The EFL have announced the complicated nature of the draw for the third round of the Carabao Cup.
This midweek will see 23 second round ties take place, with the winners to be joined by the nine Premier League sides competing in Europe in round three.
A statement from the EFL has now confirmed they will “again be required to implement additional conditions” in order to avoid a clash with Champions League and Europa League commitments.
The statement said: “The draw for Round Three of the Carabao Cup will take place live on Sky Sports following the conclusion of Preston North End’s Round Two tie against Everton on Wednesday, August 26. As a result of the expanded European competition calendar, and the associated fixture clashes it presents, the EFL will again be required to implement additional conditions for the Carabao Cup Round Three draw.
“Carabao Cup Round Three fixtures will take place across two weeks (week beginning September 7 and 14), with fixtures in the UEFA Champions League (week beginning September 7) and UEFA Europa League (week beginning September 14) also scheduled during this period.”
Draw Mechanic
The Round Three draw will include 32 Clubs – 23 winners from Round Two and the nine Premier League Clubs competing in UEFA Competitions.
Draw conditions will only be required for the eight Clubs playing in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League, due to their European fixtures falling between the same two-week period as Round Three. Brighton & Hove Albion may also enter UEFA competition through the Conference League, but that competition does not begin until October, so it does not affect the Round Three schedule.
Before the main draw, there will be a pre-draw (approx. 7:20pm) to decide whether each of the eight Champions League and Europa League Clubs will be at home or away. This will take place live on Sky Sports during the build-up to Preston North End’s Round Two tie against Everton.
In the main draw (approx. 10:15pm), to be conducted after the Round Two tie, the first eight ties will involve those Champions League and Europa League Clubs, with their home or away position already having been decided, and each will be drawn against a Club from a bowl containing the remaining teams. Once those eight ties have been drawn, the final eight ties will be drawn as normal.
Ball numbers for the draw will be announced on EFL Channels on the morning of Wednesday, August 26.
