The Carabao Cup fourth round draw is next up, and there is no shortage of intrigue. The format is familiar, the calendar is cramped and the clubs in Europe are once again being drip-fed into the competition across two separate weeks. That means the third round is stretched over September 8/9 and 15/16/17, 2026, and it leaves the draw with a slightly uneven feel.
Some business has already been done. Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Sunderland, all involved in the Europa League this season, handled lower-league opposition without fuss. Bournemouth beat Lincoln 4-0, Palace saw off Middlesbrough 3-0 and Sunderland edged Hull City 1-0. Chelsea also came through, beating Leeds at Stamford Bridge in a fixture with plenty of old edge, even if cup football rarely cares for sentiment.
Carabao Cup Draw Date
The fourth round draw will take place on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, after Manchester United versus Brighton is completed. The expected start time is around 10.15pm BST. As ever, that timing depends on the game finishing on schedule, which in cup football is never guaranteed.
How to Watch Carabao Cup Draw
In the UK, the draw will be shown live on Sky Sports, with streaming available through the Sky Go app for subscribers. Ball numbers are still to be confirmed and will be released on the morning of the draw.
Fourth Round Fixtures Schedule
The fourth round ties are scheduled for the week commencing Monday, October 26, 2026. That is where the competition usually starts to sharpen, with Premier League sides more likely to collide and squad depth more likely to matter.
Third Round Results and Remaining Fixtures
Results so far: Bournemouth 4-0 Lincoln, Crystal Palace 3-0 Middlesbrough, Leyton Orient 1-3 Bradford, Sunderland 1-0 Hull, Millwall 0-1 Newcastle.
Still to be played: Peterborough vs Barnsley, West Ham vs Fulham, Ipswich vs Arsenal, Liverpool vs Tottenham, Reading vs Brentford, Everton vs Wolves, Fleetwood vs Sheffield United, Coventry vs Aston Villa, Manchester…
..
