The Carabao Cup 2025/26 is heating up — and Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur are about to enter the fray. With the third round draw just around the corner, excitement is building among fans as the Premier League giants join the competition in their pursuit of silverware.
The Carabao Cup third round draw takes place on Wednesday, 27 August 2025, live on Sky Sports, shortly after the second round clash between Grimsby Town and Manchester United — expected around 10:00 PM (UK time).
Just like last year, there are notable changes in how the third round draw works due to the expansion of European competitions. Teams competing in Europe (except Crystal Palace) will be kept apart in the third round to ease scheduling pressure.
Two separate bowls will be used: one for the eight European clubs (including Arsenal, Chelsea, and Spurs) and another for the remaining 24 teams. A pre-draw will determine whether European clubs will play home or away. The first eight fixtures will pair each European team against a non-European side. The remaining eight ties will be drawn from the non-European clubs only.
The third round fixtures are scheduled over two weeks: the first batch begins the week of 15 September 2025, and the second the week of 22 September 2025. Exact dates and times will be confirmed after the draw.
As with earlier rounds, if matches are level after 90 minutes, they will go straight to penalties — no extra time will be played. Additionally, VAR will not be in use during the third round, making for some unpredictable moments.
With Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham all set to join the action, fans are eagerly awaiting the draw to see who their teams will face. Chelsea were eliminated by the eventual winners in the fourth round last season, while Arsenal and Spurs will also be looking to mount a serious challenge this time around.
Catch the Carabao Cup third round draw live on Sky Sports on Wednesday, 27 August, shortly after the final whistle in the Grimsby Town vs Manchester United match.
Stay tuned for full draw results and fixture updates as soon as they happen.
