Carabao Cup 2026/27 Round 4 Draw: Full Fixtures, Results and How Nigerians Can Watch

📌 Quick Summary: The Carabao Cup 2026/27 Round 4 draw took place on Wednesday 16 September 2026, following the conclusion of the Round 3 ties. The headline result: Chelsea will travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Arsenal host Brighton at the Emirates. Liverpool welcome Crystal Palace to Anfield. Newcastle face Tottenham. Manchester United were eliminated in Round 3 — beaten by Brighton at Old Trafford in one of the biggest upsets of the 2026/27 football season so far. All Round 4 matches take place during the week of 27 October 2026. This guide covers the full Round 4 fixtures, the Round 3 results, the competition format, and how Nigerians can watch Carabao Cup matches.

The Carabao Cup — officially the EFL Cup, sponsored by energy drink brand Carabao — is English football’s second-most prestigious cup competition. For Nigerian football fans, it carries particular interest because it features all 20 Premier League clubs from the third round onward, and it has historically produced some of the season’s most dramatic results. The 2026/27 Round 4 draw delivered exactly that drama — Manchester United’s shock elimination by Brighton at Old Trafford, Chelsea’s daunting trip to Wolves, and a mouth-watering Liverpool vs Crystal Palace tie at Anfield. Here is everything Nigerian fans need to know.

Carabao Cup Round 3 Results — The Complete Picture

Before covering the Round 4 draw, here are the key Round 3 results that produced the 16 teams now competing:

Carabao Cup Round 4 Draw — Full Fixtures

All Round 4 matches take place during the week commencing 27 October 2026. Exact match dates and kick-off times will be confirmed by the EFL in the coming days. All ties are single-leg (one match decides the winner — no second leg).

The Nigerian Fan Perspective: What the Draw Means

For Nigerian Chelsea Fans

Chelsea vs Wolverhampton Wanderers away is a winnable but uncomfortable draw for the Blues. Chelsea’s 6-0 thrashing of Leeds in Round 3 showed their cup-competition ruthlessness, and new manager momentum (following the Clearlake Capital ownership consolidation that has stabilised the club’s direction) is building. Wolves at home will be compact, physical, and determined — a Championship-era Carabao Cup away tie is exactly the kind of match where Premier League sides come unstuck. Nigerian Chelsea fans should watch with cautious optimism.

For Nigerian Arsenal Fans

Arsenal host Brighton at the Emirates — a home draw is good news, but Brighton’s character, demonstrated by their remarkable comeback against Manchester United at Old Trafford (2-0 down to winning 3-2), makes them a genuinely dangerous opponent even away from home. Arsenal entered the competition in Round 3 due to European involvement and have momentum. The Emirates home crowd will be behind them — Nigerian Gunners have reason to be optimistic.

For Nigerian Liverpool Fans

Liverpool vs Crystal Palace at Anfield is the most comfortable-looking draw among the big clubs for Nigerian fans. After beating Tottenham 3-1 in Round 3, Liverpool’s home form in the Carabao Cup has been strong. Palace, while competitive in the league, face a very difficult task at Anfield.

The Manchester United Shock

Brighton’s elimination of Manchester United at Old Trafford in Round 3 is the result that Nigerian football social media is discussing most. A 2-0 United lead converted into a 3-2 defeat — at home — is the kind of result that defines a difficult season. United are out. Their Carabao Cup defence (they were semi-finalists last season) ends at the third round.

What Is the Carabao Cup? A Guide for Nigerian Fans

The Carabao Cup (EFL Cup) is England’s domestic cup competition open to all 92 clubs in the Premier League and English Football League. Key facts: Format — knockout competition from Round 1, with Premier League clubs entering at Round 3. Each tie is a single leg (one match, no second leg) except the semifinals which are played over two legs. Prize — the winner lifts the trophy at Wembley Stadium, qualifies for the UEFA Europa Conference League (providing European football for winning clubs not already in Europe), and receives prize money. History — the most successful clubs in Carabao Cup history are Liverpool (9 wins) and Manchester City (7 wins). Current holders — Newcastle United, who won the 2024/25 Carabao Cup final. Nigerian clubs in English football — no Nigerian club plays in English football, but Nigerian players consistently feature in the competition. Victor Osimhen, Alexander Isak, and several other Africans have featured in this season’s earlier rounds.

