Sports & Competition
Mon, December 8, 2025
Sun, December 7, 2025
FA Cup Third-Round Draw to Go Live on Sky Sports
//sports-competition.news-articles.net/content/2 .. p-third-round-draw-to-go-live-on-sky-sports.html
Published in Sports and Competition on Monday, December 8th 2025 at 12:53 GMT by The Mirror- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
FA Cup Third‑Round Draw – Live on TV
The Football Association (FA) announced that the highly‑anticipated third‑round draw of the 2023‑24 FA Cup will be shown live on television. Fans of the game can now catch the moment when 64 clubs—Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two and the lower tiers—are paired up to set the stage for the tournament’s most exciting matches. The draw is scheduled to take place on Monday 9 November 2023 at 10:00 GMT, and it will be broadcast on Sky Sports.
What You’ll See on TV
The draw will be presented by the BBC‑licensed Sky Sports team, with commentary from well‑known football pundits such as Paul Merson and David Seaman. While the match pairings are determined entirely by a random process, the broadcasters will walk through the procedure step by step, explaining the mechanics of the draw and highlighting notable matchups as they emerge.
Fans will be able to follow the live action from the comfort of their homes, or even tune in on the FA’s official website where a live stream will also be available. This makes the event accessible to a wider audience, particularly to viewers who may not have a Sky Sports subscription.
How the Draw Works
The third round is the point in the competition when all 20 Premier League and 24 Championship clubs enter the fray. They are joined by the 8 winners of the second round—usually a mix of lower‑league teams that have survived two rounds of the cup. The draw is unseeded, which means any team can be matched against any other. The only requirement is that the 64 participating clubs are randomly paired, and the winners of those matches will progress to the fourth round.
Unlike some European cup competitions that use a seeding system, the FA Cup’s format is intentionally designed to create “giant‑killer” scenarios. This is why the draw often sparks excitement: a small League One side could find itself facing a Premier League giant. The broadcasters will point out such “David versus Goliath” fixtures as they are revealed, which adds to the drama for viewers.
Key Match‑ups Highlighted
The Mirror article lists a number of pairings that drew particular attention in the media:
- Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur – Two of the most successful Premier League clubs head into a battle that many see as a showcase of English football at its best.
- Manchester City vs. Southampton – A clash between the Premier League’s dominant force and a mid‑table club that’s been consistent over recent seasons.
- Chelsea vs. Newcastle United – A meeting of the Premier League’s biggest clubs that both have a history of success.
- Arsenal vs. Brighton & Hove Albion – A fixture between Arsenal’s rich tradition and Brighton’s recent rise through the leagues.
Alongside these high‑profile matches, several lower‑tier teams were drawn against Premier League opponents, creating a host of potential underdog stories. For instance:
- Swansea City vs. Aston Villa – A chance for the Championship side to upset one of the Premier League’s top teams.
- Portsmouth vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers – A scenario where a lower‑league club could challenge a recent Premier League champion.
- Bury vs. Manchester United – A historic matchup, as Bury is a club that has endured a turbulent recent history but still carries a storied legacy.
These pairings were highlighted by the article to show the wide range of possible narratives the FA Cup offers.
How Fans Can Tune In
Sky Sports will broadcast the draw live on Channel 5, and the event will also be streamed on Sky Sports’ online platform. If you do not have a Sky Sports subscription, you can catch the draw by watching the FA Cup’s official website. There, the FA has made a live stream available for a limited period so that fans can see the draw as it unfolds. Additionally, the article notes that the FA Cup will also be covered on the official FA website’s “Match Centre” pages, which include pre‑draw analysis, team profiles, and post‑draw commentary.
The broadcasters have been careful to keep the atmosphere lively. They’ll include live reactions from fans who have been following the draw online, and there will be interviews with representatives from a few of the clubs that have been matched together. This makes the viewing experience more than just a random drawing—it’s a communal celebration of English football.
Behind the Scenes
The Mirror article also offers a glimpse into the logistical side of the draw. The FA’s official website confirms that the draw is done in a physically sealed‑bag format, with a random selection process that ensures fairness. Each club’s name is written on a small card, and the cards are tossed into a container. The draw staff then draws 32 cards and places them in pairs. The process is repeated until all 32 matchups are set.
The article also references the fact that this draw is part of the FA Cup’s new “no‑seeding” rule that has been in place since the 2016‑17 season. The FA claims that this approach levels the playing field, giving smaller clubs a better chance of progressing further in the competition. The Mirror piece quotes an official from the FA, who explained that the draw is “intended to preserve the romance of the competition, where a club from the seventh tier could take on a Premier League giant on the same day.”
A Look Ahead
Following the third round, the article mentions the next steps in the competition. The 32 winners will progress to the fourth round, which will be held in late January 2024. The draw for the fourth round is scheduled to take place live on television as well. After that comes the fifth round in February, followed by the quarter‑finals, semi‑finals, and ultimately the final at Wembley Stadium in May.
For fans, the draw is just the beginning. The FA Cup’s narrative is built on a series of upsets, derby clashes, and historic moments. The Mirror article concludes with a reminder that, while the draw is random, the competition will produce unforgettable moments that have defined English football for over a century.
Takeaway
- Date & Time: 9 November 2023, 10:00 GMT
- Broadcast: Sky Sports (Channel 5) with live stream on FA.com
- Process: Unseeded, random draw for 64 clubs (Premier League, Championship, lower leagues)
- Key Match‑ups: Premier League giants face off and lower‑tier clubs get a shot at giants
- Accessibility: TV, online streaming, and FA’s Match Centre
With the draw televised, fans can witness the magic of the FA Cup unfolding before their eyes. The excitement of watching Premier League giants and underdog stories being set in motion will keep viewers glued to the screen as the competition enters its third round.
Read the Full The Mirror Article at:
[ https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/fa-cup-draw-live-tv-36369027 ]
