FA Cup third round draw excitement

2 min read
Medium-low credibility based on 2 news sources

Exciting matchups ahead

The highly anticipated FA Cup third round draw has offered football enthusiasts some engaging matchups. Manchester United is set to play Brighton at Old Trafford, while Liverpool hosts Barnsley at Anfield. Everton will compete against Sunderland, and Bournemouth travels to Newcastle United.

Historic encounters

Arsenal’s visit to Portsmouth brings a nostalgic touch, reviving a recurring rivalry. If Brackley Town triumphs over Burton Albion in League One, they will face Boreham Wood from the National League, promising an intriguing clash.

Full list of fixtures

The entire lineup for the FA Cup third round is as follows:

  • 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. 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
  • Manchester United vs. Brighton
  • Sheffield United vs. Mansfield Town

Expert opinions

In the aftermath of the draw, former players Joe Cole and Peter Crouch expressed their views. Cole emphasized the allure of the Charlton vs. Chelsea game as a classic London derby. Crouch, reminiscing about his FA Cup experiences, noted the intriguing Newcastle vs. Bournemouth fixture.

Match dates

These matches will occur between January 9-12, 2026, fitting into the busy football calendar amid the festive season, ensuring a period rich with sporting excitement.