FA Cup Third Round Drama Unfolds: Complete Match Fixtures and Dates Revealed for 2025-26
The FA Cup third round draw has matched eight Premier League clubs against each other, though no marquee fixture emerged when the 64 balls were selected.
Supporters of Brackley Town and Burton Albion, who were hoping for a lucrative encounter following their Monday evening second round battle, were left deflated after being drawn away to non-league Boreham Wood—a club that would have also desired a visit to one of the Premier League's top sides.
Rather, two of the draw's main highlights center around four Premier League clubs seeking to consistently challenge the established order. Aston Villa, soaring under Unai Emery and clearly moving in the right direction, received a challenging away fixture at Tottenham Hotspur, who are attempting to establish themselves under new manager Thomas Frank.
There's also an encounter between Eddie Howe's present club, Newcastle United, and the team he elevated to the Premier League several years back, Bournemouth.
Arsenal and Chelsea will travel away, meeting Portsmouth and Charlton Athletic respectively, while Manchester United must overcome fellow Premier League outfit Brighton & Hove Albion to advance to the fourth round. Manchester City will host League One team Exeter City, while Liverpool welcome Barnsley to Anfield.
West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton are the remaining three Premier League clubs with home FA Cup third round fixtures—the latter facing Sunderland in what promises to be a captivating encounter.
Nottingham Forest journey to Hollywood-backed Wrexham, in a match that could dominate the headlines should the Welsh club pull off a shock result.
2025–26 FA Cup Third Round Draw
2025–26 FA Cup Second Round Results
Date | Fixture |
|---|---|
Friday, Dec. 5 | Salford City 4–0 Leyton Orient |
Saturday, Dec. 6 | Accrington Stanley 2–2 (1–3 pens) Mansfield Town |
Saturday, Dec. 6 | Chelmsford City 0–2 Weston-super-Mare |
Saturday, Dec. 6 | Cheltenham Town 6–2 Buxton |
Saturday, Dec. 6 | Exeter City 4–0 Wycombe Wanderers |
Saturday, Dec. 6 | Fleetwood Town 2–2 (4–2 pens) Luton Town |
Saturday, Dec. 6 | Grimsby Town 4–0 Wealdstone |
Saturday, Dec. 6 | MK Dons 3–1 Oldham |
Saturday, Dec. 6 | Peterborough 0–1 Barnsley |
Saturday, Dec. 6 | Port Vale 1–0 Bristol Rovers |
Saturday, Dec. 6 | Stockport County 0–0 (4–5 pens) Cambridge United |
Saturday, Dec. 6 | Swindon Town 4–0 Bolton |
Saturday, Dec. 6 | Wigan 2–2 (4–3 pens) Barrow |
Saturday, Dec. 6 | Sutton United 1–2 Shrewsbury Town |
Saturday, Dec. 6 | Chesterfield 1–2 Doncaster Rovers |
Sunday, Dec. 7 | Slough Town 1–3 Macclesfield |
Sunday, Dec. 7 | Boreham Wood 3–0 Newport County |
Sunday, Dec. 7 | Gateshead 0–2 Walsall |
Sunday, Dec. 7 | Blackpool 4–1 Carlisle United |
Monday, Dec. 8 | Brackley Town vs. Burton Albion |
2025–26 FA Cup Round Dates
Round | Weekend of (Saturday) |
|---|---|
First Round Proper | Nov. 1, 2025 |
Second Round Proper | Dec. 6, 2025 |
Third Round Proper | Jan. 10, 2026 |
Fourth Round Proper | Feb. 14, 2026 |
Fifth Round Proper | March 7, 2026 |
Quarterfinals | April 4, 2026 |
Semifinals | April 25, 2026 |
Final | May 16, 2026 |
When Is the 2026 FA Cup Final?
The third round has yet to commence but clubs will already be fantasizing about that traditionally sun-drenched afternoon at Wembley Stadium. The most hopeful supporters can begin marking May 16, 2026 in red on next year's calendars.
For the second consecutive season, the FA Cup final will take place before the final weekend of the Premier League season. Just as in 2025, no top-flight matches will be scheduled on that Saturday in May to provide England's historic cup tournament with exclusive coverage, with the second-to-last round of fixtures moved to Sunday before the season concludes on May 25, 2026.
Who Was the Last Team to Win the FA Cup?
Crystal Palace claimed their first major trophy in club history last summer, defeating Manchester City 1–0 on an emotional day in south London. Just 35 days prior, it was City who cruised to a 5–2 triumph over the Eagles in the Premier League, establishing their dominance in the eyes of many observers—but not Oliver Glasner.
The astute Palace boss had a warning for Pep Guardiola following the match: "If we meet again you can't play in this system because we will solve it." He delivered on his promise.