The television schedule for the highly anticipated third round of the FA Cup has been officially confirmed, promising a weekend of potential giant-killings and drama. A total of eight fixtures will be broadcast live across BBC and TNT Sports, with many more available to stream.
Broadcast Details and Key Fixtures
The action begins on Friday, 9 January 2026, as Wrexham welcome Premier League side Nottingham Forest to the Racecourse Ground, a match that will be shown on TNT Sports 1. The weekend's standout narrative sees FA Cup holders Crystal Palace travel to face non-league Macclesfield on Saturday afternoon. This classic cup encounter will enjoy wide coverage, being broadcast on BBC One, iPlayer, TNT Sports 1, and discovery+.
In total, six matches will be aired on TNT Sports channels, with the BBC showing two. The broadcaster's second pick is the all-Premier League clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa on Saturday evening. For fans wanting to watch every possible game, the discovery+ platform will be essential, streaming every fixture except those with the traditional Saturday 3pm kick-off time.
Complete Third-Round Television Schedule
The full list of televised and streamed games is as follows:
Friday, 9 January (all 19:30 GMT)
Wrexham v Nottingham Forest - TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Milton Keynes Dons v Oxford United - discovery+
Port Vale v Fleetwood Town - discovery+
Preston North End v Wigan Athletic - discovery+
Saturday, 10 January
12:15: Macclesfield v Crystal Palace - BBC One, iPlayer, TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
17:45: Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa - BBC One, iPlayer, TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
20:00: Charlton Athletic v Chelsea - TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Sunday, 11 January
12:00: Derby County v Leeds United - TNT Sports 2 and discovery+
14:00: Portsmouth v Arsenal - TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
16:30: Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion - TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Monday, 12 January
19:45: Liverpool v Barnsley - TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Fourth-Round Draw and Streaming Access
The draw for the fourth round will add to the excitement on Monday night. It will be conducted live on TNT Sports immediately before the kick-off of Liverpool's home tie against Barnsley at Anfield. This ensures fans will know the potential next opponents for the remaining clubs as the final third-round fixture gets underway.
For supporters following teams not on main broadcast channels, the discovery+ service provides comprehensive coverage. This includes the 12:15pm fixtures on Saturday such as Everton vs Sunderland, and the 17:45 games including Bristol City vs Watford. The platform ensures that the magic of the cup is accessible to all, capturing every potential upset as it happens.
