Everything you need for the FA Cup third round draw: the expected date, the 64 clubs in the pot, how the draw works, whether there are replays and what each tie is worth.
FA Cup Third Round Draw 2027: Date, Pot and Rules
Quick facts
- Third round played: weekend of Saturday 9 January 2027
- Draw: date not yet confirmed (last year: Monday after round two)
- Clubs in the pot: 64 (20 Premier League, 24 Championship, 20 second-round winners)
- Ties: 32, no replays
- Prize money: £121,500 to winners, £26,500 to losers
The FA Cup third round draw is the moment the biggest names join the competition and the dream of a giant-killing is at its most alive. This page explains when the draw is expected, who is in the pot, how it works and what each tie is worth. We update it as soon as the FA confirms the date and again once the ties are known.
When is the FA Cup third round draw?
The FA has not yet announced the date or time of the 2026-27 third round draw. The round itself is scheduled for the weekend of Saturday 9 January 2027, and the draw normally comes soon after the second round is played. Last season it took place on Monday 8 December 2025, shown live on TNT Sports. The second round proper this season is on Saturday 5 December 2026, so a Monday 7 December draw would match that pattern.
Treat that as our expectation, not a confirmed fact. The FA usually publishes the exact slot a few days beforehand, and broadcasters in the UK have carried the draw live in recent seasons. Check back here, because the date in the key dates table below changes the moment it is confirmed.
Which clubs are in the FA Cup third round draw?
Sixty-four clubs go into the pot. All 20 Premier League clubs and all 24 Championship clubs enter at this stage, joined by the 20 winners from the second round. Those 20 survivors are the clubs that have come through the long road from the qualifying rounds, the first round proper on Saturday 7 November 2026 and the second round on 5 December.
In last year’s draw, balls 1 to 44 were the Premier League and Championship clubs, and balls 45 to 64 were the second-round winners. The numbers for this season are assigned in the same way, with the final slots filled as the second-round ties are settled. Our Premier League hub and Championship hub show where each club stands going into the draw.
How does the FA Cup third round draw work?
The draw is open. There is no seeding and no protection for the big clubs, so a Premier League side can meet another Premier League side, a Championship side or a non-league club that has fought through from the qualifying rounds. Numbered balls are pulled out in pairs, and the first club out of the bag in each tie is the home side.
That is why the draw matters so much to smaller clubs. A home tie against a Premier League club can be worth more to a lower-league side than almost anything else in a season, in gate receipts, television money and the memory it leaves.
Are there FA Cup replays in the third round?
No. Replays were scrapped from the first round proper onwards, so every tie is decided on the day. If the score is level after 90 minutes, the game goes to extra time and then penalties. Replays are now limited to the qualifying rounds, which involve clubs from the fifth to tenth tiers.
For a Premier League manager, that makes a trip to a lower-league ground a one-shot risk, because there is no second chance at home.
How much is an FA Cup third round tie worth?
According to the FA’s 2026-27 prize fund, each of the 32 third round winners receives £121,500, while each of the 32 losers receives £26,500. The prize rises sharply after that: £127,000 for winning a fourth round tie, £238,500 in round five and £477,000 for reaching the semi-finals. The winner of the final collects £2,120,000.
Those sums are modest for a Premier League club but can reshape a budget lower down, and the television picks and gate money from a big home tie often matter more than the prize itself.
FA Cup 2026-27 key dates
| Round | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First round proper | Sat 7 Nov 2026 | 40 ties as League One and League Two clubs enter |
| Second round proper | Sat 5 Dec 2026 | 20 ties |
| Third round draw | Not yet confirmed | Expected soon after round two |
| Third round proper | Sat 9 Jan 2027 | Premier League and Championship clubs enter |
| Fourth round proper | Sat 13 Feb 2027 | 16 ties |
| Fifth round proper | Sat 6 Mar 2027 | 8 ties |
| Quarter-finals | Sat 3 Apr 2027 | 4 ties |
| Semi-finals | Sat 24 Apr 2027 | Two games |
| Final | Sat 22 May 2027 | Wembley |
Dates are the scheduled Saturdays from the FA’s published round dates. Broadcast picks can move individual ties to Friday, Sunday or Monday.
What to watch for in the third round draw
Start with form. Clubs on a poor run are the most exposed to an upset, and our Premier League form table shows who goes into the new year struggling. Our league tables add the wider picture, and the fixtures page will list the ties once the draw is made. Our daily football predictions cover the league games leading up to the draw.
Next, look at the travel and the venue. A Championship club drawn at home against a Premier League side has the best chance of an upset, while a team forced to travel to a small ground in January often finds the conditions as big a challenge as the opponent.
FA Cup third round draw: frequently asked questions
When is the FA Cup third round draw?
The FA has not yet confirmed the date. Last season the draw was made on the Monday after the second round weekend, so a Monday draw on 7 December 2026 would fit the pattern. We will update this page as soon as the date and time are announced.
When is the FA Cup third round played?
The 2026-27 third round proper is scheduled for the weekend of Saturday 9 January 2027.
Which teams are in the FA Cup third round draw?
64 clubs: all 20 Premier League clubs, all 24 Championship clubs and the 20 winners of the second round.
Are there FA Cup replays in the third round?
No. Replays were scrapped from the first round proper onwards, so a drawn tie is settled on the day, by extra time and penalties if needed. Replays now only exist in the qualifying rounds.
How much prize money do clubs get in the third round?
Each of the 32 winners earns £121,500 and each of the 32 losers earns £26,500, according to the FA’s 2026-27 prize fund.
Who gets home advantage in the FA Cup third round draw?
The first club out of the bag in each tie is the home side, and the draw is open, with no seeding. Lower-league clubs can be drawn at home against Premier League opposition, which is much of the appeal.
What happens after the third round draw?
The 32 winners go into the fourth round, which is scheduled for the weekend of Saturday 13 February 2027.
Sources: the FA’s published 2026-27 round dates and prize fund, and reports of the 2025-26 third round draw. We check them against the FA’s announcements and update this page when they change.
