The FA Cup third round draw will see 44 new teams enter (Image: Getty)
The FA Cup third round remains one of the most highly-anticipated events of the football calendar as millions tune in globally to watch the oldest competition in the world.
After six preliminary qualifying rounds and two rounds of the competition proper, the 144th edition of the third round is finally upon us. In the third round, 20 Premier League teams will enter along with 24 clubs from the Championship to join the teams from lower down the football pyramid. And it could result in some ‘David vs Goliath’ fixtures being drawn out of the hat.
Current holders Manchester United will be hoping to become the first team in a decade to retain the competition and Ruben Amorim inherits a team that won the trophy after pulling off a stunning 2-1 victory over their rivals Manchester City at Wembley in front of 85,000 spectators in May.
Express Sport has the details of everything you need to know ahead of the FA Cup third round draw.
When is the FA Cup third-round draw?
The third round draw will take place on Monday, December 2, 2024. A time is yet to be confirmed but BBC Two has scheduled TV coverage to start at 7pm (GMT).
All 32 of the third-round fixtures will be played on the weekend of January 10-11, 2025.
Participation and success in the FA Cup can be relatively lucrative for teams, particularly those from the lower divisions. The loser in the third round of the draw stands to take £25,000 away.
Victory will see them earn a whopping £115,000, which can often prove to be a lifesaver for non-league clubs with a small following. And for the winners of the competition, a £2million prize pot awaits when the final is played at Wembley in May 2025.
Man Utd won the trophy in 2023-24 after beating Man City 2-1 in the final (Image: Getty)
TV channel and how to watch the FA Cup draw
In the United Kingdom, broadcasting rights are currently shared between the BBC and ITV as the competition remains on free-to-air television.
The BBC are showing 18 live games this season, while ITV are committed to broadcasting at least 20 live matches. The draw will be shown live during BBC’s coverage of the second-round tie between Kettering Town vs Doncaster Rovers on Sunday.
Viewers located in the UK who want to stream the matches on their mobile phone device, tablet, console or laptop can use BBC’s iPlayer or the ITV X service to stream matches.
The FA Cup will be shown live on BBC and ITV (Image: Getty)
FA Cup second round fixtures in full
Friday, November 29
Harrogate Town vs Gainsborough Trinity (BBC Two / iPlayer)
Saturday, November 30
Wealdstone vs Wycombe Wanderers (ITV1 / ITVX)
Salford City vs Cheltenham Town
Walsall vs Charlton Athletic
Exeter City vs Chesterfield
Leyton Orient vs Oldham Athletic
Barnsley vs Bristol Rovers
Accrington Stanley vs Swindon Town
Crawley Town vs Lincoln City
Stevenage vs Mansfield Town
Peterborough United vs Notts County
Stockport County vs Brackley Town
Morecambe vs Bradford City
Cambridge United vs Wigan Athletic
Wimbledon vs Dagenham & Redbridge (ITVX)
Sunday, December 1
Kettering Town vs Doncaster Rovers (BBC Two / iPlayer)
Blackpool vs Birmingham City
Burton Albion vs Tamworth
Reading vs Harborough Town
Solihull Moors vs Bromley (ITV1 / ITVX)
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1980757/FA-Cup-third-round-draw-time-start-time-date-TV-channel