Carabao Cup third-round draw revealed after Grimsby Town’s stunning Manchester United upset

The draw for the third round of the 2025–26 Carabao Cup has officially been revealed, setting the stage for a series of compelling fixtures as top-tier clubs enter the competition.

In one of the most dramatic upsets in Carabao Cup history, League Two side Grimsby Town eliminated Manchester United in a thrilling second-round clash on August 27. The match ended 2–2 after regular time, with goals from Charles Vernam and Tyrell Warren for Grimsby, and late strikes from Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire for United. The tie was decided by an extraordinary penalty shootout, which Grimsby won 12–11.

Following the conclusion of the second round, the third-round draw was conducted, introducing Premier League clubs involved in European competitions. Notably, these clubs were kept apart due to UEFA scheduling constraints.

Here are some of the standout fixtures scheduled between September 15–22:

- Port Vale vs Arsenal  

- Lincoln City vs Chelsea  

- Liverpool vs Southampton  

- Huddersfield vs Manchester City  

- Newcastle United vs Bradford  

- Tottenham vs Doncaster Rovers  

- Brentford vs Aston Villa  

- Sheffield Wednesday vs Grimsby  

Other notable ties include Wolves vs Everton, Crystal Palace vs Millwall, and Fulham vs Cambridge United.