The EFL Cup quarter-final ties are set. See who plays who, how the fourth round finished, when the semi-final draw is expected and the dates through to Wembley.
EFL Cup Draw 2026-27: Quarter-Final Ties and Dates
Quick facts
- Quarter-finals: week of 14 December 2026 (four ties)
- Holders: Manchester City
- Semi-finals: two legs, weeks of 11 January and 1 February 2027
- Final: Sunday 21 March 2027, Wembley
- Still in: six Premier League clubs, one League One and one League Two club
The EFL Cup draw has given us four quarter-finals, and two of them feature clubs from outside the Premier League. This page shows the ties, how the fourth round finished, how the draw works and what is still to come, from the semi-final draw to the final at Wembley. We update it after every round.
What are the EFL Cup quarter-final ties?
The four quarter-finals are below. The first-named club in each tie is the home side, and our data feed lists all four for Tuesday 15 December 2026 at 19:45. The EFL describes the round as the week of 14 December, and television choices can still move individual kick-off times.
| Home | Away | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | Bournemouth | Tue 15 Dec 2026 |
| Manchester City | Bradford | Tue 15 Dec 2026 |
| Crystal Palace | Sunderland | Tue 15 Dec 2026 |
| Fleetwood Town | Everton | Tue 15 Dec 2026 |
Six of the eight clubs left are in the Premier League. Bradford, who play in League One, travel to the holders, while Fleetwood Town of League Two have home advantage against Everton. For the league context behind each club, see the Premier League hub and our club guides.
How did the EFL Cup fourth round finish?
Eight ties were played in the week of 26 October, and three of them were level after 90 minutes and went to penalties. The most striking result was Arsenal going out at Fleetwood Town on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
| Tie | Score | Went through |
|---|---|---|
| Bradford v Peterborough | 2-0 | Bradford |
| Fleetwood Town v Arsenal | 1-1 | Fleetwood Town, on penalties |
| Manchester City v Brighton | 2-2 | Manchester City, on penalties |
| Fulham v Crystal Palace | 0-1 | Crystal Palace |
| Sunderland v Brentford | 3-2 | Sunderland |
| Bournemouth v Aston Villa | 3-0 | Bournemouth |
| Liverpool v Chelsea | 1-1 | Liverpool, on penalties |
| Everton v Newcastle United | 3-1 | Everton |
Results come from our live data feed. You can find every other score on our results page.
How does the EFL Cup draw work?
The competition is a straight knockout, and each round is drawn at random once the previous one has finished. Clubs enter at different stages. The 11 Premier League clubs without European football came in at the second round, and the nine clubs in European competition joined at the third round. The earlier draws took place on 10 August for the second round and 26 August for the third round.
The fourth round and the quarter-finals are single matches, and the semi-finals are the only round played over two legs. That keeps the early rounds fast, and it means a lower-league club only has to beat a bigger one once to reach the last eight.
When is the EFL Cup semi-final draw?
The semi-final draw has not been scheduled yet. It can only happen after the quarter-finals are played in mid-December, so we expect it soon after the last tie. We will add the date here once the EFL confirms it, and the ties as soon as they are known.
Two lower-league clubs are still in it. Bradford must win at the holders, Manchester City, while Fleetwood Town host Everton. If either goes through, the draw would feature a club from outside the top flight in the last four, which makes it one to watch.
EFL Cup 2026-27 key dates
| Round | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Fourth round | Week of 26 Oct 2026 | Played |
| Quarter-finals | Week of 14 Dec 2026 | Draw made |
| Semi-final draw | Not yet confirmed | After the quarter-finals |
| Semi-finals | Weeks of 11 Jan and 1 Feb 2027 | Two legs |
| Final | Sun 21 Mar 2027 | Wembley |
Dates for the later rounds are the published schedule and can move for television or fixture congestion.
Who can win the EFL Cup?
Manchester City are the holders, but they needed penalties to get past Brighton in the fourth round. Liverpool also needed a shootout to beat Chelsea. Everton, Palace, Sunderland and Bournemouth all won inside 90 minutes, so the competition is open.
To see how these clubs are playing in the league, our Premier League form table shows recent results and the league tables show the standings. For the other major cup, read our guide to the FA Cup third round draw.
EFL Cup draw: frequently asked questions
Has the EFL Cup quarter-final draw been made?
Yes. The four quarter-final ties are Liverpool v Bournemouth, Manchester City v Bradford, Crystal Palace v Sunderland and Fleetwood Town v Everton, with the first-named club at home. They are scheduled for Tuesday 15 December 2026 in our data feed, and the EFL lists the round as the week of 14 December.
When is the EFL Cup semi-final draw?
The date has not been confirmed. The semi-finals can only be drawn after the quarter-finals are played in mid-December, so expect the draw soon after the last quarter-final.
How do EFL Cup semi-finals work?
They are played over two legs, in the weeks of 11 January and 1 February 2027, according to the published schedule. The winners on aggregate go to the final.
When and where is the EFL Cup final?
The final is scheduled for Sunday 21 March 2027 at Wembley Stadium, according to the published schedule.
Which clubs are out of the EFL Cup?
Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Brighton, Brentford, Fulham and Peterborough lost their fourth round ties. Arsenal went out to Fleetwood Town on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Who are the EFL Cup holders?
Manchester City, who beat Arsenal in the previous final, are the defending champions.
How do Premier League clubs enter the EFL Cup?
The 11 Premier League clubs without European football entered in the second round. The nine clubs in European competition entered in the third round.
Sources: our live fixtures and results feed (API-Football) and the published EFL Cup schedule. We re-check both when the page is updated.
