Carabao Cup Fourth Round Draw: Date, Time, TV and Final Third Round Fixtures

Carabao Cup Fourth Round Draw: Date, Time and TV Details Confirmed

The Carabao Cup fourth round draw will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, following the conclusion of Manchester United versus Brighton. The draw is expected to start at around 10.15pm BST and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK.

Draw date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026, after Manchester United vs Brighton
Expected start time: around 10.15pm BST — dependent on the match finishing on schedule
TV coverage: Live on Sky Sports in the UK, with streaming via the Sky Go app for subscribers
Fourth round ties: Week commencing Monday, October 26, 2026
Third round window: Spread across September 8/9 and 15/16/17, 2026
Ball numbers: To be confirmed and released on the morning of the draw

Why the draw has an uneven feel

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. It leaves the draw with a slightly uneven feel, with some sides having already booked their place while others are still waiting to play.

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 Third Round results and remaining fixtures

Five third round ties have been completed. Bournemouth beat Lincoln 4-0. Crystal Palace won 3-0 against Middlesbrough. Leyton Orient lost 3-1 to Bradford. Sunderland edged Hull 1-0. Millwall were beaten 1-0 by Newcastle. Chelsea's win over Leeds at Stamford Bridge is also confirmed, though the exact scoreline is not stated in the source.

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 United vs Brighton, and Man City vs Norwich.

How to watch the Carabao Cup fourth round 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. As ever, the timing depends on the Manchester United versus Brighton game finishing on schedule, which in cup football is never guaranteed.

Analysis: Why the fourth round is where the Carabao Cup gets serious

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. The stretched third round means some clubs will enter the draw with fresher legs, while others will have played a demanding midweek fixture just before the balls are pulled.

Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Sunderland have already shown they can navigate lower-league opposition without drama, which gives them a clear run into the next round while top-flight rivals are still fighting for their places. Chelsea's win over Leeds adds another Premier League name to the pot, and the presence of so many top-flight sides still to play means the fourth round draw could produce heavyweight ties immediately.

The competition rarely waits long before becoming serious. With the busy October schedule looming, managers will be weighing up how much rotation is wise. The teams already through will have the advantage of knowing their fate earlier, while those still to play face the risk of an upset that would leave the draw without some of its biggest names. The Premier League clubs drip-fed into the competition across two weeks will now have to hit the ground running if they want to avoid a shock exit.

Talking points

Does the two-week third round split give an unfair advantage to clubs already through, or is it simply a necessity of the crowded calendar?
Chelsea beating Leeds at Stamford Bridge adds another heavyweight to the pot — should Premier League clubs fear an early meeting with them?
With Man United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City still to play, could the fourth round draw feature more top-flight collisions than usual?
Is a 10.15pm draw start time after a live match too late for fans, or does the post-match slot guarantee a bigger audience?

What happens next

The remaining third round fixtures will be played across September 8/9 and 15/16/17. Manchester United versus Brighton is the final fixture before the draw, and once it concludes, the fourth round balls will be pulled on Sky Sports. The ties themselves are scheduled for the week commencing Monday, October 26, 2026. Ball numbers will be released on the morning of the draw, giving clubs and supporters a few hours to speculate before the action begins.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Carabao Cup fourth round draw?

The draw is on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, after Manchester United versus Brighton, expected to start around 10.15pm BST.

What time is the Carabao Cup fourth round draw on TV?

The draw is expected to begin at around 10.15pm BST on Sky Sports, with streaming available via the Sky Go app for subscribers.

Which teams are already in the Carabao Cup fourth round?

Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Chelsea, Bradford and Newcastle have secured their places. Several Premier League sides, including Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, are still to play their third round ties.