FA Cup third round draw
FA Cup third round draw

This is the round when all Premier League and Championship clubs join, which guarantees a mix of heavyweight ties, potential shocks and a good look at how the season’s contenders plan to treat the cup. The FA Cup often comes alive in January, and this year’s draw sets up a weekend that should pull in viewers far beyond England.

The draw aired live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+ ahead of the Second Round tie between Brackley Town and Burton Albion. Joe Cole and Peter Crouch handled the draw with the kind of calm chaos that FA Cup viewers have come to enjoy. There is something oddly satisfying about watching tiny clubs pop up next to established giants, and this year’s list did not disappoint.

All Third Round fixtures are scheduled for the weekend of Saturday 10 January 2026, although a few matches will likely shift to Sunday or Monday once broadcasters finalise their selections. Kickoff times will be confirmed closer to the date, but the weekend already carries the familiar tension that comes when Premier League sides play their first FA Cup matches of the season. For some clubs a deep cup run offers a much needed lift. For others it is a chance to rotate players and avoid embarrassment. For lower league sides it is a rare moment under national attention and a chance to write a night into club history.

Below is a breakdown of the key matches, the full fixture list and the storylines that stand out.

The headline ties

The draw produced several matches that look ready to carry the weekend’s coverage. Tottenham Hotspur were drawn at home to Aston Villa. Spurs supporters will treat this one as a test of the squad’s depth after a busy winter schedule, while Villa have quietly built a reputation for turning these mid-season cup games to their advantage. Neither side will want an early exit, so this one should be sharper than many Third Round fixtures.

Manchester United were paired with Brighton, a side that has troubled them often in recent years. Brighton’s style usually forces United into awkward positions and this tie offers little comfort for United fans who wanted a simpler start. It is the sort of pairing that can tilt either way unless one team decides to press the advantage early.

Liverpool were drawn at home to Barnsley. On paper this looks straightforward, but the FA Cup has always thrived on matches like this. Barnsley will bring energy and nothing to lose. Liverpool will likely rotate but still expect to control the match. The gap between expectation and reality in these fixtures has caught out many teams before, so Liverpool will want to settle the game early.

Last year’s champions Crystal Palace were handed a trip to Macclesfield, one of the lowest ranked sides remaining. A top-tier champion visiting a sixth-tier ground always feels like a throwback to older eras of the competition. Macclesfield’s supporters will treat this as a historic day and Palace will want to avoid becoming the story that everyone talks about for the wrong reasons. It is a classic FA Cup pairing and the kind of match that helps define the character of the tournament.

Everton will play Sunderland in a tie that recalls plenty of past league battles. Newcastle will host Bournemouth. Manchester City will face Exeter City and will expect to progress without drama, although Exeter will enjoy the occasion.

Full Third Round fixture list

Here is the complete list of Third Round matches:

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Shrewsbury Town
Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa
Port Vale vs Fleetwood Town
Preston North End vs Wigan Athletic
Ipswich Town vs Blackpool
Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest
Charlton Athletic vs Chelsea
Manchester City vs Exeter City
West Ham United vs Queens Park Rangers
Sheffield Wednesday vs Brentford
Fulham vs Middlesbrough
Everton vs Sunderland
Liverpool vs Barnsley
Burnley vs Millwall
Norwich City vs Walsall
Portsmouth vs Arsenal
Derby County vs Leeds United
Swansea City vs West Bromwich Albion
Salford City vs Swindon Town
Boreham Wood vs Brackley Town or Burton Albion
Grimsby Town vs Weston super Mare
Hull City vs Blackburn Rovers
Newcastle United vs Bournemouth
MK Dons vs Oxford United
Cheltenham Town vs Leicester City
Cambridge United vs Birmingham City
Bristol City vs Watford
Stoke City vs Coventry City
Macclesfield vs Crystal Palace
Manchester United vs Brighton
Sheffield United vs Mansfield Town

This list captures part of what makes the Third Round so compelling. Heavyweight showdowns sit next to ties that only local fans might follow, yet every match carries the same consequence. Win and your season carries another chapter. Lose and the cup is gone for another year.

Underdogs and long shots

Lower league and non league sides often give the Third Round its character. This year brings a few sides that will draw curiosity from neutral fans. Macclesfield’s meeting with Crystal Palace is the most obvious example. A sixth tier club hosting the holders offers the kind of stage that players and supporters will remember long after the season ends.

Weston super Mare earned a trip to Grimsby Town. Boreham Wood will host either Brackley Town or Burton Albion depending on the outcome of the postponed Second Round match. Salford City face Swindon Town in a tie that feels evenly matched and could tilt either way.

Wrexham, who have spent the past few years in the spotlight, will host Nottingham Forest. Wrexham’s rise has made them one of the most widely watched lower division clubs in the world. Forest have enough experience to handle the occasion, but the crowd will not make it simple for them.

Each of these matches carries the potential for a shock. Most years the Third Round produces at least one result that leaves Premier League audiences blinking at the scoreline. The underdogs rarely progress far, but this weekend belongs to them.

Premier League clubs facing early tests

Some Premier League sides received manageable ties. Others did not. Spurs, Manchester United and Palace will all draw coverage for different reasons. Arsenal got a visit to Portsmouth, which has the feel of a match that could grow complicated if Portsmouth start well. Chelsea go to Charlton, a fixture that recalls older London meetings and should attract a lively crowd.

Manchester City are expected to progress past Exeter City, although City tend to rotate heavily at this stage. That rotation usually holds up well, but the cup can sharpen unexpectedly if a lower league side scores first.

Newcastle face Bournemouth in a meeting of two Premier League sides with contrasting styles. Everton’s match with Sunderland offers a bit of nostalgia. These clubs know each other well, and that history always adds a little weight.

What this round means for the season

The Third Round often sets the tone for how clubs approach the rest of the competition. A strong performance can add confidence during a difficult winter period. A messy win can expose problems. An early exit can lift pressure by clearing the schedule or create a new set of questions.

For lower tier clubs the meaning is simpler. A successful Third Round can carry financial rewards and bring crowds that reshape their season. It gives players a stage that they rarely get. It also gives supporters a story to tell for years.

With the Fourth Round scheduled for mid February, teams that advance will have time to regroup after the busy holiday period. The gap also lets managers plan lineups without stretching squads too thin.

What happens next

Broadcasters will decide which matches receive national coverage. These decisions shape scheduling, so kickoff times will be confirmed in the days ahead. The FA will then release the final times and any required policing or travel adjustments.

Fans can expect a spread of matches across Saturday and Sunday. A Monday night match is also possible if a broadcaster chooses one of the higher profile ties.

The cup always takes on a different tone once the Premier League clubs join. The Third Round is the point where the competition grows from a local adventure into a national event. Storylines start to form. Surprises arrive. And once in a while a small club outplays a giant and changes its own history.

The 2025–26 draw has set up a weekend that should deliver all of that. Supporters should circle the weekend of 10 January on their calendars. The FA Cup is ready to start again, and the range of matches on offer promises a fast and eventful start to the new year.