The Carabao Cup third round draw is scheduled for Wednesday, August 26, with the draw expected to commence at around 10.30pm following the conclusion of the televised second round match between Preston North End and Everton.
Teams entering and byes
Premier League clubs competing in European competitions, including Arsenal and reigning champions Manchester City, will enter the tournament at this stage. These teams received automatic byes through the first two rounds to ease their congested fixture schedules during the opening months of the season.
How to watch and pre-draw details
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the draw live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, or stream it for free on the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.
Before the main draw, a pre-draw will determine whether each of the eight Champions League and Europa League clubs will be at home or away, as they cannot be drawn against one another due to continental commitments. This pre-draw will take place live on Sky Sports Football during the build-up to Preston vs Everton, simplifying the main draw by allowing presenters to alternate between Bowl 1 and Bowl 2 without extra draws for home-field advantage.
Ball numbers and fixture dates
Ball numbers for all remaining clubs will be announced on the morning of the draw. The third round ties are scheduled to be played across the weeks commencing September 7 and September 14, accommodating the European football calendar.
Manchester City won the trophy last season, defeating Arsenal 2-0 at Wembley Stadium. The final of this year's competition is set for Sunday, March 21, 2027, at Wembley.
