FA Cup third-round draw throws up four all-Premier League ties

All 20 Premier League clubs discover their FA Cup third round opponents and there will be four all-Premier League ties in the third round after the draw was made on Monday evening.

Manchester United will host Brighton & Hove Albion, hoping that October’s 4-2 victory in the Premier League has ended the Seagulls’ good run at Old Trafford. Brighton had won three away games in a row against the Red Devils prior to that result.

Tottenham Hotspur, meanwhile, will be keen to avenge last season’s elimination to Aston Villa in the fourth round when they take on Unai Emery’s side in north London.

Everton welcome Sunderland in the first FA Cup tie at Hill Dickinson Stadium, while Newcastle United face their manager Eddie Howe’s former club AFC Bournemouth at St James’ Park.

Elsewhere, FA Cup holders Crystal Palace will begin their trophy defence against non-league Macclesfield Town in the third round.

Oliver Glasner’s high-flying Eagles will look to avoid becoming the first cup holders to lose to a non-league side since Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1908/09.

Otherwise, Premier League clubs will be keen to avoid a famous FA Cup giant-killing against lower league opponents.

Arsenal head to Fratton Park to play Portsmouth hoping it will be a good omen. The Gunners have met Pompey four times in the competition’s history and made at least the semi-finals each time, winning it in 1971 and 2020. Chelsea also have Championship opponents in the form of London rivals Charlton Athletic.

Liverpool will look to end their hoodoo against Barnsley at Anfield. The Tykes have won both of their last two games away at Liverpool, in 1997 and 2008.

Manchester City will take on Exeter City at the Etihad Stadium, while Nottingham Forest have a glamour fixture away to Wrexham, who are owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac.

All ties will be played between Matchweeks 21 and 22 in the Premier League, across the weekend of Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 January. The full schedule will be announced in due course.

There are five rounds to navigate until the final, which will be held at Wembley Stadium on 16 May 2026. The winners of the competition will qualify automatically for the Uefa Europa League.

There will be no replay if a match ends in a draw after 90 minutes. All ties will go to extra-time and a penalty shoot-out if required.

FA Cup third round draw

Boreham Wood v Brackley Town or Burton Albion

Bristol City v Watford

Burnley v Millwall

Cambridge United v Birmingham City

Charlton Athletic v Chelsea

Cheltenham Town v Leicester City

Derby County v Leeds United

Doncaster Rovers v Southampton

Everton v Sunderland

Fulham v Middlesbrough

Grimsby v Weston-super-Mare

Hull City v Blackburn Rovers

Ipswich Town v Blackpool

Liverpool v Barnsley

Macclesfield v Crystal Palace

Manchester City v Exeter City

Manchester United v Brighton

MK Dons v Oxford United

Newcastle United v Bournemouth

Norwich v Walsall

Port Vale v Fleetwood

Portsmouth v Arsenal

Preston North End v Wigan Athletic

Salford v Swindon

Sheffield United v Mansfield Town

Sheffield Wednesday v Brentford

Stoke City v Coventry

Swansea v West Brom

Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa

West Ham v Queens Park Rangers

Wolves v Shrewsbury Town

Wrexham v Nottingham Forest