FA Cup Third Round Draw 2025-26: Key Date Revealed for Football's Most Exciting Lottery
The FA Cup third round represents one of the most exciting weekends on the English football calendar.
This stage marks when all 44 Premier League and Championship teams enter the world's oldest cup competition. The crucial third round draw creates fascinating storylines by matching top-tier giants against grassroots clubs.
Weston-super-Mare began their FA Cup adventure in September during the second qualifying round. This sixth-tier English club has already contested six matches to reach the third round proper for the first time in their 138-year existence. Such is the excitement surrounding the upcoming draw that the club is hosting a special viewing event at their stadium clubhouse.
For those unable to attend The Optima for the reduced-price drinks, here's your complete guide to the draw.
When Is the FA Cup Third Round Draw?
The draw will occur before the final second round match between Brackley Town and Burton Albion on Monday evening, Dec. 8. Brackley hopes to join Boreham Wood as one of just two fifth-tier sides in the third round proper and will enjoy home advantage against their League One rivals.
What Time Is the FA Cup Third Round Draw?
The draw is scheduled to begin 10 minutes after pre-match coverage starts for Monday's game. Joe Cole and Peter Crouch, who collected three FA Cup winners' medals between them as players, are set to conduct the ceremony starting at 6:40 p.m. GMT (1:40 p.m. ET, 10:40 a.m. PT).
Ball Numbers for FA Cup Third Round Draw
1. AFC Bournemouth
2. Arsenal
3. Aston Villa
4. Birmingham City
5. Blackburn Rovers
6. Brentford
7. Brighton & Hove Albion
8. Bristol City
9. Burnley
10. Charlton Athletic
11. Chelsea
12. Coventry City
13. Crystal Palace
14. Derby County
15. Everton
16. Fulham
17. Hull City
18. Ipswich Town
19. Leeds United
20. Leicester City
21. Liverpool
22. Manchester City
23. Manchester United
24. Middlesbrough
25. Millwall
26. Newcastle United
27. Norwich City
28. Nottingham Forest
29. Oxford United
30. Portsmouth
31. Preston North End
32. Queens Park Rangers
33. Sheffield United
34. Sheffield Wednesday
35. Southampton
36. Stoke City
37. Sunderland
38. Swansea City
39. Tottenham Hotspur
40. Watford
41. West Bromwich Albion
42. West Ham United
43. Wolverhampton Wanderers
44. Wrexham
45. Macclesfield
46. Grimsby Town
47. Shrewsbury Town
48. Swindon Town
49. Weston Super Mare
50. Barnsley
51. Boreham Wood
52. Milton Keynes Dons
53. Wigan Athletic
54. Fleetwood Town
55. Salford City
56. Mansfield Town
57. Cambridge United
58. Brackley Town or Burton Albion
59. Blackpool
60. Walsall
61. Exeter City
62. Cheltenham Town
63. Doncaster Rovers
64. Port Vale
FA Cup 2025–26 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 |
FA Cup Second Round Fixtures
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 |
When Is the 2026 FA Cup Final?
While the third round hasn't begun, clubs are already envisioning that traditionally sunny day at Wembley Stadium. The most hopeful supporters can mark May 16, 2026 in red on their upcoming calendars.
For the second consecutive year, the FA Cup final will take place before the Premier League season's final weekend. Similar to 2025, no top-flight fixtures will be scheduled on that May Saturday to give England's historic cup competition center stage, with the second-to-last round of matches 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 before, City had thrashed the Eagles 5–2 in Premier League action, establishing their dominance in most observers' minds—but not Oliver Glasner's.
The astute Palace boss had a warning for Pep Guardiola following that league encounter: "If we meet again you can't play in this system because we will solve it." He proved true to his promise.