Carabao Cup Semifinal Draw Revealed: When and How the Final Four Will Battle for Wembley

Throughout much of the campaign, the Carabao Cup is often dismissed as merely a nuisance. However, when the semifinals come into sight and a Wembley appearance is just 90 minutes away, England's second-tier cup tournament suddenly becomes incredibly significant.

Securing that initial trophy establishes the foundation for the coming months. There's a clear reason why silverware-collecting coaches like Bob Paisley, Brian Clough, José Mourinho and Pep Guardiola place such emphasis on this specific three-handled silver prize.

The crucial phase of the tournament is rapidly approaching, with a fascinating collection of possible semifinal matchups awaiting announcement. Chelsea became the first squad to secure their spot in the draw after ultimately claiming a 3–1 victory over third-division Cardiff City on Tuesday evening, guaranteeing that all remaining clubs belong to the Premier League.

Here's all the essential information about this compelling draw.

When Is the Carabao Cup Semifinal Draw?

Straightforwardness has never characterized England's Football League. The semifinal draw will occur on Wednesday, Dec. 17, a full six days before the quarterfinal matches are completed.

To be fair to those decision-makers located in Preston, this timing oddity can be primarily attributed to Crystal Palace's oversight in checking their correspondence.

The previous season's FA Cup champions earned Europa League qualification but were relegated to the Conference League after violating UEFA's intentionally lenient multi-club ownership rules. European football's administrative body had contacted the Eagles to alert them that measures could be implemented to circumvent this largely cosmetic regulation—multiple other teams have successfully navigated similar technicalities—but nobody at the organization was monitoring the email address published on Palace's official site.

Oliver Glasner's team has been considerably more effective on the field and managed their European commitments to advance to the Carabao Cup quarterfinals. Nevertheless, a Conference League fixture against Finnish club KuPS on Thursday prevented their cup match with Arsenal from being arranged for this midweek period. Following extensive negotiations, it's been determined that the London sides will meet at the Emirates on Dec. 23. By that time, both teams will be aware of their semifinal adversary.

What Time Is the Carabao Cup Semifinal Draw?

The draw will commence at roughly 10:35 p.m. GMT (5:35 p.m. ET, 2:35 p.m. PT), following the completion of Wednesday's semifinal encounters.

Manchester City's encounter with Brentford at the Etihad begins at 7:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m. ET, 11:30 p.m. PT) while Newcastle's black-and-white showdown with Fulham is set for 45 minutes afterward. Extra time isn't utilized at this tournament stage—that's reserved for the semifinal second leg and the final—so all penalty shootouts should finish by 10:35 p.m.

How to Watch the Carabao Cup Semifinal Draw

The draw will be broadcast in the United Kingdom live on Sky Sports Main Event, with host Mark Chapman joined by Jamie Redknapp and Shay Given. American viewers can observe the ball-drawing ceremony on Paramount+.

Canada is providing coverage on DAZN and fuboTV while Mexican audiences can access it through Disney+ Premium.

Ball Numbers

Carabao Cup Semifinal Dates

Following established custom, the semifinals will be played over two legs spanning three extended weeks. The opening matches commence during the week starting Jan. 12, 2026 before concluding during the week of Feb. 2, 2026.