FA Cup draw LIVE!
The FA Cup third round draw takes place tonight as Premier League and Championship clubs all enter the picture. Holders Crystal Palace will kick off the defence of the trophy they won for the very first time in the club's history at Wembley back in May with a shock victory over Manchester City, while Eberechi Eze - the scorer in that final - will hope to help Arsenal extend their record number of FA Cup successes this season as Chelsea also aim to make up for a poor showing last year.
Manchester United are seeking to reclaim the trophy they won in 2023-24, Tottenham are hunting for more silverware after ending the long trophy drought with success in the Europa League almost seven months ago, while the FA Cup may represent Liverpool's best chance of a trophy this season.
It has been an eventful competition for non-league sides Macclesfield and Weston-super-Mare who made it through with wins over the weekend. Boreham Wood could be joined in round three by fellow National League side Brackley Town if they manage to overcome Burton tonight. Former England internationals Joe Cole and Peter Crouch will carry out the proceedings. Follow the FA Cup third round draw live below!
FA Cup third round draw latest news
- Start time: Approx 6.40pm GMT
- How to watch: TNT Sports
- Ball numbers
- Third round fixture dates
- Which non-league teams are left?
FA Cup third round draw in full
19:21 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSome decent ties to look forward to in early January.
Click here for the FA Cup third round draw in full!
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FA Cup draw live
19:06 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneTottenham vs Aston Villa is arguably the standout tie from the FA Cup third round draw.
These sides met in the fourth round last season with Unai Emery’s side emerging victorious at Villa Park.
FA Cup draw live
18:55 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSheffield United vs Mansfield
FA Cup draw live
18:55 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneManchester United vs Brighton
FA Cup draw live
18:55 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneMacclesfield vs Crystal Palace
FA Cup draw live
18:54 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneStoke vs Coventry
FA Cup draw live
18:54 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneBristol City vs Watford
FA Cup draw live
18:54 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneCambridge vs Birmingham
FA Cup draw live
18:53 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneCheltenham Town vs Leicester
FA Cup draw live
18:53 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneMK Dons vs Oxford United
FA Cup draw live
18:53 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneNewcastle vs Bournemouth
FA Cup draw live
18:52 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHull vs Blackburn
FA Cup draw live
18:52 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneGrimsby vs Weston-super-Mare
FA Cup draw live
18:51 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSwansea vs West Brom
Salford vs Swindon
Boreham Wood vs Brackley or Burton
FA Cup draw live
18:51 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneDerby vs Leeds
FA Cup draw live
18:50 , Tashan Deniran-AlleynePortsmouth vs Arsenal
FA Cup draw live
18:50 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneBurnley vs Millwall
Norwich vs Walsall
FA Cup draw live
18:49 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneLiverpool vs Barnsley
FA Cup draw live
18:49 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneFulham vs Middlesbrough
Everton vs Sunderland
FA Cup draw live
18:49 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSheffield Wednesday vs Brentford
FA Cup draw live
18:48 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWest Ham vs QPR
FA Cup draw live
18:48 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneMan City vs Exeter
FA Cup draw live
18:47 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneCharlton vs Chelsea
FA Cup draw live
18:47 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWrexham vs Nottingham Forest
FA Cup draw live
18:46 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneIpswich vs Blackpool
FA Cup draw live
18:46 , Tashan Deniran-AlleynePort Vale vs Fleetwood
Preston vs Wigan
FA Cup draw live
18:45 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneTottenham vs Aston Villa
FA Cup draw live
18:45 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneDoncaster vs Southampton
FA Cup draw live
18:45 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWolverhampton Wanderers vs Shrewsbury
FA Cup draw
18:42 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHere we go with the third round draw!
FA Cup draw live
18:39 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneJoe Cole says if Brackley get through they will want to draw a big team at home.
FA Cup third round draw coming up
18:35 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe stage is set - not a bad backdrop.
We’ll be underway very shortly...
Not long to go until the #EmiratesFACup third round draw 👀
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) December 8, 2025
Which tie are you hoping to see? 🤞 pic.twitter.com/5FOM6BQv5B
Ten minute warning
18:30 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneJust ten minutes to go now until the FA Cup third round draw gets underway!
Weston-super-mare, Macclesfield and Boreham Wood fans, how are the nerves?
Nightmare scenarios
18:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneJust look at Arsenal's third round draws in the past two years - Manchester United and Liverpool at home.
January is already a condensed month as it is, particulary for the Premier League teams in European competition, so the last thing they will want is a third round tie against a big rival.
FA Cup draw live
18:20 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSounds like there is a party down in Macclesfield tonight.
🏆 | We will be hosting a live screening of the Emirates FA Cup Third Round draw in Bar Twenty Seven this evening, live on TNT Sports!
— Macclesfield FC (C) (@thesilkmen) December 8, 2025
💙 All Silkmen players, staff, fans, friends and family are welcome to join us from 6pm!
🍻 Oh, and there’ll be a whopping 50% off drinks for… pic.twitter.com/sYpv4sI7e3
Dream scenarios
18:15 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneIdeally, the teams competing in European competition will want a relatively straightforward home tie in the FA Cup third round.
As for the non-league teams, they are dreaming of a home tie against one of English football's leading clubs.
Any sort of glamour tie can make such a difference to their fortunes financially.
