When is the EFL Cup fourth-round draw?
September 8, 2026 15:23
The draw for the fourth round of the 2026-27 Carabao (EFL) Cup is scheduled for Wednesday 16 September, and it will be conducted after the completion of Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion’s third-round tie, which kicks off at 20:00 BST. Third-round matches begin on Tuesday 8 September and are spread over two weeks; the round concludes with Manchester City facing Norwich City on Thursday 17 September.
Nineteen of the Premier League’s 20 clubs enter at the third-round stage; Nottingham Forest were the exception, having been eliminated in the second round by Leeds United. The fourth-round fixtures are set to be played in the week beginning Monday 26 October.
KEY CONTEXT
- The third round will reduce the competition’s field to 16 teams, which will be paired in the fourth-round draw.
- Manchester City enter the competition as the current EFL Cup holders.
- Most Premier League clubs join at this stage, leaving only Forest already knocked out before the third round.
WHY IT MATTERS
- The draw on 16 September will determine the last-16 matchups in the EFL Cup, shaping the path for clubs still in the competition.
- With 19 top-flight sides in the third round and one already eliminated, Premier League representation in the last 16 will depend on the upcoming results across the two-week set of fixtures.
- Scheduling note: the fourth-round ties are concentrated in the week beginning 26 October, giving clubs and supporters a clear window for those matches.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Completion of the remaining third-round matches across 8–17 September, including Manchester City v Norwich City on 17 September.
- The fourth-round draw immediately after Manchester United v Brighton on 16 September.
- Publication and confirmation of the fourth-round fixtures ahead of the week commencing 26 October.
KEY FACTS
- Fourth-round draw: Wednesday 16 September, after Man United v Brighton (20:00 BST).
- Third-round window: begins 8 September and finishes 17 September.
- Final third-round match: Manchester City v Norwich City on 17 September.
- Nineteen of the 20 Premier League clubs play in the third round; Nottingham Forest exited in round two to Leeds United.
- Fourth-round matches start in the week beginning Monday 26 October.