When is the Carabao Cup fourth-round draw? Key details to know for next stage of EFL knockout tournament

The 2026/27 Carabao Cup rolls along as England’s secondary knockout competition steams into the fourth round of play. The field will be sliced down to 16 clubs remaining by the conclusion of the third round, and fourth-round participants will be aiming for a spot in the quarterfinals on the horizon. Defending champions Manchester City are still alive in the competition hoping to secure yet another EFL Cup title, something they’ve won in five of the last nine seasons. Meanwhile, last year’s Premier League title-winners Arsenal, who fell in last year’s final to Man City, are aiming to secure their first League Cup championship since 1993. The Sporting News brings you the information for the fourth-round draw, including ball numbers, what clubs are left in the competition, and when the matches will take place. MORE: Tracking the Premier League top goal scorer list as the 2026/27 season rolls along

When is the Carabao Cup fourth-round draw?

The Carabao Cup fourth round draw will take place on Wednesday, September 16. It will be held immediately following the conclusion of the third-round match between Man United and Brighton, which kicks off at 8 p.m. local time (3 p.m. ET). Ball numbers for Carabao Cup fourth-round draw Ball numbers for the Carabao Cup fourth-round draw were released on the morning of the draw on Wednesday, September 16.

The participants for the Carabao Cup fourth round draw are:

1. Bournemouth (PL) 2. Arsenal (PL) 3. Bradford City (L1) 4. Brentford (PL) 5. Chelsea (PL) 6. Crystal Palace (PL) 7. Fulham (PL) 8. Liverpool (PL) 9. Newcastle United (PL) 10. Peterborough United (L1) 11. Sunderland (PL) 12. Coventry City (PL) or Aston Villa (PL) 13. Everton (PL) or Wolves (CH) 14. Fleetwood Town (L2) or Sheffield United (CH) 15. Manchester United (PL) or Brighton and Hove Albion (PL) 16. Manchester City (PL) or Norwich City (CH) PL: Premier League
CH: Championship
L1: League One
L2: League Two

When are the fourth-round matches? The fourth-round matches will be played during the week of October 26. Below is the schedule for the remainder of the competition. Draw dates are subject to change depending on the fixture schedule for that round. Round Draw Match dates Fourth round Wed, Sep.

16 Week of Oct. 26, 2026 Quarterfinals Wed, Oct. 28* Week of Dec.

14, 2026 Semifinals** Wed, Dec. 16* Week of Jan. 11, 2027
Week of Feb. 1, 2027 Final — Mar. 21, 2027 *Provisional draw dates