The eyes of several non-league clubs will be fixed on the The FA Cup third-round draw this evening, with fingers crossed for a glamour trip to one of the Premier League’s leading lights.
The 44 Premier League and Championship clubs will join 20 second-round winners in the hat as the fixtures are determined for January’s third round.
Macclesfield and Weston-super-Mare, both of the sixth tier, are the lowest-tanked sides in the draw, while the National League’s Brackley Town can also book a spot in the next round with victory over Burton Albion this evening.
Below we bring you everything you need to know ahead of tonight’s draw.
When and where to watch the FA Cup draw
The FA Cup third-round draw is scheduled to take place on Monday, 8 December 2025, at approximately 6.40pm UK time.
Football fans can tune in to watch the draw live on TNT Sports. The draw will be conducted by former England internationals Joe Cole and Peter Crouch, just before the final second-round tie between Brackley Town and Burton Albion kicks off (7.30pn UK time).
How the FA Cup third round draw works
The third round is a pivotal moment in the FA Cup. A total of 64 teams will be in the hat, including the 20 winners from the second-round ties. What makes this round so special is the entry of all 44 clubs from the top two tiers of English football: the 20 Premier League clubs and the 24 Championship clubs. This creates the potential for “giant killings,” where lower-league clubs have the chance to host or visit some of the biggest names in the sport.
Replays were scrapped for last year’s FA Cup, meaning that if a match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, it will go to extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shootout to decide the winner. This adds an extra layer of tension to every fixture.
| Teams | 64 total: 20 Premier League, 24 Championship, 20 second-round winners |
| Format | Single elimination, no replays |
| Tie-breaker | Extra time and penalties |
When will FA Cup third round ties be played?
The FA Cup third round is scheduled for the weekend of Saturday, January 10, with fixtures typically taking place between Thursday and Monday.
Ball numbers
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 FC or Burton Albion
59. Blackpool
60. Walsall
61. Exeter City
62. Cheltenham Town
63. Doncaster Rovers
64. Port Vale