The Carabao Cup third round draw hits tonight, August 26, and it’s suddenly a whole new ballgame. Holders Manchester City, alongside powerhouses Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United, are all officially entering the competition at this stage, injecting a massive dose of Premier League firepower into the tournament. Until now, most top-flight clubs like Chelsea and Tottenham had already been through the grinder of the second round. But tonight, the big boys who’ve been busy with Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League commitments are stepping into the arena for the first time this season.
The European Invasion Changes Everything
This isn’t just about big names showing up; their entry completely shakes up the schedule. Because these clubs are juggling European competitions, the third round of the Carabao Cup isn’t going to be a single midweek affair. Nope, we’re talking about games spread across *two* midweeks to give these titans enough breathing room. We’re looking at 32 teams in total for this draw: 23 winners from the second round and those nine heavy-hitting Premier League clubs making their debut. Beyond the Manchester clubs, Arsenal, and Liverpool, you’ve got Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace, and Sunderland also throwing their hats in. Brighton might be in the Conference League, but that doesn’t mess with this Round Three schedule.
Tonight’s Wild Draw Mechanics
So, how’s this going to go down tonight? It’s not a simple pull-a-ball, get-a-team situation. First, there’s a *pre-draw* to decide if those eight Champions League and Europa League clubs will be at home or away. That’s happening *before* the Preston North End vs. Everton Round Two clash, which kicks off at 8pm BST. Then, the main event! After Preston and Everton finish duking it out (meaning the draw could start around 10:15pm BST), the real fun begins. The first eight ties will feature those already-assigned home or away European clubs, drawing against a team from a separate bowl. That means they can’t face each other right out of the gate. Once those initial eight ties are sorted, the final eight ties will be drawn like normal. And here’s a crucial point: from Round Three onwards, the old Northern and Southern sections divide is GONE. It’s truly open season now.
Get ready for some serious drama tonight! You can catch every single moment of this third-round draw live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football as soon as that Preston vs. Everton match wraps up. If you’re a Sky Sports subscriber, you can also stream it online via the Sky Go app. Who’s going to pull a massive upset? Who gets an easy ride, and who’s staring down a Premier League giant right away? This draw sets the tone for the next stage of the Carabao Cup, and with these massive clubs entering, every single match feels like a final.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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