Newcastle United kick off their Carabao Cup title defence against Bradford City in the third round of 2025-26 edition.
Eddie Howe’s Magpies ended a 70-year domestic cup trophy drought with victory over Liverpool in last season’s final, and will now begin their title defence at home to Bradford City – after the Bantams stunned Blackburn and Stoke in the first two rounds respectively.
Liverpool will also be at home in this round as Arne Slot’s Reds host Southampton at Anfield.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal face a tricky trip to Port Vale after the Valiants shocked Birmingham City in the second round.
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea will face a potential banana-skin trip to Lincoln City at Sincil Bank.
Elsewhere, Crystal Palace will host Millwall at Selhurst Park in a South London derby for the second consecutive season – after the pair met in an fiery-tempered fifth-round tie en-route to Palace’s FA Cup title success last season.
Grimsby’s reward for knocking out Manchester United is a trip to Sheffield Wednesday after the Owls knocked out Leeds, with both cupsets having been sealed on penalties.
Ties will be played across the midweeks of 16-17 and 23-24 September 2025, with Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest playing their ties in the former midweek due to their Europa League involvement in the latter midweek.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle and Tottenham though will play their ties in the latter midweek, owing to their Champions League involvement in the preceding midweek.
Crystal Palace will be free to play in either midweek despite their UEFA Conference League involvement because if they beat Fredrikstad in their play-off, the league phase doesn’t commence until 2 October.
| Home Team | v | Away Team |
| Port Vale | v | Arsenal |
| Swansea City | v | Nottingham Forest |
| Lincoln City | v | Chelsea |
| Tottenham | v | Doncaster Rovers |
| Brentford | v | Aston Villa |
| Huddersfield | v | Manchester City |
| Liverpool | v | Southampton |
| Newcastle | v | Bradford City |
| Sheffield Wednesday | v | Grimsby |
| Wolves | v | Everton |
| Crystal Palace | v | Millwall |
| Burnley | v | Cardiff City |
| Wrexham | v | Reading |
| Wigan | v | Wycombe Wanderers |
| Barnsley | v | Brighton |
| Fulham | v | Cambridge United |