Mark your calendars, football fans! The complete schedule for the highly anticipated Third Round of the 2025-26 Emirates FA Cup has been officially unveiled! Get ready for a thrilling weekend of football action from Friday, January 9th, to Monday, January 12th, 2026.
The excitement is building, with 22 matches slated for live broadcast, ensuring fans across the globe can witness the drama unfold. All times are listed in GMT, so you can easily plan your viewing schedule.
Here's the breakdown of the match schedule:
Friday, January 9, 2026
- 19:30: Milton Keynes Dons vs. Oxford United on discovery+
- 19:30: Port Vale vs. Fleetwood Town on discovery+
- 19:30: Preston North End vs. Wigan Athletic on discovery+
- 19:30: Wrexham vs. Nottingham Forest on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Saturday, January 10, 2026
- 12:15: Cheltenham Town vs. Leicester City on discovery+
- 12:15: Everton vs. Sunderland on discovery+
- 12:15: Macclesfield vs. Crystal Palace on BBC One, iPlayer, TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
- 12:15: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Shrewsbury Town on discovery+
- 15:00: Boreham Wood vs. Burton Albion
- 15:00: Burnley vs. Millwall
- 15:00: Doncaster Rovers vs. Southampton
- 15:00: Fulham vs. Middlesbrough
- 15:00: Ipswich Town vs. Blackpool
- 15:00: Manchester City vs. Exeter City
- 15:00: Newcastle United vs. AFC Bournemouth
- 15:00: Salford City vs. Swindon Town
- 15:00: Sheffield Wednesday vs. Brentford
- 15:00: Stoke City vs. Coventry City
- 17:45: Bristol City vs. Watford on discovery+
- 17:45: Cambridge United vs. Birmingham City on discovery+
- 17:45: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Aston Villa on BBC One, iPlayer, TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
- 17:45: Grimsby Town vs. Weston Super Mare on discovery+
- 20:00: Charlton Athletic vs. Chelsea on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Sunday, January 11, 2026
- 12:00: Derby County vs. Leeds United on TNT Sports 2 and discovery+
- 14:00: Portsmouth vs. Arsenal on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
- 14:30: Hull City vs. Blackburn Rovers on discovery+
- 14:30: Norwich City vs. Walsall on discovery+
- 14:30: Sheffield United vs. Mansfield Town on discovery+
- 14:30: Swansea City vs. West Bromwich Albion on discovery+
- 14:30: West Ham United vs. Queens Park Rangers on discovery+
- 16:30: Manchester United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Monday, January 12, 2026
- 19:45: Liverpool vs. Barnsley on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Did you know? Every single one of the 64 clubs participating in the competition is guaranteed a payment from the prize fund, regardless of whether they win or lose. This financial support helps to level the playing field and ensures that even smaller teams can benefit from the FA Cup.
For teams selected for live television broadcasts on linear channels, an additional £80,000 is awarded. And for those featured exclusively on discovery+, the fee is £40,000. These financial incentives further highlight the significance of the FA Cup and the value it brings to participating clubs.
The selection of live television broadcasts is a collaborative effort, involving the clubs, local authorities, police, and broadcasters. This ensures a smooth and well-organized viewing experience for fans.
And this is the part most people miss... The draw for the Fourth Round will be broadcast live by TNT Sports before the Liverpool vs. Barnsley match on Monday, January 12, 2026. The matches for the Fourth Round will be played around the weekend of Saturday, February 14th, and Sunday, February 15th.
Now, here's a thought-provoking question: With so many exciting matchups, which game are you most looking forward to watching? Share your predictions and thoughts in the comments below! Are there any potential upsets you foresee? Let's discuss!
