Carabao Cup Quarterfinal Draw and Key Dates for 2026/27 Season
The 2026/27 Carabao Cup continues as England's secondary knockout tournament moves into the quarterfinal stage. After narrowing the field from 16 to 8 teams in the fourth round, those remaining will compete for a spot in the two-legged semifinals ahead.
The quarterfinal draw is set for Wednesday, October 28, following the late kickoff between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield. That match starts at 8 p.m. local time (4 p.m. ET), with the draw expected shortly after the final whistle around 10:15 p.m. local (6:15 p.m. ET).
Which Teams Are Still in the Running?
Defending champions Manchester City remain in contention, hoping to add another EFL Cup trophy to their recent haul—they’ve won five of the last nine seasons. Meanwhile, last season’s Premier League champions, Arsenal, who lost to Man City in last year’s final, were aiming for their first League Cup win since 1993. They were shockingly knocked out in the fourth round by Fleetwood Town, a League Two club ranked 84 places below them.
Ball Numbers for the Quarterfinal Draw
Ball numbers will be announced on the morning of October 28. The teams potentially involved are:
- 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)
Schedule for Upcoming Rounds
The tournament pauses after the fourth round, with quarterfinal games planned for the week starting December 14, 2026. Here is the outline for the rest of the competition:
- Quarterfinals Draw: Wednesday, October 28
- Quarterfinal Matches: Week of December 14, 2026
- Semifinal Draw (Provisional): Wednesday, December 16, 2026
- Semifinal Matches (Two Legs): Weeks of January 11 and February 1, 2027
- Final Match: March 21, 2027
