The FA Cup third round draw for the 2025–26 season has paired heavyweight Premier League clubs in awkward fixtures and handed lower-league sides fresh chances to write another chapter of giant-killing history.
By Swikblog Sports Desk | 8 December 2025
Premier League clashes headline a classic FA Cup weekend
The third round remains the most romantic stop on the FA Cup calendar: the moment when Premier League and Championship clubs finally enter the competition and are thrown together with the survivors from the lower leagues. This season’s draw has delivered exactly what fans crave – heavyweight top-flight contests, dangerous away days for big clubs and a handful of non-league fairy-tale opportunities.
The standout tie sees Tottenham Hotspur host Aston Villa in an all-Premier League clash that would not look out of place in a late-season top-four race. Elsewhere, Manchester United welcome Brighton & Hove Albion, a side that has repeatedly troubled the Old Trafford club in recent years, while Liverpool face Barnsley at Anfield in a meeting loaded with giant-killing history.
Everton’s home tie with Sunderland promises a ferocious atmosphere on Merseyside, and champions Manchester City will be confident but wary against League One side Exeter City, who arrive in Manchester with nothing to lose.
Full 2025–26 FA Cup third-round draw
All third-round ties are currently scheduled for the weekend of 10–12 January 2026, with exact kick-off times to be confirmed once broadcasters make their selections.
- 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
Remaining fixtures will be confirmed once outstanding second-round replays are completed.
Giant-killing dreams for Wrexham, Weston-super-Mare and Boreham Wood
Away from the glamour of all-Premier League showdowns, the third round has once again served up a collection of potential upsets. Hollywood-backed Wrexham will relish a televised home tie against Nottingham Forest, a fixture that feels tailor-made for knockout chaos and global attention.
National League South side Weston-super-Mare, one of the lowest-ranked clubs left in the competition, travel to Grimsby Town with the belief that another deep run is possible. Meanwhile, non-league Boreham Wood are guaranteed a home meeting with either Brackley Town or Burton Albion, ensuring that at least one underdog will make it into the hat for the fourth round.
These are the ties that give the FA Cup its emotional pull: small stadiums packed to the rafters, Premier League scouts in the stands and players living out childhood dreams in front of a national audience.
Broadcast plans, kick-off times and how to watch
Third-round fixtures will be split across the full FA Cup weekend, with matches moved for live television coverage on TNT Sports and free-to-air selections on the BBC. Fans can expect staggered kick-off slots from Friday night through Monday evening, ensuring that the competition once again dominates the English football calendar in mid-January.
Supporters planning ahead can keep an eye on the official FA Cup and broadcaster schedules for final confirmation of dates and TV picks, while international viewers should check local listings and streaming platforms carrying English domestic cup rights.
What it means for the rest of the season
For clubs chasing league titles or European qualification, the third round is often a balancing act between rotation and respect. Managers at Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool will all be wary of dropping out early, particularly with emotionally charged away days and awkward opponents waiting around every corner.
Yet for clubs such as Wrexham, Weston-super-Mare or Boreham Wood, the FA Cup is a financial lifeline as much as a sporting adventure. Prize money, TV revenue and packed home gates can reshape budgets for years to come – and that is before any replay windfalls or headline-grabbing upsets are factored in.
However the stories unfold, one thing is guaranteed: by the time the final whistle blows on third-round weekend, a new set of heroes and heart-break tales will have entered FA Cup folklore.
You may also like
Written by the Swikblog Sports Desk.
Make Swikblog your go-to source on Google for reliable updates, smart insights, and daily trends.
