It has been said that in the modern era of football, the FA Cup has lost a fraction of the magic that was once rife in the competition. The financial might of the Premier League elite has seen a noticeable decrease in the number of cup upsets in recent years.
However, with that being said, the FA Cup is still a wonderful trophy to lift and a piece of silverware that every single team and fanbase dreams of lifting at the start of the season.
With that in mind, here is everything you need to know about the FA Cup draw for 2024/25, including key dates and the format of the competition.
A guide to the 2024/25 FA Cup draw
Format changes to the 2024/25 FA Cup
Several changes have been made to the format of the FA Cup this season, most of which have been put in place in order to better accommodate teams in the Premier League – something which was not well received by the vast majority of the English football pyramid.
? Some big #FACup news ?
This will split opinion! ?
The change will take place from the 2024-25 season ?⚽ pic.twitter.com/soEzvuRu1A
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 18, 2024
The most notable of these changes is of course the scrapping of replays from the first round proper, compared to the fifth round onwards in previous seasons. Understandably, this infuriated many lower-league sides for whom a reverse tie at home against a Premier League side can be life-changing.
Another key change to this year's FA Cup is that the final, normally played the weekend after the final round of Premier League fixtures, will now be played on the penultimate weekend of the Premier League on an exclusive Saturday geared solely towards the final itself.
Finally, it has been confirmed that all FA Cup rounds will now be played on exclusive weekends and there will be no midweek fixtures between two league matches.
Speaking on the changes, FA Executive Mark Bullingham said: “This new agreement between the FA and the Premier League strengthens the Emirates FA Cup and gives this very special tournament exclusive weekends in an increasingly busy calendar.
“The new schedule ensures the magic of the Cup is protected and enhanced, while working for the whole of the English game. The longer summer period also allows a much-needed player break before the start of the next season.”
FA Cup third round draw
Southampton vs Swansea
Arsenal vs Man Utd
Exeter City vs Oxford Utd
Leyton Orient vs Derby County
Reading vs Burnley
Aston Villa vs West Ham
Norwich vs Brighton
Man City vs Salford City
Millwall vs Dagenham & Redbridge
Liverpool vs Accrington Stanley
Bristol City vs Wolves
Preston vs Charlton
Chelsea vs Morecambe
Middlesbrough vs Blackburn
Bournemouth vs West Brom
Mansfield Town vs Wigan
Tamworth vs Tottenham
Hull vs Doncaster
Sunderland vs Stoke City
Leicester vs QPR
Brentford vs Plymouth Argyle
Coventry City vs Sheffield Wednesday
Newcastle vs Bromley
Everton vs Peterborough
Wycombe vs Portsmouth
Birmingham vs Lincoln City
Leeds vs Harrogate
Nottingham Forest vs Luton Town
Sheffield Utd vs Cardiff
Ipswich vs Bristol Rovers
Fulham vs Watford
Crystal Palace vs Stockport
FA Cup Third Round highlights
Of course, every single match in the FA Cup is vitally important, particularly for clubs competing in the lower tiers of the English football pyramid. However, when looking at each of the ties from an away fan's perspective, there are some clashes that stand out more than others.
Manchester United fans going to Arsenal
Undeniably the biggest game of the entire round is Arsenal vs Manchester United, which will be played on Sunday, January 12.
While this is of course a fixture that happens every year in the Premier League, a clash between these two giants in the FA Cup especially is particularly enthralling whenever it occurs.
For travelling Manchester United fans, you will likely want to jump on the train down to Central London, likely to be either London Euston or King's Cross. From either of those two stations, travel to the Emirates is fairly straightforward, but check out our Emirates Stadium guide for further details.
Also, make sure to take a look at our guide to the best pubs near the Emirates to enjoy the best pre-match experience possible.
Salford City fans going to Manchester City
Quite possibly the shortest away trip in the entire round sees Salford City supporters making the trip to the Etihad Stadium. While this may not be the Manchester derby, it is certainly a Manchester derby and is a huge moment for Salford as a club and as a fanbase.
Also, with plenty of Manchester United legends of the past enjoying ownership of Salford City – the likes of Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt for example – tensions are likely to be high.
For the away contingency in this fixture that will be at the ground come matchday, make sure to check out our Etihad Stadium guide to ensure you are fully prepared for your day trip.
Given the short distance between the two teams (4.6 miles), many fans may decide to travel to Manchester City by car. If doing so, check out our guide on where to park near the Etihad.
Bromley fans going to Newcastle United
What a whirlwind of a few years it has been for Bromley and their supporters.
Having only just earned their first-ever promotion to the Football League ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, Bromley fans will now be licking their lips at the chance to visit St James' Park – one of the most iconic stadiums in the entire country.
Given Bromley's location in South London, this is one of the longest away trips of the round and as a result, the exact figure of how many Bromley fans will be in Newcastle on Sunday, 12 January, remains to be seen.
If you are planning on embarking on the incredibly long journey, then taking a look at our St James' Park stadium guide is a must for the best experience possible.
Also, we highly recommend checking out our guide to the best pubs near St James' Park so you can enjoy a well-earned pint upon your arrival.
Tottenham fans going to Tamworth
Tottenham fans have enjoyed a fair few visits to non-league football grounds in recent years, having been welcomed to Rossett Park by Marine in 2021.
This is yet another opportunity for the Spurs faithful to experience a rather unique away day – one very different to that of their Premier League adventures.
The venue in question is The Lamb, which boasts a fairly respectable capacity of 4,000 and should allow both sets of supporters the chance to create an excellent atmosphere.
It is also a very historic ground, having first opened its doors to football fans over 90 years ago in 1934.
For the Tottenham supporters who will be making the trip on Sunday, 12 January, make sure to check out our guide to The Lamb, which includes travel advice, pub suggestions and more information on what you can expect at Tamworth.
2024/25 FA Cup key dates
The key dates for the start of each round of fixtures, from the First Round Proper up until the Final, are as follows:
- First Round Proper – Saturday 2 November 2024
- Second Round Proper – Saturday 30 November 2024
- Third Round Proper – Saturday 11 January 2025
- Fourth Round Proper – Saturday 8 February 2025
- Fifth Round Proper – Saturday 1 March 2025
- Quarter Final – Saturday 29 March 2025
- Semi Final – Saturday 26 April 2025
- Final – Saturday 17 May 2025
Which non-league sides are in the FA Cup third round?
In this year's FA Cup, just two non-league teams have made it past the various preliminary rounds, as well as the first and second rounds proper, to reach the coveted FA Cup third-round draw – the point in the competition at which the 44 Championship and Premier League sides enter the draw and history can be made.
Those two teams are Dagenham & Redbridge, who came through a second-round tie against AFC Wimbledon, and Tamworth, who overcame League One side Burton via penalties.
An honourable mention goes to Kettering Town who suffered extra-time defeat to League Two outfit Doncaster Rovers in their second-round matchup.