Was the Carabao Cup Third-Round Draw?
The 2026/27 Carabao Cup third-round draw took place on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
It followed the conclusion of the second-round match between Preston North End and Everton and was broadcast live as part of Sky Sports’ coverage.
The third round is particularly important because the Premier League clubs competing in European competitions enter the tournament at this stage.
Carabao Cup Third-Round Draw Fixtures
The third-round draw produced several eye-catching ties.
Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur
Liverpool will face Tottenham at Anfield in one of the biggest ties of the round.
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Manchester United have been handed a difficult home tie against Brighton.
Ipswich Town vs Arsenal
Arsenal face an away trip to Ipswich Town.
Manchester City vs Norwich City
Defending champions Manchester City will host Championship side Norwich City.
Everton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Everton will meet Wolves, with the tie particularly notable because the clubs were drawn against each other again after their meeting in last season’s competition.
Full Carabao Cup Third-Round Draw
The third-round fixtures include:
- Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur
- Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
- Ipswich Town vs Arsenal
- Manchester City vs Norwich City
- Everton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
The remaining fixtures were also determined during the draw, with clubs now preparing for the next stage of the competition.
Why Did Some Premier League Teams Enter in the Third Round?
The Carabao Cup does not require every Premier League team to enter at the same stage.
The clubs competing in European competitions are given a later entry point because of their heavier schedules.
For the 2026/27 competition, nine Premier League clubs involved in European football entered at the third-round stage. These include Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brighton, Crystal Palace and Sunderland.
Other Premier League clubs entered earlier.
Chelsea and Tottenham, for example, were already involved in the second round. (EFL)
Why Was There a Pre-Draw?
The 2026/27 third-round draw used a special procedure because of the increasingly crowded European football calendar.
Eight of the Premier League clubs involved in European competition were placed into a separate group for the pre-draw.
The process was designed to determine whether those clubs would play at home or away while preventing European clubs from being drawn against one another.
This helps organizers deal with potential fixture clashes involving the Champions League and Europa League.
When Will the Carabao Cup Third-Round Matches Be Played?
The third-round fixtures are scheduled across the weeks beginning:
- September 7, 2026
- September 14, 2026
The split schedule is designed to accommodate clubs competing in European competitions.
Unlike earlier rounds, the third round is no longer divided into northern and southern sections.
Who Are the Carabao Cup Holders?
Manchester City entered the 2026/27 competition as the defending champions.
City defeated Arsenal 2-0 in the 2026 Carabao Cup final to lift the trophy.
Pep Guardiola’s team will therefore be attempting to defend the trophy and become champions again.
Their third-round tie against Norwich City gives them a potentially favorable route into the next stage, although cup football can always produce surprises.
Manchester City vs Norwich City
Manchester City will host Norwich City in one of the third-round ties.
The Premier League champions will be expected to advance, particularly with home advantage.
However, Norwich have the opportunity to produce one of the biggest upsets of the round.
For City, the Carabao Cup also provides an opportunity to give minutes to squad players and emerging youngsters while keeping the main squad fresh for Premier League and European commitments.
Liverpool vs Tottenham: One of the Biggest Ties
The meeting between Liverpool and Tottenham is arguably one of the most attractive fixtures of the third round.
Both clubs have significant histories in the competition, meaning neither side will want to exit at this stage.
Playing at Anfield could give Liverpool an important advantage.
However, Tottenham have enough attacking quality to make the tie extremely competitive.
The match could also provide managers with an opportunity to assess squad depth.
Manchester United vs Brighton
Manchester United have been handed another interesting challenge with Brighton & Hove Albion travelling to Old Trafford.
Brighton have established themselves as a difficult opponent for Premier League clubs in recent seasons.
United will therefore need to approach the fixture seriously if they want to progress.
For Manchester United, the Carabao Cup could also represent one of several opportunities to compete for silverware during the 2026/27 campaign.
Arsenal Face Ipswich
Arsenal’s third-round assignment is an away trip to Ipswich Town.
On paper, Arsenal will be favorites.
But an away cup tie against a motivated opponent can be dangerous.
Ipswich will have the opportunity to play without the same pressure as Arsenal, while the Gunners will be expected to advance.
That makes this a potentially interesting test for Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Everton vs Wolves
Everton have been drawn against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Interestingly, this is a repeat of last season’s Carabao Cup pairing.
Wolves won their previous meeting 2-0, making the new draw particularly intriguing.
Everton will now have the opportunity to reverse that result.
When Is the Carabao Cup Final?
The 2026/27 Carabao Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, March 21, 2027.
Before reaching Wembley, clubs must progress through several knockout rounds.
The scheduled dates are:
| Round | Date |
|---|---|
| Round 2 | Week commencing August 24, 2026 |
| Round 3 | Weeks commencing September 7 & 14 |
| Round 4 | Week commencing October 26 |
| Round 5 | Week commencing December 14 |
| Semi-final first legs | Week commencing January 11, 2027 |
| Semi-final second legs | Week commencing February 1, 2027 |
| Final | March 21, 2027 |
How to Watch the Carabao Cup Draw
The third-round draw was broadcast live on Sky Sports following the conclusion of Preston North End vs Everton.
Carabao Cup matches are also covered across Sky Sports platforms, with selected matches available through other broadcasters depending on the territory. (Sky Sports)
Viewers outside the UK should check their local broadcaster because Carabao Cup rights differ between countries.
What Makes the Carabao Cup Draw Important?
The draw can dramatically change a club’s chances of reaching the later stages.
A team that receives a lower-league opponent may have a more straightforward route into the next round.
Meanwhile, two Premier League clubs drawn together could see one of the competition’s strongest teams eliminated early.
That is exactly what makes the Carabao Cup draw so interesting.
Every ball can potentially create a major fixture.
Can a Lower-League Team Win the Carabao Cup?
It is extremely difficult, but the knockout format creates opportunities for surprises.
Lower-league clubs can eliminate Premier League opponents, particularly when top-flight teams rotate their squads.
The Carabao Cup has therefore developed a reputation for producing unexpected results.
A single outstanding performance can completely change a club’s season.
Carabao Cup Draw: Key Talking Points
Manchester City Begin Their Title Defence
The reigning champions face Norwich City at home.
Liverpool Get Tottenham
The Reds have been handed one of the most attractive ties of the round.
Manchester United Face Brighton
United will need to be at their best against a Brighton team capable of causing problems.
Arsenal Travel to Ipswich
The Gunners will be expected to qualify, but an away cup tie presents a different challenge.
Everton Meet Wolves Again
The two sides have been paired together in the competition for a second consecutive season.
Final Thoughts
The 2026/27 Carabao Cup draw has produced several fascinating third-round ties, with some of England’s biggest clubs now knowing their routes into the next stage.
Manchester City will begin their title defence against Norwich City, while Liverpool face Tottenham and Manchester United take on Brighton.
Arsenal, meanwhile, travel to Ipswich, while Everton meet Wolves in a repeat of last season’s pairing.
With the third-round matches scheduled for September, the competition is beginning to take shape.
And with Premier League giants now entering the tournament, the race for the Carabao Cup is about to become even more intense.
One thing is certain: the road to Wembley is already producing some fascinating matchups.
