Macclesfield, a non-league club currently in 14th place in the National League North, will host FA Cup holders Crystal Palace in the third round of the prestigious tournament. This marks one of the standout ties drawn on Monday, December 8, 2025, offering a classic David vs. Goliath encounter at Macclesfield's Moss Rose stadium.
Crystal Palace, fresh off their historic FA Cup victory in May 2025 against Manchester City at Wembley, will begin their title defense with a trip to the sixth tier. The Eagles secured their first-ever major trophy with a 1-0 victory, making them a sought-after scalp for any lower-league team. Macclesfield will be aiming to cause a major upset and write their own chapter in FA Cup history.
The third-round tie is scheduled to be played around the weekend of Saturday, January 10, 2026, with matches potentially spanning from Thursday to Monday. This scheduling ensures maximum exposure for the FA Cup, allowing fans across the country to witness these captivating matchups.
Macclesfield, known as the Silkmen, reached the fourth round of the FA Cup in 2013. In that instance, they suffered a defeat against Wigan. The club will be hoping that history does not repeat itself, and that they can progress even further in the competition this year.
Other notable FA Cup third-round draws include Weston-super-Mare, another National League South side, who will travel to League Two Grimsby. Grimsby had their own taste of cup glory earlier this season when they knocked Manchester United out of the League Cup, showing that anything is possible in cup competitions. Boreham Wood, who made a stunning run to the fifth round three years ago, will be at home against either Brackley or Burton.
The draw also produced four all-Premier League ties, with Aston Villa set to visit Tottenham, Everton facing Sunderland, Newcastle taking on Bournemouth, and Brighton traveling to Manchester United. Premier League leaders Arsenal will face a trip to Portsmouth, while Wrexham will host Nottingham Forest. Liverpool are at home against Barnsley, Manchester City will face Exeter, and a London derby will take place between Charlton and Chelsea at The Valley.
For Crystal Palace, the match against Macclesfield presents a chance to continue their winning momentum in the FA Cup. For Macclesfield, this is an opportunity to showcase their talent on a national stage and potentially achieve a historic victory against the reigning champions. Ties that remain level after 90 minutes will proceed to extra time, consisting of 30 minutes, and if the score remains tied, a penalty shootout will determine the winner. There will be no replays in the 'proper' rounds of the FA Cup, as was the case last season.