FA Cup draw simulated
18:10 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAs we wait for the actual draw, we’ve decided to have some fun by using a draw simulator to determine the FA Cup third round ties.
The results were fascinating with Liverpool vs Manchester City the standout fixture. We also got Millwall vs West Ham...
A sign of things to come?
FA Cup draw live
18:05 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThink it’s quite obvious which teams Weston-super-Mare are keen to be paired with in tonigh’s FA Cup third round draw...
2️⃣ Arsenal
— Weston-super-Mare AFC (@WSM_AFCOfficial) December 8, 2025
8️⃣ Bristol City
2️⃣1️⃣ Liverpool
2️⃣3️⃣ Manchester United
4️⃣9️⃣ Weston-super-Mare AFC
Click the link below for all the details you need, ahead of this evening's Emirates FA Cup Third Round draw 🎱
🔗 https://t.co/e8BLcSQtIX pic.twitter.com/Cak0F2QBSa
Boreham Wood are at it again
18:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneFor the fourth time in the last six seasons, non-league Boreham Wood are through to the FA Cup third round proper.
Back in the 2021-2022 campaign their journey took them all the way to the fifth-round when they were beaten by Everton.
How far will they go this season?
For the fourth time in the last six seasons, non-league @BOREHAM_WOODFC are through to the third round proper 🤍🏆#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/VVTkxfvnEG
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) December 7, 2025
History makers
17:55 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneIt still hasn’t sunk in that Weston-super-mare are through to the FA Cup third round for the first time ever!
Weston-super-Mare are into the FA Cup third round for the first time in their 138-year history! 👏
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) December 6, 2025
And what a strike this was from Louis Britton to send them on their way 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/fPKHlO8XYs
FA Cup draw reminder
17:50 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe draw for the FA Cup third round is expected to start in less than an hour. Stick with us!
FA Cup second round highlights
17:45 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneBoreham Wood made lightwork of Slough in yesterday's second round clash. This strike from Regan Griffiths made it 3-0 and secured a place in round three for the National League side.
Regan Griffiths smashed it home for @thesilkmen’s third goal in their #EmiratesFACup second round win over Slough Town 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2g4u22I70D
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) December 7, 2025
Who is conducting the draw?
17:40 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneTonight’s FA Cup third round draw is taking place before the final second round tie between Brackley Town and Burton.
Two former England international will be on hand to draw the teams in Peter Crouch and Joe Cole.
Crouch won the FA Cup with Liverpool in 2005-06 - you know the 'Steven Gerrard final'.
Meanwhile, Cole is a two-time FA Cup winner having lifted the famous trophy with Chelsea in 2006-07 and 2009-10.
Boreham Wood through
17:35 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneBoreham Wood will find out their next opponents after a 3-0 win over Newport County on Sunday sealed their place in the third round draw.
THIRD ROUND PROPER, HERE WE COME! 🏁#WeAreTheWood | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/YDkJHwqndP
— Boreham Wood FC (@BOREHAM_WOODFC) December 7, 2025
No more FA Cup replays
17:30 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneA reminder that there are no replays in the FA Cup, so any ties that are level after 90 minutes now go to extra time and then penalties.
It was a controversial decision made back in April 2024 as part of a new six-year agreement between the FA and the Premier League, with "changes to the calendar driven by the expanded Uefa competitions" cited as the main reason in the aftermath of the significant revamps of the Champions League, Europa League, Conference League and Club World Cup.
Despite initial EFL complaints, the FA insisted that the move had the support of all parties concerned.
How does the draw work?
17:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneUnlike draws for European competitions, there are no seedings for the FA Cup draw. No teams can be kept apart which means, Arsenal could get Chelsea or Manchester United, for example.
Macclesfield and Weston-super-Mare flying flag for non-league
17:20 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThere are a three non-league teams guaranteed a FA Cup third round tie.
One is Weston-super-Mare, who are into round three for the first time after they beat Chelmsford City at the weekend.
Meanwhile, overcame Slough after extra-time to continue their journey in the competition.
Boreham Wood are currently the National League's sole representative in the FA Cup third round, though that will change if Brackley beat Burton.
FA Cup third round dates
17:15 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThird round matches are scheduled to be held across the weekend of January 10-11, 2026.
This evening’s draw will be hosted by Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist, with Joe Cole and Peter Crouch pulling out the balls.
FA Cup third round ball numbers
17:10 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne1. 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
How to watch the FA Cup third round draw
17:05 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneTV channel: In the UK, coverage of the draw is available live before Brackley vs Burton, live on TNT Sports 1.
Live stream: You can also follow along online via the Discovery+ app and website with a subscription, as well as on the TNT Sports YouTube channel.
Live blog: Follow the draw as it happens with Standard Sport’s live blog.
FA Cup draw live
17:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of the FA Cup third round draw!
Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United, Liverpool and holders Crystal Palace are among the clubs who are in the hat as Premier League teams enter at this stage.
Sixth-tier Weston-super-Mare have reached the third round for the first time in their history and will he hoping for a plum tie.
They are joined by fellow non-league sides Macclesfield and Boreham Wood.
We’ll have all the latest updates and build-up ahead of the draw, which will take place at around 6.40pm GMT ahead of the final second round meeting between Brackley Town and Burton Albion.
