Overview
- The draw starts at approximately 18:40 GMT on Monday 8 December at Brackley’s St James Park, staged before Brackley Town vs Burton Albion.
- UK viewers can watch live on TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+, with a free stream on the TNT Sports YouTube channel; ESPN Select carries the draw in the United States.
- Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist will present the broadcast, with Joe Cole and Peter Crouch making the draw.
- Ball numbers 1–64 have been published, covering 20 Premier League clubs, 24 from the Championship, and 20 second-round winners.
- Third-round ties are scheduled around the weekend of 10 January 2026 under the no-replay format, with any draws settled by extra time and penalties, while at least two non-league clubs are assured a place through Slough Town vs Macclesfield and Chelmsford City vs Weston-super-Mare.