Carabao Cup 2026/27 Quarterfinal Draw Date, Ball Numbers, and Key Fixtures
The draw for the 2026/27 Carabao Cup quarterfinals will take place on Wednesday, October 28, immediately following the late kickoff between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield. The match starts at 8 p.m. local time (4 p.m. ET), so the draw is expected around 10:15 p.m. local (6:15 p.m. ET) after the final whistle.
Ball Numbers for the Quarterfinal Draw
On the morning of October 28, ball numbers for the quarterfinal draw will be released. The clubs still in contention by the fourth round are as follows:
- Bradford City (League One)
- Fleetwood Town (League Two)
- Manchester City or Brighton (Premier League)
- Bournemouth or Aston Villa (Premier League)
- Fulham or Crystal Palace (Premier League)
- Sunderland or Brentford (Premier League)
- Liverpool or Chelsea (Premier League)
- Everton or Newcastle (Premier League)
Abbreviations used: PL - Premier League, L1 - League One, L2 - League Two.
When Will the Fourth Round and Quarterfinal Matches Take Place?
The competition pauses significantly between the fourth round and the quarterfinals, with quarterfinal matches scheduled for the week of December 14, 2026. Below is the timeline for the remaining stages:
- Quarterfinal Draw: Wednesday, October 28
- Quarterfinal Matches: Week of December 14, 2026
- Semifinal Draw (provisional): Wednesday, December 16
- Semifinal Matches: Weeks of January 11 and February 1, 2027 (two-legged ties)
- Final: March 21, 2027
Competition Notes
Defending champions Manchester City remain in pursuit of another EFL Cup title, having claimed five trophies in the last nine seasons. Last year's runners-up, Arsenal, who were aiming for their first League Cup since 1993, exited early after a shock defeat to Fleetwood Town, a team 84 places below them in the football pyramid.
