FA Cup 3rd Round Preview

The FA Cup returns in mid-January with the third round set to deliver more drama and excitement. As one of football’s most unpredictable competitions, it continues to attract massive global interest, much like major sporting events featured across leading online casino and sports entertainment platforms during the winter season.

Defending champions Crystal Palace will be looking to retain their crown, while clubs from across England aim to make their mark in one of football’s most historic knockout competitions. With shocks and fairytale runs part of the FA Cup’s DNA, it’s no surprise that fans closely follow the action alongside other popular forms of digital entertainment, including football-themed games offered by online casino operators.

Oliver Glasner’s men kick off their title defence with a routine-looking away clash against sixth-tier Macclesfield, perhaps finding a welcome distraction from their rough patch in the Premier League. Matches like these epitomise the romance of the FA Cup, where unpredictability fuels engagement both in stadiums and across online casino sportsbooks during peak football weekends.

However, the Eagles would be naive to take anything for granted. Indeed, the early stages of the EFL Cup have produced some epic upsets, including Manchester United’s shocking exit at the hands of fourth-tier Grimsby Town — a reminder that no favourite is ever truly safe in knockout football.

England’s elite clubs pay more attention to the FA Cup, where seven-time winners Manchester City have emerged as the leading candidates to win the trophy.

Priced at 9/2, Pep Guardiola’s team are aiming to make amends for last season’s Wembley heartbreak, buoyed by a remarkable turnaround following a disappointing campaign.

Man City will face lower-league Exeter City in their curtain-raiser.

All other teams from the traditional ‘Big Six’ are vying for the oldest cup trophy in European football.

Record-time champions Arsenal take on Portsmouth on the road as Mikel Arteta hopes to lead the Gunners to their first FA Cup triumph since winning their 14th trophy in 2020.

Eight-time winners Chelsea are odds-on favourites to beat Charlton, with the bookies pricing them at 3/10 to progress into round four and continue the pursuit of their first success in this competition since 2018.

Let’s take a look at the three must-watch round-three matches.

Newcastle United vs Bournemouth

Eddie Howe broke Newcastle United’s long title drought last term, inspiring the Magpies to EFL Cup glory, and they’ve already reached the semi-finals in this season’s competition.

Yet, it’s been 70 years since the Tyneside giants last won the FA Cup trophy, and given they’re already out of the Premier League title race, this could be their second-best chance to add to their trophy cabinet.

Standing in their way is Bournemouth, who have never lifted the FA Cup in their history and will be eager to cause an upset at St. James’ Park despite their dreadful run of form towards the end of 2025.

Newcastle could enter this meeting without William Osula, who could be on his way to joining Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt in the January transfer window, as per talkSPORT.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa

Things have not panned out for new Tottenham boss Thomas Frank at the beginning of his tenure in North London, with Spurs languishing in the Premier League’s lower reaches.

Last season’s UEFA Europa League triumph failed to save Ange Postecoglou’s job, so it’s hard to expect Frank to preserve his position even if he manages to bring the FA Cup trophy back to London.

Although only two teams have won this competition more often than Spurs (8), they hoisted the trophy in the early 1990s, leaving Frank with a long wait to end the club’s FA Cup drought in his first season at the helm.

Aston Villa’s last FA Cup success dates back to 1957, yet the visitors are in far better shape than their opposition despite being knocked down from an 11-game winning streak at the end of 2025.

It promises to be a fascinating match-up.

Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Drawing level with Arsenal in terms of the FA Cup titles may be insufficient to extend Ruben Amorim’s stay at Old Trafford amid Manchester United’s underwhelming league campaign.

Gary Neville blasted the Portuguese tactician after United’s gut-wrenching 1-1 home draw against basement boys Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing Day (via Sky Sports), which left the club narrowly outside the top four.

However, a 4-2 home rout of Brighton & Hove Albion in October remains one of the highest points of Man Utd’s league campaign, offering comfort ahead of the team’s showdown in the FA Cup.

That defeat should not faze the Seagulls much, considering they had won their three previous visits to the Theatre of Dreams, remarkably scoring eight goals in the process.

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