The Carabao Cup is building nicely towards the business end of the competition, and supporters who have been tracking their club's progress will want to know exactly when the fourth-round draw happens and what to expect from it. Here is everything you need to know.
When is the fourth-round draw?
The draw for the fourth round of the 2026-27 EFL Cup will be made on Wednesday, 16 September, following the conclusion of Manchester United's third-round home fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion, which kicks off at 20:00 BST. Sky Sports will broadcast the draw live, so you will want to keep the channel on once the final whistle blows at Old Trafford.
Which teams are still involved?
Two weeks of third-round action, beginning on Tuesday, 8 September, will trim the field to 16 clubs. Of the Premier League's 20 sides, 19 are still in the competition at this stage. The one notable absentee is Nottingham Forest, who were knocked out in the second round after losing to Leeds United — a result that will have raised a few eyebrows given Forest's top-flight status.
The third-round schedule closes on Thursday, 17 September, when Manchester City — the defending champions — host Norwich City. That means the draw on the 16th will be made before every third-round result is confirmed, with City and Norwich still to play. It is worth keeping that in mind if you are waiting to see whether your side has a home or away game next.
When do the fourth-round fixtures take place?
Once the draw is made and the 16 remaining clubs know their fate, the fourth-round matches are scheduled to take place during the week commencing Monday, 26 October. At that point in the campaign the Premier League and EFL fixture list tends to get congested, so a midweek cup run can test squad depth just as much as it rewards ambition.
Why does the draw happen before all third-round ties are finished?
It is a quirk of the EFL Cup's scheduling that the draw for the next round sometimes precedes the completion of the current one. The Manchester City versus Norwich City tie on the 17th falls a day after the draw, meaning one side in that particular fourth-round pairing will only discover their opponents after the ball has already been pulled from the pot. It creates a curious situation but is simply a product of fitting the competition around an already crowded calendar.
With 16 Premier League and EFL clubs chasing a place in the quarter-finals, and defending champions Manchester City still very much alive, the fourth-round draw promises to throw up a few ties worth circling on the calendar. Set your Sky Sports reminder for the evening of the 16th.
Frequently asked
- What time is the Carabao Cup fourth-round draw on 16 September?
- The draw takes place after Manchester United vs Brighton on Wednesday, 16 September, which kicks off at 20:00 BST. The draw will follow the final whistle of that match on Sky Sports.
- How many teams are in the Carabao Cup fourth round?
- Sixteen clubs will be in the fourth-round draw, with 19 of the 20 Premier League sides involved in the third round — Nottingham Forest are already out after losing to Leeds United in the second round.
- When are the Carabao Cup fourth-round matches played?
- The fourth-round fixtures are scheduled for the week commencing Monday, 26 October 2026.