2025–26 FA Cup Fourth Round Draw: Arsenal, Chelsea Land Favourable Ties

Sixth-tier Macclesfield were the story of the third round after knocking holders Crystal Palace out of the competition.

Crystal Palace have been dethroned as FA Cup holders. / Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images

Arsenal and Chelsea both landed Football League opposition while Liverpool will be up against Premier League rivals Brighton & Hove Albion should they make it past Barnsley on Monday night.

Arsenal survived a scare themselves against second-tier Portsmouth to make it through for a meeting with 2013 FA Cup winners Wigan Athletic. Chelsea began life under Liam Rosenior with a thumping win over Charlton and found themselves paired with the head coach’s former employers Hull City.

The story of the third round was Macclesfield. The sixth-tier side only bought off Rightmove in 2020 conspired to convincingly dethrone FA Cup holders Crystal Palace at the start of an eventful weekend of action. Macclesfield have been treated to a fourth-round tie against another Premier League opponent in the form of Brentford.

Manchester United were one of the marquee casualties from the third round weekend, tumbling out of the competition at the hands of Brighton. The Seagulls’ reward for yet another Old Trafford triumph was a tie against the winner of Monday’s third-round tie between Liverpool and Barnsley.

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2025–26 FA Cup Fourth Round Draw

• Liverpool or Barnsley vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
• Stoke City vs. Fulham
• Oxford United vs. Sunderland
• Southampton vs. Leicester City
• Wrexham vs. Ipswich Town
• Arsenal vs. Wigan Athletic
• Hull City vs. Chelsea
• Burton Albion vs. West Ham United
• Burnley vs. Mansfield Town
• Norwich City vs. West Bromwich Albion
• Port Vale vs. Bristol City
• Grimsby Town vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
• Aston Villa vs. Newcastle
• Manchester City vs. Salford or Swindon
• Macclesfield vs. Brentford
• Birmingham City vs. Leeds United

dark. Next. Full List of FA Cup winners. Complete List of FA Cup Winners

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Ball Numbers for FA Cup Fourth Round Draw

1. Wolverhampton Wanderers
2. Southampton
3. Aston Villa
4. Port Vale
5. Wigan Athletic
6. Ipswich Town
7. Wrexham
8. Chelsea
9. Manchester City
10. West Ham United
11. Brentford
12. Fulham
13. Sunderland
14. Liverpool or Barnsley
15. Burnley
16. Norwich City
17. Arsenal
18. Leeds United
19. West Bromwich Albion
20. Salford City or Swindon Town
21. Burton Albion
22. Grimsby Town
23. Hull City
24. Newcastle United
25. Oxford United
26. Leicester City
27. Birmingham City
28. Bristol City
29. Stoke City
30. Macclesfield
31. Brighton & Hove Albion
32. Mansfield Town

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2025–26 FA Cup Round Dates

Round	Weekend of (Saturday)
First Round Proper	Nov. 1, 2025
Second Round Proper	Dec. 6, 2025
Third Round Proper	Jan. 10, 2026
Fourth Round Proper	Feb. 14, 2026
Fifth Round Proper	March 7, 2026
Quarterfinals	April 4, 2026
Semifinals	April 25, 2026
Final	May 16, 2026

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