Eight mouthwatering FA Cup third-round ties have been selected for live television coverage – and viewers will have to venture behind a paywall to watch the majority of them.
Action in the next stage of the world’s oldest football competition gets underway on the second weekend in January as clubs begin their hunt for silverware, but just two of the matches will be shown on the BBC.
BBC Sport secured a deal with TNT Sports last year which means they can broadcast just two live games from each round through to the quarter-finals. The broadcaster can then show one semi-final and the showpiece final at Wembley.
In total it means 14 FA Cup matches will be shown on the BBC per campaign, across a four-season period which begins now.
The first match on TV for the third-round of this year’s competition is the highly anticipated battle between Wrexham and Nottingham Forest, in what will be The Red Dragons’ first competitive clash against Premier League opposition since Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac took over the club.
This, however, will not be shown on the BBC, with the only coverage from the Racecourse Ground coming on TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+ from 7.30pm on Friday, January 9.
Three matches will then be played on Saturday, January 10, starting with Macclesfield vs trophy holders Crystal Palace at 12.15pm. This game will have shared broadcasting rights between BBC One, TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+.
Tottenham host Aston Villa at 5.45pm, in a game which will also be shown on BBC One, TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+, and will see one of the competition’s favourites fall out at an early stage.
And the Saturday evening game is Charlton Athletic’s clash against Chelsea, with The Addicks hosting Enzo Maresca’s men in South London. The game will be broadcast from 8pm on TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+.
Into Sunday, January 11, and there is yet more drama in store as Derby County host Leeds United from 12pm on TNT Sports 2 and Discovery+ in a throwback to the Spygate saga of 2019.
At 2pm it’s back to TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+ as Championship dwellers Portsmouth host Arsenal, who are looking to extend their impressive FA Cup trophy wins to 15 this season.
The final game on Sunday is at Old Trafford, where Manchester United host Brighton at 4.30pm on TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+.
And on Monday, January 12, Liverpool welcome League One side Barnsley to Anfield as the Reds hope to avoid an early slip-up amid their ropey form. The tie will also be shown at 7.45pm on TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+.
Manchester City have emerged as early favourites for the trophy despite losing the final to Crystal Palace in May.
| Game | Date and Kick-off | Broadcaster(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest | January 9 – 7.30pm | TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+ |
| Macclesfield vs Crystal Palace | January 10 – 12.15pm | BBC One, TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+ |
| Tottenham vs Aston Villa | January 10 – 5.45pm | BBC One, TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+ |
| Charlton Athletic vs Chelsea | January 10 – 8pm | TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+ |
| Derby County vs Leeds United | January 11 – 12pm | TNT Sports 2 and Discovery+ |
| Portsmouth vs Arsenal | January 11 – 2pm | TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+ |
| Man United vs Brighton | January 11 – 4.30pm | TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+ |
| Liverpool vs Barnsley | January 12 – 7.45pm | TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+ |
