Third-round entry: The likes of Arsenal , Manchester United and Liverpool join the Carabao Cup in round three along with other Premier League sides that received byes for the second round.
These exempt clubs for the 2026/27 season also include Manchester City, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion.
European commitments: The aforementioned teams skip the second round due to their demanding European commitments across UEFA competitions this season.
Entering directly into the third round helps authorities prevent severe fixture congestion for teams managing both continental and domestic match schedules.
Staggered schedule: It also means that the third round will be played across two midweeks, as the teams in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League juggle their match schedule, while those teams will not face each other.
