Exciting FA Cup Third-Round Matchups: Macclesfield Hosts Crystal Palace and Tottenham Faces Aston Villa
In an exciting round of matchups for the FA Cup, sixth-tier club Macclesfield is set to host the reigning champions, Crystal Palace. This third round promises thrilling encounters as several Premier League teams face off.
FA Cup Third-Round Matchups
Fans can look forward to a range of intriguing fixtures across the tournament. Here are the notable pairings:
- Macclesfield vs. Crystal Palace – A highly anticipated match featuring the underdogs against the title holders.
- Tottenham vs. Aston Villa – A clash between two Premier League rivals at Tottenham’s home ground.
- Sunderland vs. Everton – Sunderland will travel to take on the Merseyside club.
- Newcastle vs. Bournemouth – Newcastle welcomes Bournemouth at St James’ Park.
- Manchester United vs. Brighton – United faces Brighton in a match at Old Trafford.
Other Key Matchups
Additional fixtures include:
- Weston-super-Mare will make history as they reach this stage for the first time, facing Grimsby Town.
- Premier League leaders Arsenal will visit Portsmouth.
- Manchester City will host Exeter City from League One.
- Liverpool is set to compete against third-tier Barnsley.
- Chelsea will face Charlton in one of the London derbies.
- West Ham will host Queens Park Rangers, adding to the capital rivalry.
- Fulham takes on Middlesbrough, while Leeds battles against Derby County.
Match Dates and Rules
These encounters will occur during the weekend starting January 10, 2026. Notably, this year’s competition rules state that there will be no replays for any match ending in a draw. Instead, matches will proceed to extra time and potentially a penalty shootout, ensuring a decisive outcome in every tie.
