Carabao Cup Fourth-Round Draw: Date, Teams and Ball Numbers
The Carabao Cup fourth round draw takes place on Wednesday 16 September, with 11 clubs already through and one tie still scheduled for Thursday. Before weighing up the next round, our football betting site comparisons explain what to look for beyond a headline offer. The immediate question is simpler: who is safely in the hat, who still has work to do, and when will the draw actually begin?
When is the Carabao Cup fourth round draw?
Stay with the coverage after Manchester United play Brighton at Old Trafford. Kick-off is 8pm BST, with the draw expected at approximately 10.15pm on Sky Sports Main Event. Penalties could push that back, so treat the time as a guide.
There is something gloriously unpolished about a cup draw: the studio lights, the awkward pause, a number that suddenly makes an ordinary Wednesday feel expensive. For Bradford or Peterborough, one ball can turn a good run into the kind of away day discussed for years.
Qualified teams and Carabao Cup ball numbers
Eleven places have been settled following Tuesday’s results. This is the confirmed field before Wednesday’s matches, rather than a prediction of who should progress.
| Already qualified | Also through |
|---|---|
| Arsenal | Liverpool |
| Bournemouth | Newcastle United |
| Bradford City | Peterborough United |
| Brentford | Sunderland |
| Chelsea | Fulham |
| Crystal Palace |
The remaining places come from Coventry-Aston Villa, Everton-Wolves, Fleetwood-Sheffield United, Manchester United-Brighton and Manchester City-Norwich.
Manchester City and Norwich will know their potential fourth-round opponents before playing on Thursday 17 September. Their shared draw entry represents the winner, not automatic qualification for City.
Official Carabao Cup ball numbers were not verified at the time of writing. The list above is unnumbered deliberately: alphabetical position is not an EFL ball number.
Draw rules and fourth-round dates
The draw produces eight ties for the last 16. A shared entry is replaced by the winning club once its outstanding third-round fixture has finished.
Fourth-round matches are scheduled for the week beginning Monday 26 October. Individual dates and kick-off times still need confirmation. These are single-match ties, with penalties deciding any match level after 90 minutes; there is no extra time at this stage.
For supporters planning a trip, the Carabao Cup draw date is only the first diary entry. Finding out the opposition does not confirm the match night, ticket allocation or sale arrangements. Wait for your club’s fixture announcement before booking travel, particularly if an overnight stay would make a rearrangement expensive.
Before the balls drop: United-Brighton betting
One place remains up for grabs at Old Trafford before the draw. These BetVictor prices concern Wednesday’s third-round match, not an unconfirmed fourth-round fixture.
Prices checked on 16 September 2026; subject to change.
The distinction matters: backing United to win in 90 minutes loses if they draw and subsequently advance on penalties. A “to qualify” bet covers progression instead. Check the starting line-ups before judging either price; rotation can change the strength of a cup side considerably.
