Carabao Cup Fourth Round Draw Date and Details

The Carabao Cup is beginning to tighten. The early clutter has gone, the European contenders are in, and just 16 clubs are left chasing a place in the quarter-finals.

With the Premier League’s continental sides entering at the third round, the schedule was stretched over multiple nights. That changes now. The fourth round will bring a cleaner, more compact programme: 16 teams, eight ties, one clear route to the last eight.

No regional split. No seeding tricks. Just an open draw that could easily throw England’s heavyweights at each other weeks before Christmas.

Here’s how it unfolds.

When is the Carabao Cup fourth-round draw?

The fourth-round draw will be made on Wednesday 16 September, straight after the Round Three tie between Manchester United and Brighton at Old Trafford.

That match kicks off at 8pm BST. Once the final whistle goes and the post-match formalities are done, the draw is expected to take place some time after 10pm BST.

One game, then straight into the balls and the names. No long wait.

How can fans watch the draw?

Sky Sports will show the draw live as part of their coverage.

Pien Meulensteen will present, with Jamie Redknapp and Ashley Young handling the draw itself. The trio will guide viewers through the remaining contenders and the key ties as the road to Wembley sharpens into focus.

What about the ball numbers?

The EFL will confirm the ball numbers on Wednesday morning across its official channels.

Clubs and supporters will know by then exactly which number to listen out for when the draw begins.

When will the fourth-round ties be played?

Round Four fixtures are scheduled for the week commencing 26 October.

All ties will be single-legged, adding a sharp edge to every matchup. One night, one result, and a place in the quarter-finals on the line.