When is Carabao Cup quarterfinal draw? Ball numbers and key dates for next stage of 2026/27 EFL knockout tournament

The 2026/27 Carabao Cup steams ahead unabated as England's secondary knockout competition plows into the quarterfinal round of action.

The field will be further carved down from 16 to just eight clubs remaining by the conclusion of the fourth round, and quarterfinal participants will be aiming for a spot in the two-legged final four on the horizon.

Defending champions Manchester City are still alive in the competition hoping to secure yet another EFL Cup title, something they've won in five of the last nine seasons. Meanwhile, last year's Premier League title-winners Arsenal, who fell in last year's final to Man City, are aiming to secure their first League Cup championship since 1993, a competition they have traditionally struggled in.

The Sporting News brings you the information for the quarterfinal draw, including ball numbers, what clubs are left in the competition, and when the matches will eventually take place after a significant layoff.

MORE: Tracking the Premier League top goal scorer list as the 2026/27 season rolls along

When is the Carabao Cup quarterfinal draw?

The Carabao Cup quarterfinal draw will take place on Wednesday, October 28 following the conclusion of the late kickoff between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield.

That match will kick off at 8 p.m. local time (4 p.m. ET), meaning the draw will be held in the evening following the final whistle, around 10:15 p.m. local time (6:15 p.m. ET).

Ball numbers for Carabao Cup quarterfinal draw

Ball numbers for the Carabao Cup quarterfinal draw will be released on the morning of the draw on Wednesday, October 28.

The participants for the Carabao Cup fourth round draw are listed below as they are determined by results:

• Bradford City (L1) or Peterborough United (L1)
• Fleetwood Town (L2) or Arsenal (PL)
• Man City (PL) or Brighton (PL)
• Bournemouth (PL) or Aston Villa (PL)
• Fulham (PL) or Crystal Palace (PL)
• Sunderland (PL) or Brentford (PL)
• Liverpool (PL) or Chelsea (PL)
• Everton (PL) or Newcastle (PL)

PL: Premier League
L1: League One
L2: League Two

When are the fourth-round matches?

There will be a big gap between the fourth round and the quarterfinal matches, which will be played during the week of December 14.

Below is the schedule for the remainder of the competition. Draw dates are subject to change depending on the fixture schedule for that round.

*Provisional draw dates
** Contested over two legs