How Nigerians Can Watch the Carabao Cup Round 4

Nigerian football fans have several options for watching Carabao Cup Round 4 matches in October 2026. DStv (SuperSport channels) has historically broadcast Carabao Cup matches — check the SuperSport schedule when Round 4 dates are confirmed. StarTimes also carries some EFL competition matches. The EFL’s own streaming platform (EFL iFollow) streams matches internationally — check availability in Nigeria. YouTube live streams from official and unofficial sources are common for major ties — Chelsea vs Wolves and Arsenal vs Brighton will have significant streaming availability. Social media (Twitter/X, Facebook) provides live text commentary and real-time updates for all matches. For the biggest ties (Chelsea vs Wolves particularly), bar and sports lounges in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt will likely show the matches live — check with your local Premier League viewing venue closer to the October 27 match week.

Carabao Cup 2026/27 — Remaining Competition Format

Defending Champions Newcastle United

Newcastle United enter Round 4 as defending Carabao Cup champions — they lifted the trophy at Wembley in the 2025/26 final. They face Tottenham Hotspur at St James’s Park in Round 4 — an all-Premier League tie that will test their title defence. Newcastle’s Nigerian fanbase has grown substantially since the Saudi-led ownership transformation of the club in 2021, and there will be significant Nigerian fan interest in whether the Magpies can replicate their cup success from last season.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Carabao Cup?

The Carabao Cup is England’s domestic football cup competition, officially called the EFL Cup and sponsored by Thai energy drink brand Carabao. It features all 92 clubs in the Premier League and Football League, with Premier League clubs entering at Round 3. The final is played at Wembley Stadium each February or March.

When is the Carabao Cup Round 4?

All Round 4 matches take place during the week commencing 27 October 2026. Exact dates and kick-off times will be confirmed by the EFL when published.

Who are Chelsea playing in the Carabao Cup Round 4?

Chelsea have been drawn away to Wolverhampton Wanderers in Round 4. The match takes place at Molineux during the week of 27 October 2026.

Is Manchester United still in the Carabao Cup 2026/27?

No. Manchester United were eliminated in Round 3, losing 3-2 to Brighton at Old Trafford after being 2-0 up. It is one of the biggest shocks of the 2026/27 Carabao Cup so far.

How can Nigerians watch the Carabao Cup?

Via DStv SuperSport channels (check schedule for confirmation), StarTimes, EFL iFollow international streaming, and social media streams for the biggest ties. Check the SuperSport schedule closer to the match week in October for confirmed broadcast details. The Nigerian football fan watching Carabao Cup Round 4 in late October 2026 is watching a competition that has delivered genuine drama this season already — and with Chelsea at Wolves, Arsenal hosting Brighton’s shock-specialist side, and defending champions Newcastle facing Tottenham, Round 4 promises more of the same.

Sources

1. GoonerDaily — “Arsenal Land Home Brighton Tie While Chelsea Face Daunting Wolves Trip in Carabao Cup Fourth Round” — 17 September 2026
2. Sports Illustrated — “2026-27 Carabao Cup Fourth Round Draw: Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea Learn Fates” — 17 September 2026
3. Yahoo Sports — “Carabao Cup fourth-round draw in full: Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool learn next opponents” — 17 September 2026

Last updated: 17 September 2026 · NaijaSabi Football Desk. Round 4 match dates subject to official EFL confirmation. Manchester City’s Round 4 opponents subject to outcome of their Round 3 tie vs Norwich City (17 September 2026).

Nigerian Football Fans and the Carabao Cup: Why It Matters

The Carabao Cup occupies a specific place in Nigerian football fan culture that is distinct from the Premier League and the FA Cup. Because it provides regular competitive action for Premier League clubs from September onward — before the Premier League season has settled into its rhythm — it produces early-season upsets (like Manchester United’s elimination by Brighton in 2026/27) that generate immediate social media discussion among Nigerian fans. The format also means that the big clubs do not always field their strongest lineups in the early rounds — a practice that sometimes produces surprising results and gives fringe squad players their most visible performances of the season. For Nigerian fans supporting Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, or Manchester United, the Carabao Cup is also the competition most likely to produce a Wembley final appearance in any given season — the FA Cup has later-stage involvement of all Premier League clubs, while the Carabao Cup final, played in February, arrives during a period when the Premier League season is at its most intense and a cup win provides genuine mid-season momentum. The 2026/27 final will be played at Wembley in February or March 2027. Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle, and Manchester City are the five Nigerian fan favourites most likely to feature — with Manchester United already eliminated, the competition’s most-supported Nigerian clubs now determine the shape of the rest of the tournament. Follow the Round 4 matches during the week of October 27 to see which of the remaining eight clubs makes the quarterfinal stage.