The draw for the third round of the FA Cup has concluded and it has been an interesting draw. All 44 teams from the Premier League and Championship will take part in the tournament at this stage, including holders Crystal Palace. At least three non-league clubs will take part in the draw. National League side Boreham Wood and sixth-tier sides Macclesfield and Weston-super-Mare are in the third round, with Brackley Town potentially joining them if they beat Burton Albion at home tonight.
And after former England players and FA Cup winners Joe Cole and Peter Crouch drew the ball, they now know who they will face this weekend on Saturday 10 January 2026.
Highlights include an exciting Premier League clash between Tottenham and Aston Villa in north London, and Manchester United taking on Brighton. Newcastle host Bournemouth in another top-flight clash between Everton and Sunderland.
Premier League leaders Arsenal face a banana peel away away trip to Championship side Portsmouth, while Chelsea are also given an away game against Championship opponents Charlton Athletic.
Fellow big six club Liverpool also have a lower league opponent as they welcome third-tier side Barnsley to Anfield. Relegation-threatened League One side Exeter City face a daunting trip to Manchester City, while holders Crystal Palace take on non-league side Macclesfield in a match guaranteed to be shown live on TV.
Elsewhere, Hollywood’s Wrexham owners face Premier League side Nottingham Forest at the Racecourse Ground, while an all-non-league clash between Boreham Wood and Brackley Town could take place if Brackley beat Burton later tonight. Sixth-tier Weston-super-Mare will travel to League Two side Grimsby Town in their first ever FA Cup third round match.
All third-round matches will be played over the weekend on Saturday, January 10, 2026.
2025-26 FA Cup 3rd round full draw
Wolves vs Shrewsbury Town
Doncaster Rovers vs Southampton
Tottenham 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 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 Brom
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
