The FA Cup 2025-26 third round proper draw took place on December 8, 2025, at St George's Park, marking the entry point for all 44 Premier League and Championship
clubs into the historic competition alongside winners from earlier qualifying rounds.
This stage is renowned for its magic, offering lower-league teams rare giant-killing opportunities against top-flight giants, with ties scheduled over the weekend of January 10-11, 2026, and potential replays midweek the following week. The draw, conducted live and streamed widely, set up intriguing matchups including Premier League derbies and cross-division clashes that promise drama and upsets.
High-profile all-Premier League encounters include Tottenham Hotspur vs. Aston Villa, Manchester United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United vs. AFC Bournemouth, and potential fireworks in Portsmouth vs. Arsenal. Standout underdog stories feature holders Crystal Palace traveling to non-League Macclesfield FC, Wrexham hosting Nottingham Forest, and local rivalries like Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Shrewsbury Town and West Ham United vs. Queens Park Rangers. These fixtures highlight the FA Cup's unpredictability, with no results yet as matches remain weeks away.
FA Cup Round 3 Schedule
All third-round ties are set for January 10-11, 2026, with exact kickoff times and broadcast details to be confirmed soon by clubs and The FA. Replays, if needed, will occur during the week of January 13-16, 2026. Venues follow standard home/away assignments from the draw, subject to any pitch or scheduling adjustments.
FA Cup 3rd Round Full 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. Burton Albion
Grimsby Town vs. Weston-super-Mare
Hull City vs. Blackburn Rovers
Newcastle United vs. AFC 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













