FA Cup third round draw LIVE: Updates as Premier League sides learn fate

Third round ties will take place from 10 January (Getty Images)

The draw for the third round of the FA Cup is set to take place as the Premier League sides learn their opponents for their opening fixtures in the oldest cup competition in football.

The 20 top-flight sides will be joined by all 24 Championship teams as well as the 20 clubs who made it through the second round this weekend, including the remaining non-league representatives Dagenham & Redbridge and Tamworth.

Such sides will be hoping for ties against the blockbuster English sides, from holders Manchester United to current Premier League leaders Liverpool and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who were last season’s losing finalists but are in the midst of a horror run.

For those clubs, the road to Wembley begins here, with ties to be played across the weekend of 11-12 January 2025 and the draw made at Old Trafford.

Follow the latest updates from the draw below:

When will the third round ties be played?

The third round ties will be played between Friday 10 January 2025 and Monday 13 January 2025, the traditional New Year slot for the FA Cup.

Harry Latham-Coyle2 December 2024 18:10

FA Cup third-round draw ball numbers

Here are the ball numbers you need to know tonight:

6. Brighton & Hove Albion

44. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Harry Latham-Coyle2 December 2024 18:00

Ruud van Nistelrooy ‘astonished’ by managerial offers after Manchester United stint

Former winners Leicester will start life under a former Manchester United star this week, with Ruud van Nistelrooy admitting today that he had been inundated by offers after an impressive caretaker stint at Old Trafford. Can he oversee a deep cup run in a competition he won as a player in 2004?

Harry Latham-Coyle2 December 2024 17:45

Manchester United’s new star provides key to Ruben Amorim’s pressing machine

Cup holders Manchester United are also enjoying something of a purple patch, embracing a pressing style under new boss Ruben Amorim – with Amad Diallo perhaps surprisingly to the fore…

Harry Latham-Coyle2 December 2024 17:35

Star of Chelsea’s show, Cole Palmer has become an entertainment product in his own right

Meanwhile, things are looking better and better for Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea. Lawrence Ostlere was at Stamford Bridge to watch the Cole Palmer show:

Harry Latham-Coyle2 December 2024 17:25

Why transformed Ryan Gravenberch embodies Liverpool 2.0 under Arne Slot

And Richard Jolly has picked out a reinvented Ryan Gravenberch for special praise after Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the table to nine points.

Harry Latham-Coyle2 December 2024 17:15

The secret to Arne Slot’s success separating Liverpool from their rivals

Let’s start, though, with some reaction to yesterday’s action, and particularly events at Anfield as Liverpool took another significant step towards the title even at this early stage. Miguel Delaney explains why Arne Slot’s first few months in charge have been such a success:

Harry Latham-Coyle2 December 2024 17:05

FA Cup third round draw LIVE

Good evening and welcome to The Independent’s LIVE coverage of the draw for the third round of the FA Cup. The competition is set to hot up with the arrival of the 44 clubs from the top two English tiers, with Premier League and Championship teams joining the 20 sides who progressed from the second round this weekend.

We’re expecting the draw to be made at some time around 7.15pm GMT – let’s get going.