FA Cup 3rd Round Draw: Premier League Giants Enter the Historic Competition
Introduction: The Magic of the FA Cup Returns
The most anticipated moment in English football’s oldest competition arrives on Monday evening as the Emirates FA Cup third round proper draw will be made on Monday 8 December, live on TNT Sports, with clubs from the Premier League and EFL Championship set to enter the competition. This marks a significant milestone in the tournament, when the nation’s elite clubs join 20 lower-league survivors who have battled through earlier rounds, creating the potential for memorable giant-killing encounters.
Draw Details and Viewing Information
The draw is scheduled for approximately 6.40pm GMT and will also be streamed live on the TNT Sports YouTube channel. Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist will present the coverage, and the draw will be made by Joe Cole and Peter Crouch. For those unable to watch on television, pre-match coverage of the final second round tie between Brackley Town and Burton Albion will start at 6.30pm GMT on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+, with the draw taking place before kick-off.
The Competition Heats Up
The third round represents where dreams collide with reality. Sixth-tier outfits Macclesfield, Slough Town and Chelmsford City, the lowest-ranked sides still standing, are daring to believe that a historic giant-killing run could be on the cards. For these underdogs, teams advancing past this stage will secure a tidy sum of £115,000 from the tournament’s prize pool, providing significant financial incentive alongside the glory of facing top-flight opposition.
When Will Matches Take Place?
The third round will be played around the weekend of Saturday 10 January 2026. However, football fans should expect fixtures spread across multiple days, as the schedule is expected to span several days, likely kicking off on the Thursday and wrapping up by Monday as broadcasters and the FA spread the action across the whole weekend.
Conclusion: A Weekend of Possibilities
Monday’s draw will set the stage for one of football’s most cherished traditions—the FA Cup third round, where anything can happen. For lower-league clubs, it represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to test themselves against England’s finest and secure life-changing revenue. For Premier League giants like Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City, it marks their entry into a competition that continues to produce magical moments and shocking upsets, reminding us why the FA Cup remains football’s most romantic tournament.