The FA Cup has always been a competition that carries mystery, magic, shock, tears, hope and the kind of unpredictable energy that makes English football feel different from every other football culture in the world, and as the third round draw was made, that same energy filled the air again. Football fans across England waited, watching and refreshing their screens as the names of clubs, both giants and small-town fighters, were placed in the bowls ready for destiny to speak. With sixty-four teams still surviving in the tournament, every supporter believed that something special might be waiting for their club, something unforgettable, something that might rewrite their history. The FA Cup does that. One moment. One lucky draw. One goal. One upset. And suddenly a club that barely gets mentioned in national news becomes the centre of attention.
This year, the tension felt even heavier because of the way the previous FA Cup ended. Crystal Palace, not Manchester City, not Liverpool, not Arsenal, not Chelsea, not Manchester United, but Crystal Palace stood tall as champions after defeating Manchester City in the 2024/25 final. That final had its own drama, its own surprise, its own heartbreaking story for Manchester City fans and a forever memory for Palace supporters, with Eberechi Eze becoming the hero. His single goal had rewritten the script of the entire season and reminded everyone that the FA Cup belongs to no one. You win it on the pitch. Not on paper. And now as the new third round approached, everyone wanted to know which clubs would cross paths and which teams would be handed the toughest journey.
Former England internationals Joe Cole and Peter Crouch were chosen to conduct the draw. Two men who have played in FA Cups, who have seen the pressure that comes with it, who understand how one draw can change the mood of a whole club. As they stood beside the glass bowl holding the fate of sixty-four teams, the cameras focused on their hands. Millions of people watched. Some praying. Some nervous. Some excited. And others simply ready for chaos. And the chaos came early.
As names began to roll out, it became clear that this draw was not going to be ordinary. It wasn’t going to be calm. It wasn’t going to be polite. It was going to be the kind of draw that shocks big clubs, motivates small clubs, and creates storylines before a single ball is kicked. And the moment Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa was announced, the whole football world reacted. Gasps. Tweets. Heated debates. Arguments between fans. Because that was the glamour tie. The big one. The headline maker. Spurs versus Villa, two clubs with ambition, two teams still hungry for major trophies, and two sets of supporters who believe their time is coming again.
Tottenham have not lifted the FA Cup since 1991. A long, painful wait for a club their size. A wait filled with tears, missed chances, semifinals that slipped away, finals that never came, and seasons where they seemed ready but collapsed. Now under Thomas Frank, the expectations are strange. He has brought new ideas, new structure, new discipline, but Spurs still struggle inside their own stadium. A place that should be a fortress sometimes becomes a place of pressure. The fans want trophies. The club needs trophies. And the FA Cup might be the quickest route to something meaningful. But facing Aston Villa this early was never part of the plan.
Aston Villa, under Unai Emery, have turned into a powerful team with confidence, structure, aggression, and a belief that they can challenge anybody. Emery has built something special. Villa have already shown they can beat the biggest clubs in the Premier League, and they fear nobody. So the moment the draw placed them against Spurs, many immediately felt Villa were favourites. Spurs fans didn’t like that. But deep down they knew Villa’s form, Villa’s energy, and Villa’s style of play could punish them. This match instantly became the fixture the whole world wanted to watch.But the story of the draw didn’t end there. It was only beginning.
When Manchester United were drawn to face Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford, the tension in their camp increased immediately. Brighton are not the small, quiet club people used to underestimate. They have become a tactical, intelligent, fearless side who have beaten big teams repeatedly. United know that better than anyone. So United fans didn’t smile when the draw came out. They sighed. They remembered previous meetings. And they knew immediately this was going to be a difficult test.
Everton were handed a dangerous game too, facing Sunderland in a matchup filled with history and emotional weight. Newcastle United drew Bournemouth, a meeting filled with extra spice because Eddie Howe will now face his former club. These kinds of meetings always bring extra pressure. Extra stories. Extra conversations.
Arsenal were drawn away to Portsmouth, and while many felt that was a routine fixture for Arsenal, old-school fans know that FA Cup away fixtures at smaller grounds can turn into nightmares. Liverpool drew Barnsley at Anfield, a fixture that seemed straightforward but carried memories of Barnsley’s past giant-killings. Manchester City drew Exeter City, which on paper looks like a mismatch, but again the FA Cup has no respect for paper predictions. Chelsea were drawn to face Charlton Athletic away, another tricky London clash that carries history and atmosphere.
And while all these fixtures began to sit in the minds of fans, the full draw continued to create storylines. Wolves were drawn against Shrewsbury Town, a fixture that brings local rivalry energy. Doncaster Rovers were paired with Southampton. Port Vale met Fleetwood Town. Preston North End were drawn to face Wigan Athletic in a classic northern battle. Ipswich Town landed a tie against Blackpool. Wrexham drew Nottingham Forest, a match their Hollywood owners will certainly hype as another magical FA Cup opportunity.
Charlton Athletic hosting Chelsea added London flavour. West Ham were drawn against Exeter City’s neighbours, and Sheffield Wednesday got Queens Park Rangers. Brentford drew Fulham in a west London rivalry game. Middlesbrough were given Everton. Sunderland were matched with Liverpool. Barnsley faced Burnley. Millwall met Norwich City. Walsall drew Portsmouth. Arsenal were matched with Derby County. Leeds United faced Swansea City. West Bromich Albion drew Salford City. Swindon Town got Boreham Wood. Brackley Town or Burton Albion would get Grimsby Town. Weston-Super-Mare drew Hull City. Blackburn Rovers got Newcastle United. Bournemouth were drawn to face Milton Keynes Dons. Oxford United were matched with Cheltenham Town. Leicester City drew Cambridge United. Birmingham City drew Bristol City. Watford were paired with Stoke City. Coventry City drew Macclesfield. And Manchester United drew Brighton, a fixture that could shape their season
But the storyline that returned again and again in fans’ conversations online was the Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa blockbuster. Spurs fans began to argue among themselves, wondering if this was good or bad. Villa fans celebrated, believing they had a clear chance to knock out a big club early and make a statement. Neutrals bookmarked the fixture as the must-watch match of the round.
The FA Cup will always bring these kinds of talking points. It gives hope to the small teams and pressure to the big teams. No team is guaranteed success. No team can relax. And because there are no replays this season, every match must be won on the day. Extra time. Penalties. Fatigue. Nerves. Everything counts. One mistake can destroy a season. One save can create a hero. One goal can break or build a legacy.
Crystal Palace will go into their match as defending champions, facing Macclesfield away. The pressure on them is unique. Winning the FA Cup once is beautiful. Winning it again puts you in history books. But smaller clubs see the defending champions as the biggest target. And Macclesfield will dream of shocking the country by eliminating the holders
