The draw for the Carabao Cup third round takes place this week as more teams from the Premier League, including current cup winners Manchester City, enter the competition and learn who they will face.
Most top-flight clubs, such as Chelsea and Tottenham, entered the tournament in the second round with those who are competing in European competitions this season now involved as well.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are among those to enter at this stage.
Their participation also means that the third round will be played across two midweeks in order for the teams involved in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League to juggle their match schedules.
Here’s everything you need to know about the draw:
When is the Carabao Cup third round draw?
The draw for the Carabao Cup third round will take place on Wednesday 26 August. It will follow the conclusion of the second round tie between Preston and Everton which kicks off at 8pm BST, meaning the draw could start at around 10.15pm BST.
How will the draw work?
Pre-draw
Before the main draw, there is a pre-draw to decide if the eight Champions League and Europa League clubs will be at home or away. This part is before Preston North End’s Round Two tie against Everton on Sky Sports.
Main draw
The main draw will take place following the conclusion of Round Two tie, the first eight ties will involve those Champions League and Europa League clubs. Their home or away position will have already having been decided. They will then be drawn against a team in a separate bowl with the remaining teams in the competition – so cannot meet one another at this stage.
Following the conclusion of those eight ties being drawn, the final eight ties will be drawn as normal.
From Round Three onwards, there is no longer a divide between the Northern and Southern sections.
How can I watch the Carabao Cup draw?
The Carabao Cup third-round draw will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football following the conclusion of Preston v Everton.
Sky Sports subscribers will also be able to watch the draw live online via the Sky Go app.
Which teams are involved?
32 teams are involved in the draw including 23 winners of second round ties and nine additional Premier League clubs who are also competing in European competitions this season.
Those teams in Europe and entering the competition for the first time this season are: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Sunderland.
Of those, Brighton can be in Europe through the Conference League, but that competition does not begin until October, so it does not affect the Round Three schedule.
Carabao Cup draw ball numbers
The ball numbers will be confirmed on this morning ahead of the draw.
Through from the second round are:
Norwich
Middlesbrough
Barnsley
Sheffield United
Lincoln
Millwall
Fleetwood
Ipswich
Coventry
Wolves
West Ham
Reading
Hull
Leyton Orient
Peterborough
Brentford
Leeds
Bradford/Burnley
Newcastle/West Brom
Spurs/Charlton
Preston/Everton
Chelsea/Luton
Fulham/Wimbledon
When will the Carabao Cup third round be played?
The third round of the Carabao Cup is scheduled to take place across consecutive weeks, starting on 7 September and 14 September. The ties will be played midweek as single-leg fixtures with the winners progressing to the fourth round.
