2025-26 FA Cup Overview: Draws, Fixtures, Results, and Broadcast Information

The 2025-26 FA Cup has commenced its 145th edition, showcasing a fierce competition among prominent clubs from England and some from Wales, all vying for one of the most esteemed trophies in football. The tournament includes teams from various tiers of the football hierarchy, often allowing underdogs the opportunity to face off against established giants, leading to thrilling ‘giant-killing’ moments.

Crystal Palace, the defending champions, are eager to retain their title, but they will face stiff competition from illustrious clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, and Manchester City, as well as a host of ambitious Premier League challengers.

Here, we present a detailed overview of the 2025-26 FA Cup, organized by rounds, including match draws, fixtures, results, and television broadcasting information.

In the UK, fans can enhance their engagement with the tournament through various betting apps that provide live updates, insights, and betting opportunities, enriching their experience of the competition.

### FA Cup 2025-26 Third Round Draw, Fixtures & Results
The third-round draw took place on December 8, 2025, prior to the match between Brackley Town and Burton Albion. Matches are scheduled between January 9 and 12, 2026.

– **January 9**
Port Vale 1-0 Fleetwood Town | Discovery+, ESPN+
Preston North End 0-1 Wigan | Discovery+, ESPN+
Wrexham 3-3 Nottingham Forest (Wrexham win 4-3 on penalties) | TNT Sports 1, Discovery+, ESPN+
MK Dons 1-1 Oxford United (Oxford win 4-3 on penalties) | Discovery+, ESPN+
Wolves 6-1 Shrewsbury Town | Discovery+, ESPN+

– **January 10**
Everton 1-1 Sunderland (Sunderland win 3-0 on penalties) | Discovery+, ESPN+
Cheltenham Town 0-2 Leicester City | Discovery+, ESPN+
Macclesfield Town 2-1 Crystal Palace | BBC One, BBC iPlayer, TNT Sports 1, Discovery+, ESPN+
Doncaster Rovers 2-3 Southampton | Highlights only
Ipswich Town 2-1 Blackpool | Highlights only

– **January 11**
Derby County vs. Leeds United | TNT Sports 2
Portsmouth vs. Arsenal | TNT Sports 1
West Ham vs. QPR | Discovery+
Norwich City vs. Walsall | Discovery+
Swansea City vs. West Brom | Discovery+
Hull City vs. Blackburn Rovers | Discovery+
Sheffield United vs. Mansfield Town | Discovery+
Manchester United vs. Brighton | TNT Sports 1
Liverpool vs. Barnsley | TNT Sports 1

### FA Cup 2025-26 Second Round Draw, Fixtures & Results
The second round draw occurred on November 3, 2025, with matches slated for December 5 to 8, 2025.

– **December 5**
Salford City 4-0 Leyton Orient | TNT Sports 1, discovery+/ESPN Select

– **December 6**
Accrington Stanley 2-2 (AET, 3-1 on penalties) Mansfield Town | Highlights only
Cheltenham Town 6-2 Buxton | Highlights only

– **December 7**
Boreham Wood 3-0 Newport County | BBC Two, iPlayer, and TNT Sports 1 / ESPN Select

– **December 8**
Brackley Town 1-3 Burton Albion | TNT Sports 1, discovery+/ESPN Select

### FA Cup 2025-26 Prize Money
The prize structure for the FA Cup varies by round. Winners of the first round earn £45,000 ($60,000), while losers receive £15,000 ($20,000). As the tournament progresses, the stakes rise significantly. Crucially, there is no prize money for losers in the fourth round, fifth round, and quarter-finals. The final match offers £2 million ($2.6 million) for the winners and £1 million ($1.3 million) for the runners-up. A team entering at the first round and winning the FA Cup could accumulate just over £4 million ($5.3 million) in total prize money.

### Broadcast Information
In the United Kingdom, the FA Cup will be broadcast by TNT Sports, discovery+, and the BBC for the 2025-26 season. TNT Sports will feature selected games from the first two rounds and all matches from the third round onward, excluding those that start during the Saturday 3 pm blackout. Meanwhile, the BBC is set to air 14 live games, including two matches per round up to the quarter-finals, a semi-final, and the final.

In the United States, FA Cup matches will be available live on ESPN and its affiliated channels.