Overview
- The ceremony starts at approximately 18:40 GMT before Brackley Town vs Burton Albion, with coverage on TNT Sports 1, discovery+ and the TNT Sports YouTube channel.
- Joe Cole and Peter Crouch will conduct the draw, with Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist presenting.
- Premier League and Championship clubs enter alongside 20 second-round winners to complete a 64-team field, with official ball numbers 1–64 released.
- Non-league Macclesfield, Weston-super-Mare and Boreham Wood are confirmed in the hat, while Brackley Town’s inclusion depends on the outcome of tonight’s tie.
- Third-round fixtures are scheduled for the weekend of January 10–11, 2026 under the new rule that settles ties on the day with extra time and penalties if required.