Fleetwood Town have made history by reaching the Carabao Cup quarter‑finals, a feat the club has never achieved before. The League Two side stunned Premier League champions Arsenal on Tuesday, winning 4‑3 on penalties after a 1‑1 draw in regular time. Their victory has propelled them into the last eight, where they will face either Everton or Newcastle United at Highbury.
The draw for the quarter‑finals will be held during the week beginning 14 December. Fleetwood’s next opponent will be decided by the result of the final fourth‑round match, which pits Everton against Newcastle at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Thursday. The winner of that tie will meet the “lowest‑ranked” club in the competition, Fleetwood, in the quarter‑finals.
Manchester City, the defending champions, will host Bradford City at the Etihad Stadium after the non‑Premier League club forced a penalty shootout to defeat Brighton in the fourth round. The remaining two fixtures will involve only Premier League teams: Liverpool, who also won on penalties against Chelsea, will host Bournemouth, while Crystal Palace will take on Sunderland at Selhurst Park.
Fleetwood’s run to the last eight is a significant milestone for the club, which has never progressed beyond the third round in the competition. Their dramatic win over Arsenal has attracted attention from fans and pundits alike, and the club’s management has praised the players’ resilience and tactical discipline. The next steps for Fleetwood will depend on the outcome of the Everton‑Newcastle match, with the club hoping to maintain the momentum and potentially cause more upsets in the knockout stages.