The third-round draw for the FA Cup is set to take place at 1:15pm, to be televised live on ITV ahead of the second-round fixture between Eastleigh and Reading. Premier League and Championship teams will join the competition at this stage, with the third-round matches scheduled to be played on the weekend of January 6-7. Norwich City will be ball number 28 in the draw, and they will kick off their Championship clash at Ashton Gate at 1:30pm.
In total, there will be 64 teams participating in the draw, including top-flight teams such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United, as well as Championship teams such as Aston Villa, Leeds United, and Nottingham Forest. Additionally, there are several lower-league teams in the mix, including Maidstone United, Wycombe Wanderers, and Notts County. With such a diverse range of teams, the draw is expected to produce some highly competitive and exciting matchups.
The draw will provide an opportunity for lower-league teams to potentially face off against some of the biggest clubs in English football. This often leads to memorable and unpredictable encounters, with smaller teams looking to create upsets and make their mark in the competition. The FA Cup has a long history of producing underdog stories, and the third-round draw will be a crucial moment for many of these teams.
The FA Cup remains one of the most prestigious and eagerly anticipated tournaments in English football, and the third-round draw is a significant event in the competition. Fans of all clubs will be eagerly awaiting the outcome and looking forward to the prospect of their team facing top-flight opposition or potentially causing an upset against a higher-ranked opponent. The third round of the FA Cup is always a thrilling and unpredictable stage of the competition, and the anticipation for the draw is building as teams and fans prepare for the next round of action.
