Carabao Cup third-round draw: When it is and why certain clubs cannot play each other

The Carabao Cup reaches its third-round stage this week, with the competition’s biggest clubs entering the draw and a host of potentially intriguing ties on offer.

The draw takes place on Wednesday night, August 26, after the conclusion of Preston North End’s second-round meeting with Everton, with the main draw expected at around 10.15pm BST.

A total of 32 teams will make up the third-round draw, including nine Premier League clubs who enter at this stage because of their involvement in European competition.

Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brighton, Crystal Palace and Sunderland are among those joining the competition at the third-round stage.

That means the draw could immediately produce some fascinating ties between Premier League sides and clubs from the Championship, League One or League Two, while several of England’s biggest clubs will be hoping to avoid each other.

There is, however, a significant restriction on the draw. The eight Premier League clubs involved in the Champions League or Europa League cannot face one another in the third round because of fixture congestion and scheduling requirements. A preliminary draw will first determine whether those clubs are at home or away before the main draw takes place.

Brighton, despite their involvement in European competition, are treated differently because their Conference League campaign does not begin until October and they therefore remain part of the main draw.

The Carabao Cup has already produced its share of early drama, with clubs from the Championship and lower divisions looking to make their mark against higher-ranked opposition. With the Premier League’s European contingent now entering, the possibility of a major upset increases considerably.

The third-round ties will be played across the weeks commencing September 7 and September 14, with the precise dates and television selections to be confirmed after the draw.

For the Premier League clubs, the competition offers an opportunity to challenge for silverware while also providing valuable minutes for squad players and younger members of their teams.

For the clubs lower down the pyramid, meanwhile, the prospect of welcoming one of the Premier League’s biggest names represents both a major sporting occasion and a potentially significant financial boost.