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Official: Man United to face Brighton & Hove Albion in Carabao Cup third round
Aug 27 2026 00:50 · By onefootball.com · 17 Reads
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Manchester United will face Premier League rivals Brighton & Hove Albion in the third round of the Carabao Cup, it has been confirmed.
Big season
United commenced their 2026/27 campaign in a disastrous manner, falling to a 2–0 defeat at the hands of Hull City on the opening day. Despite the inauspicious start, there is cautious optimism that the season can still yield positive results.
The Red Devils have the Champions League to look forward to after a two-year absence from the prestigious competition.
There is also the matter of how the club’s new recruits will assimilate, with United announcing their latest arrival on Tuesday: Carlos Baleba.
The Cameroonian comes in as the third midfield signing after Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans from Chelsea and Aston Villa respectively. Tielemans and Santos made their competitive debuts in the loss to Hull.
Beyond the squad dynamics, attention will also turn to how Carrick manages the rigours of fighting on several fronts throughout the campaign.
Carabao Cup draw
For Carrick and his squad, the Carabao Cup presents a tangible opportunity to get their hands on a trophy. Their path to a potential run begins with a third-round clash against Brighton, with the tie set to take place on home soil at Old Trafford.
United will be seeking to put last season’s Carabao Cup disappointment behind them, having succumbed to a humiliating defeat against Grimsby Town at the first stage of the tournament.
United’s home tie is a consequence of the broader fixture calendar, with UEFA commitments taking place in the weeks commencing 7 and 14 September. Those games are immovable, prompting the Carabao Cup to be staged across the two-week window.
Pre-determined venue allocations ensure there is no overlap, thereby safeguarding the integrity of other domestic competitions.
Brighton, like United, enter the Carabao Cup at the third-round stage owing to their potential UEFA Conference League involvement. Given that the Conference League group phase does not begin until October, it has no impact on this particular fixture.
It promises to be an intriguing encounter, though United’s immediate focus is firmly on Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Ipswich Town.