The Blues begin this season's Carabao Cup campaign in the second round, when we host the Hatters at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night, with kick-off at 7.30pm.

Before we take to the pitch for that game, the opponents awaiting the winner in the next round will already be known...

When is the Carabao Cup third-round draw?

The draw for the third round will take place on Wednesday 26 August, following the conclusion of Preston North End's second-round match against Everton.

How can I watch the Carabao Cup draw?

The draw will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK. We will bring you news of the draw on the Chelsea Official App and website as soon as it is known.

What ball number are Chelsea?

The ball numbers for the Carabao Cup third-round draw will be announced on Wednesday 26 August.

Who can Chelsea play in the Carabao Cup third round?

Every team that progresses from the northern and southern section of the draw remain potential opponents for the third round. The nine Premier League teams competing in Europe will also enter the competition at the third-round stage.

There is no north-south split to the draw from the third round on. The only restrictions to the draw are the eight teams competing in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League being seeded, meaning they cannot face each other, but are not guaranteed a home or away game.

That leaves Chelsea with these possible Carabao Cup opponents in the third round, ahead of Wednesday's matches:

Arsenal
Aston Villa
Barnsley
Brentford
Sheffield United
Lincoln City
Bournemouth
Bradford City/Burnley
Brighton & Hove Albion
Norwich City
Millwall
Crystal Palace
Middlesbrough
Fleetwood Town
Fulham/Wimbledon
Ipswich Town
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United/West Bromwich Albion
Leeds United
Coventry City
Preston North End/Everton
Wolverhampton Wanderers
West Ham United
Reading
Hull City
Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur/Charlton Athletic
Leyton Orient
Peterborough United

When will Chelsea's third-round tie be played?

Third-round ties will be split across two midweek slots to accommodate European fixture commitments, with games played on the weeks beginning 7 September and 14 September.