The draw for the third round of the 2025/26 Carabao Cup is set to take place on Wednesday, but this year’s edition will see a slight change in how the teams are paired — especially for clubs involved in European competitions.
According to the English Football League (EFL), which organises the Carabao Cup, the eight Premier League clubs competing in this season’s UEFA Champions League and Europa League will not be drawn against one another in this round.
This means that big-name clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest will avoid each other — at least for now.
In a statement released ahead of the draw, the EFL confirmed that the eight clubs representing England in European competitions will be placed in a separate pot during the draw. The aim is to prevent them from clashing with each other so early in the competition.
“Due to scheduling conflicts with UEFA competitions, the eight clubs playing in Europe will not face each other in the third round,” the statement read.
Instead of one pot for all 32 teams, there will be two separate bowls used during the draw:
Bowl 1: The eight clubs playing in the Champions League and Europa League.
Bowl 2: The remaining 24 clubs who qualified from the earlier rounds.
The eight European teams will be drawn first, each paired with a team from the second bowl. This format guarantees that all eight will face non-European opponents in the third round.
Here is a list of the eight Premier League clubs currently involved in European competitions and therefore exempt from facing each other in this round:
1. Arsenal – UEFA Champions League
2. Manchester City – UEFA Champions League
3. Chelsea – UEFA Europa League
4. Liverpool – UEFA Europa League
5. Newcastle United – UEFA Europa League
6. Aston Villa – UEFA Europa League
7. Nottingham Forest – UEFA Europa Conference League
8. Tottenham Hotspur – UEFA Europa Conference League
These clubs join the Carabao Cup at the third round stage, which is standard practice to ease their congested schedules, as they also play in Europe.
The EFL introduced this special draw format to help clubs manage their tight schedules, especially during the early stages of the season when domestic and European matches pile up.
The third round of the Carabao Cup will be played over two weeks, rather than the usual one, due to fixture clashes with UEFA matchdays.
By ensuring that clubs involved in Europe do not face each other immediately, the organisers believe it will help reduce travel demands and allow managers to rotate their squads more efficiently.
For the remaining 24 teams, many of which are from the lower divisions of English football — this draw offers a big opportunity to face a top Premier League side.
Smaller clubs like Exeter City, Plymouth Argyle, or Preston North End could find themselves hosting giants like Manchester City or Arsenal, creating exciting matchups for fans.
In recent years, the Carabao Cup has produced several surprise results, with underdogs knocking out Premier League opposition. Organisers and fans are hoping for similar upsets this season.
The Carabao Cup, also known as the EFL Cup, is one of England’s major domestic football competitions. It features all 92 teams from the Premier League and the English Football League (Championship, League One, and League Two).
The winner of the competition qualifies for the UEFA Europa Conference League, making it a valuable prize — especially for teams outside the top four in the Premier League.
Manchester United won the 2024/25 edition, defeating Brighton in the final at Wembley Stadium.
The third-round ties are expected to be played in mid-to-late September 2025. Exact fixtures and dates will be confirmed shortly after the draw on Wednesday.
With top teams guaranteed to avoid each other for now, fans can look forward to some exciting David vs. Goliath matchups. But the real drama may unfold in the later rounds, when the European giants will no longer be protected from each other.
For now, smaller teams will be hoping to pull off big shocks, while the top clubs aim to navigate through a crowded fixture calendar.
