The road to Wembley has officially begun, with the 2025/26 FA Cup Third Round Draw serving its usual dose of surprises, drama, and mouthwatering fixtures.
Holders Crystal Palace will begin their title defence with what looks like a fairytale clash, drawing non-league Macclesfield in a matchup that embodies everything magical about the competition.
Elsewhere, the draw delivered heavyweight meetings that will immediately test the resolve of some Premier League giants. Manchester United were handed a tricky home tie against Brighton & Hove Albion, a team that hasn’t exactly been shy in Manchester in recent seasons.
For Ruben Amorim and his men, it’s an opportunity to bury the sting of their shocking Carabao Cup exit to Grimsby Town, but Brighton’s growing confidence makes this anything but straightforward.
Over in north London, Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa stands out as one of the most eye-catching pairings of the round. Unai Emery’s Villa have been a thorn in the side of top teams, and a trip to face Spurs sets the stage for one of the round’s most tightly balanced encounters.
Some of England’s other big sides will be packing their bags for potentially awkward away days. Arsenal are off to Fratton Park for a gritty meeting with Championship side Portsmouth, a ground known for its old-school intensity. Chelsea, meanwhile, remain in the capital but still face a stern test as they cross London to take on Charlton Athletic.
There’s nothing quite like the #EmiratesFACup third round draw 🤩 pic.twitter.com/TinWrVpvof
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) December 8, 2025
At Anfield, Arne Slot’s under-pressure Liverpool have been paired with League One’s Barnsley, a team with a history of causing trouble for bigger clubs in this tournament. The champions of England, Manchester City, are set to welcome Exeter City to the Etihad, a tie that looks straightforward on paper but will still require focus.
Two all-Premier League battles add further spice to the mix. Everton face high-flying Sunderland at Goodison Park, while Newcastle United will host Bournemouth in what many are already calling the “Eddie Howe Derby.”
All fixtures are scheduled to take place across the weekend of January 9 to 12, when the country’s oldest cup competition once again delivers its unique blend of hope, heartbreak, and giant-killing potential.
2025–26 FA Cup Third Round Draw
- Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Shrewsbury Town
- Doncaster Rovers vs. Southampton
- 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. AFC Bournemouth
- Milton Keynes Dons vs. Oxford United
- Cheltenham Town vs. Leicester City
- Cambridge United vs. Birmingham City
- Bristol City vs. Watford
- Stoke City vs. Coventry City
- Macclesfield FC vs. Crystal Palace
- Manchester United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
- Sheffield United vs. Mansfield Town
The draw for the #EmiratesFACup third round proper is complete 🏆🚨
🔗 https://t.co/4nnCcS2644 pic.twitter.com/xdMr8DcoA7
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) December 8, 2025