Football fans are gearing up for the Carabao Cup fourth-round draw, which will decide the next fixtures in England’s first domestic knockout competition of the season.
The Carabao Cup, also known as the EFL Cup, is the first chance for silverware in the 2025/26 campaign after the Community Shield. While it may not carry the glamour of the Premier League or the FA Cup, the tournament has a history of being taken seriously by top clubs. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City dominated the competition for years, Liverpool remain among the recent winners, and last season Newcastle United lifted the trophy.
At the same time, the cup offers smaller clubs from the Championship, League One, and League Two a chance to test themselves against the country’s biggest sides.
When will the draw take place?
The fourth-round draw will be held on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, after the final third-round match between Port Vale and Arsenal, which kicks off at 8 pm BST. If the game does not go to penalties, the draw is expected around 10 pm BST / 5 pm ET.
Where to watch the draw
In the UK, the draw will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football as part of their coverage of Port Vale vs Arsenal. Fans can also stream it on Sky Go.
Viewers in the US can catch the action on Paramount+.
Which teams will be in the draw?
The draw will include the 16 winners from the third round. They are:
- Sheffield Wednesday / Grimsby Town
- Brentford / Aston Villa
- Crystal Palace / Millwall
- Swansea City / Nottingham Forest
- Barnsley / Brighton
- Burnley / Cardiff City
- Fulham / Cambridge United
- Lincoln City / Chelsea
- Wigan Athletic / Wycombe Wanderers
- Wolves / Everton
- Wrexham / Reading
- Liverpool / Southampton
- Huddersfield Town / Manchester City
- Tottenham Hotspur / Doncaster
- Newcastle United / Bradford City
- Port Vale / Arsenal
The official ball numbers will be confirmed before the draw begins.
When will the matches be played?
The fourth-round fixtures of the Carabao Cup will take place in the week starting October 27, 2025.
