The 2026 FA Cup third round marks one of the most anticipated stages of the 2025-26 FA Cup competition, as all 20 Premier League clubs enter the tournament alongside Championship and lower-league sides.
The 2026 FA Cup 3rd Round features 32 ties played across multiple days, with confirmed kick-off times and broadcast coverage now available for fans worldwide.
After the 2025-26 FA Cup second round, forty teams will feature in the second round of the competition, made up of the winners of the first round ties. All the 3rd round FA matches will take place over the weekend, starting Saturday, 10 January 2026.
2026 FA Cup 3rd Round Schedule & Broadcast Details
Friday, January 9, 2026 – All matches at 19:30 GMT
| Match | Venue | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| Milton Keynes Dons vs Oxford United | Stadium MK | discovery+ |
| Port Vale vs Fleetwood Town | Vale Park | discovery+ |
| Preston North End vs Wigan Athletic | Deepdale | discovery+ |
| Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest | Stōk Cae Ras | TNT Sports 1, discovery+ |
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Morning Matches (12:15 GMT)
- Cheltenham Town vs Leicester City
- Everton vs Sunderland
- Macclesfield vs Crystal Palace (BBC One, iPlayer)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Shrewsbury Town
Afternoon Matches (15:00 GMT)
- Boreham Wood vs Burton Albion
- Burnley vs Millwall
- Doncaster Rovers vs Southampton
- Fulham vs Middlesbrough
- Ipswich Town vs Blackpool
- Manchester City vs Exeter City
- Newcastle United vs AFC Bournemouth
- Salford City vs Swindon Town
- Sheffield Wednesday vs Brentford
- Stoke City vs Coventry City
Late Afternoon Matches (17:45 GMT)
- Bristol City vs Watford
- Cambridge United vs Birmingham City
- Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa (BBC One, iPlayer, TNT Sports 1)
- Grimsby Town vs Weston Super Mare
Evening Match (20:00 GMT)
- Charlton Athletic vs Chelsea (TNT Sports 1)
Sunday, January 11, 2026
| Time | Match | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 | Derby County vs Leeds United | TNT Sports 2 |
| 14:00 | Portsmouth vs Arsenal | TNT Sports 1 |
| 14:30 | Hull City vs Blackburn Rovers | discovery+ |
| 14:30 | Norwich City vs Walsall | discovery+ |
| 14:30 | Sheffield United vs Mansfield Town | discovery+ |
| 14:30 | Swansea City vs West Bromwich Albion | discovery+ |
| 14:30 | West Ham United vs Queens Park Rangers | discovery+ |
| 16:30 | Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion | TNT Sports 1 |
Monday, January 12, 2026
Evening Match (19:45 GMT)
- Liverpool vs Barnsley (TNT Sports 1, discovery+)
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Evening Match (19:45 GMT)
- Salford City vs Swindon Town – The Peninsula Stadium
Fourth Round Draw: Held live on TNT Sports immediately after the Liverpool vs Barnsley match
2026 FA Cup 3rd Round Key Storylines
Defending Champions in Action: Crystal Palace, holders of the 2025 FA Cup, begin their defence against sixth-tier non-League side Macclesfield FC on January 10—a potential upset opportunity.
Premier League Derbies: Four all-Premier League ties feature in this round:
- Tottenham vs Aston Villa (January 10, 17:45 GMT)
- Everton vs Sunderland (January 10, 12:15 GMT)
- Newcastle vs AFC Bournemouth (January 10, 15:00 GMT)
- Manchester United vs Brighton (January 11, 16:30 GMT)
Historic Non-League Fixtures: Wrexham, owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, face Premier League side Nottingham Forest on January 9—their first meeting in any competition since 1993-94.
Championship vs Premier League: Charlton Athletic’s home tie against Chelsea on January 10 (20:00 GMT) offers an intriguing London derby between a Championship club and Premier League side.
2026 FA Cup Broadcasting Information
- BBC: BBC One and iPlayer feature select matches, including Macclesfield vs Crystal Palace and Tottenham vs Aston Villa
- TNT Sports: TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports 2 cover premium fixtures, with all matches available on discovery+
- Guaranteed Payments: All 64 participating clubs receive guaranteed payments from the FA Cup prize fund; additional television fees apply for broadcast selections.
