Carabao Cup third-round draw Wednesday; ball numbers, dates revealed

The Carabao Cup third-round draw will be held Wednesday night after the Preston vs Everton match, which kicks off at 8pm BST today (August 26, 2026). The draw follows the match and will determine the fixtures for the third round, scheduled over two weekends: September 7 and September 14. Premier League sides Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool received byes due to European commitments, while Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur must win their second-round ties to qualify. The draw uses ball numbers 1–32: 1 Bournemouth, 2 Arsenal, 3 Aston Villa, 4 Crystal Palace, 5 Manchester City, 6 Manchester United, 7 Liverpool, 8 Sunderland, 9 Barnsley, 10 Brentford, 11 Brighton, 12 Coventry, 13 Fleetwood, 14 Hull, 15 Ipswich, 16 Leeds, 17 Leyton Orient, 18 Lincoln, 19 Middlesbrough, 20 Millwall, 21 Norwich, 22 Peterborough, 23 Reading, 24 Sheffield United, 25 West Ham, 26 Wolves, 27 Bradford or Burnley, 28 Newcastle or West Brom, 29 Tottenham or Charlton, 30 Preston or Everton, 31 Chelsea or Luton, 32 Fulham or AFC Wimbledon. For Nigerian fans who follow the EPL and Carabao Cup, this draw provides early insight into potential matchups, allowing them to plan viewing schedules, follow specific clubs, or consider betting opportunities. Knowing the exact dates and the teams involved helps fans stay engaged with the competition as it progresses. Which tie are you most excited to see, and how will you follow the third-round action?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/08/26/carabao-cup-third-round-draw-ball-numbers-all-you-need-to-know/