Just the one **Premier League** side was knocked out of the second round, which was inevitable as **Nottingham Forest** and **Leeds United** locked horns with the latter prevailing, with very few upsets along the way.
Three ties went the distance but it was, for the most part, routine victories for top-flight sides not competing in European competition, keeping their hopes of deep runs in the competition firmly in tact.
Only one of the past 13 iterations hasn’t been won by one of the traditional top six, with Newcastle United’s 2025 triumph serving as a timely reminder of the transformative impact a cup victory can have.
Fixtures for the third round will take place across the two weeks commencing 7 and 14 September due to UEFA competition matches unable to be rescheduled.
Who is playing who?
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Holders **Manchester City** host **Norwich City** while Premier League champions **Arsenal** will aim to go one better this term, starting with a trip to newly-promoted **Ipswich Town**.
Marcelino Nunez and Leif Davis celebrate Ipswich's progression (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
One of the ties of the round sees **Liverpool** and **Tottenham Hotspur** lock horns with **Roberto de Zerbi’s** new-look side dispatching London neighbours **Charlton Athletic** in the second round, including a debut goal for £85 million man **Savio**.
The former’s Merseyside rivals shone in a 4-0 rout of **Preston North End** and they face off with Championship title favourites **Wolverhampton Wanderers**.
Another side harbouring ambitions of promotion from the second tier is **Middlesbrough** and they travel to **Crystal Palace** with **Millwall** facing **Newcastle United** at The Den.
A repeat of last season’s Emirates FA Cup semi-final takes place at Stamford Bridge as **Chelsea** host Leeds, the lowest-ranked side remaining in the competition, **Fleetwood Town**, face Sheffield United and there is a London derby between **West Ham United** and **Fulham**.
It’s an all-League One affair between **Peterborough United** and **Barnsley** as well as **Leyton Orient** and **Bradford City** while divisional rivals **Reading** have an enticing clash with **Brentford** who have made a sublime start to their season.
Callum Wilson celebrates his first goal in new colours for Brentford (Photo by Stuart Leggett/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
**Manchester United** and **Brighton & Hove Albion** are both back in European competition and are familiar opponents having met in the third round of last season’s FA Cup, a tie in which the Seagulls progressed.
**Hull City** edged past **Stoke City** on penalties and their next test comes against Sunderland whereas **Coventry City** avoided a banana skin tie at **Plymouth Argyle** in a narrow 4-2 victory and they have a West Midlands derby in store against **Aston Villa**.
Draw in full
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Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Manchester City vs Norwich City
Sunderland vs Hull City
Ipswich Town vs Arsenal
Coventry City vs Aston Villa
Bournemouth vs Lincoln City
Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea vs Leeds United
Millwall vs Newcastle United
Fleetwood Town vs Sheffield United
Everton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Leyton Orient vs Bradford City
Reading vs Brentford
Peterborough United vs Barnsley
West Ham United vs Fulham