The FA Cup third round is widely considered the competition’s most exciting as Premier League giants often lock horns with lower league opposition.
2024/25 has provided such duels in abundance, with Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham all drawn against lower league opposition in the third round.
While progression is expected for Premier League sides, entrance into the fourth round can be transformative for those throughout the lower echelons of the English Football League – and occasionally beyond.
The draw for the fourth round is set to send tingles down the spine as the competition’s underdogs await their fate. Here’s everything you need to know.
Despite Millwall hosting Dagenham & Redbridge on Monday evening, the FA Cup fourth round draw will take place the day prior. Following the conclusion of Arsenal vs Man Utd on Sunday afternoon, the remaining clubs will discover their opponents.
With Arsenal vs Man Utd kicking off at 15:00 GMT, the FA Cup draw is expected to occur at approximately 17:00 GMT – almost immediately after the conclusion of the fixture. However, with the match potentially going to extra-time and penalties, that estimated time slot could change.
Regardless of the outcome of the fixture, the draw will take place after the final kick at the Emirates Stadium.
Those wishing to tune into the FA Cup fourth round draw are in luck. It will be broadcast live on BBC One following the conclusion of the fixture between Arsenal and Man Utd, with presenter Kelly Somers hosting. Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown and ex-Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will conduct the actual draw.
The draw is also available to watch live on the FA Cup’s social media channels.
|
Ball number |
Club |
|---|---|
|
1 |
Southampton or Swansea City |
|
2 |
Arsenal or Man Utd |
|
3 |
Exeter City |
|
4 |
Leyton Orient or Derby County |
|
5 |
Burnley |
|
6 |
Aston Villa |
|
7 |
Brighton & Hove Albion |
|
8 |
Manchester City |
|
9 |
Millwall or Dagenham & Redbridge |
|
10 |
Liverpool |
|
11 |
Wolverhampton Wanderers |
|
12 |
Preston North End or Charlton Athletic |
|
13 |
Chelsea |
|
14 |
Blackburn Rovers |
|
15 |
Bournemouth |
|
16 |
Mansfield Town or Wigan Athletic |
|
17 |
Tamworth or Tottenham Hotspur |
|
18 |
Hull City or Doncaster Rovers |
|
19 |
Stoke City |
|
20 |
Leicester City |
|
21 |
Plymouth Argyle |
|
22 |
Coventry City |
|
23 |
Newcastle United or Bromley |
|
24 |
Everton |
|
25 |
Wycombe Wanderers |
|
26 |
Birmingham City |
|
27 |
Leeds United |
|
28 |
Nottingham Forest |
|
29 |
Cardiff City |
|
30 |
Ipswich Town or Bristol Rovers |
|
31 |
Fulham |
|
32 |
Crystal Palace or Stockport County |
While the exact dates of fourth round fixtures will be formalised at a later date and once the draw is complete, matches will be played across the weekend of the 8/9 February.
There will be 16 fixtures taking place up and down the country across the fourth round as clubs edge closer to the final on Saturday 17 May.