Manchester United 2026/27 Carabao Cup third round opponents are…

Manchester United will begin their Carabao Cup campaign in the third round this season, with their return to the Champions League earning them exemption from the opening two stages of the competition.

The Red Devils were forced to enter in round two last year after failing to qualify for Europe and suffered a humiliating exit against League Two side Grimsby Town.

They recovered from two goals down at Blundell Park before losing an extraordinary penalty shootout 12-11.

United will discover their first opponents of the 2026/27 tournament on Wednesday night, as the third-round draw is due to take place after Preston North End’s second-round meeting with Everton, with proceedings expected to begin at approximately 10.30pm.

The EFL has confirmed the draw arrangements which will use an unusual system because of the expanded European calendar.

United are one of eight Champions League and Europa League clubs who will be kept apart, while a preliminary draw will determine whether each of those sides plays at home or away.

Those eight clubs will then be paired with teams from a separate pool of 24.

Brighton and Hove Albion are included in that group because their Conference League campaign begins later, meaning they could be drawn against United despite also competing in Europe.

Tuesday’s results confirmed another 17 potential opponents. Norwich City, Middlesbrough, Barnsley, Sheffield United, Lincoln City, Millwall, Fleetwood Town, Ipswich Town, Coventry City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham United, Reading, Hull City, Leyton Orient, Peterborough United, Brentford and Leeds United all progressed.

The remaining six places will be filled by the winners of Bradford City against Burnley, Newcastle United against West Bromwich Albion, Tottenham Hotspur against Charlton Athletic, Preston against Everton, Chelsea against Luton Town and Fulham against AFC Wimbledon.

No club can genuinely be considered more likely than another once the final pool is established, but United’s recent history does provide a profile from which a prediction can be made.

In 2016/17, United began away to League One Northampton Town. Their subsequent opening ties came against Championship side Burton Albion at home, Championship side Derby County at home, League One Rochdale at home and Championship club Luton Town away.

That sequence was followed by three successive home draws against Premier League opposition, West Ham United in 2021/22, Aston Villa in 2022/23 and Crystal Palace in 2023/24. League One Barnsley then visited Old Trafford in 2024/25 before last season’s trip to fourth-tier Grimsby.

Across those ten campaigns, United have therefore been drawn at home seven times and away only three.

Their opponents have been spread remarkably evenly across the divisions, with three from the Premier League, three from the Championship, three from League One and one from League Two.

United progressed from seven of those ten ties, although the three eliminations show the danger of assuming their opening fixture will be routine.

Derby won on penalties in 2018, West Ham prevailed at Old Trafford in 2021 and Grimsby produced the greatest shock of the group last August.

There is no overwhelming divisional trend, but every top-flight opponent United have drawn in their opening tie during this period has been sent to Old Trafford.

Six Premier League clubs are already confirmed in the potential opponent pool, with as many as five more able to join them across the outstanding matches.

Our prediction, based on those already qualified, is therefore that Manchester United will be drawn at home to Hull City in the third round of the 2026/27 Carabao Cup.

Statistically, Hull are no likelier to emerge than Brighton, Ipswich, Coventry, Brentford, Leeds or any other eligible team.

They are nevertheless the most compelling selection after beating United 2-0 in the Premier League at the weekend, when goals from Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy condemned Michael Carrick’s side to a losing start.

An immediate Old Trafford rematch would give United the opportunity to respond, while fitting the clearest combined pattern within their previous ten opening draws, home advantage against another Premier League club.