The draw for the Third Round of the FA Cup — the stage at which all Premier League clubs enter the competition — has been completed. And for two members of England’s so-called “big six”, the draw proved anything but kind.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur were handed some of the most challenging fixtures of the round, with both set to face fellow Premier League opposition. The Red Devils will take on a resilient Brighton, while Spurs must battle high-flying Aston Villa in what promises to be one of the standout ties of the weekend.

Elsewhere, the giants of the division received far more favourable matchups. Manchester City travel to face Exeter City, Arsenal meet Portsmouth, Liverpool host Barnsley, and Chelsea are set for a London clash against Charlton Athletic.

The Third Round of the FA Cup will be played across the weekend of 10–11 January 2026, while the showpiece final at Wembley Stadium is scheduled for 16 May 2026.

 Wolverhampton Wanderers — Shrewsbury Town Doncaster Rovers — Southampton Tottenham Hotspur — Aston Villa Port Vale — Fleetwood Town Preston North End — Wigan Athletic Ipswich Town — Blackpool Wrexham — Nottingham Forest Charlton Athletic — Chelsea Manchester City — Exeter City West Ham United — Queens Park Rangers Sheffield Wednesday — Brentford Fulham — Middlesbrough Everton — Sunderland Liverpool — Barnsley Burnley — Millwall Norwich City — Walsall Portsmouth — Arsenal Derby County — Leeds United Swansea City — West Bromwich Albion Salford City — Swindon Town Boreham Wood — Brackley Town / Burton Albion Grimsby Town — Weston-super-Mare Hull City — Blackburn Rovers Newcastle United — Bournemouth MK Dons — Oxford United Cheltenham Town — Leicester City Cambridge United — Birmingham City Bristol City — Watford Stoke City — Coventry City Macclesfield — Crystal Palace Manchester United — Brighton Sheffield United — Mansfield Town