How to watch FA Cup third round matches on TV and live stream

It's that time of year as the big boys enter the fray in the world's oldest cup competition

Early January is a special time for all fans of English football as the FA Cup reaches its third round. It's a time of upsets, giant killings, dreams dashed, odds overcome. This year we have some very intriguing potential banana skins for the elite sides, as well as some all Premier League clashes to enjoy. Some of the most interesting ties will be televised in the UK, but where?

How to watch the FA Cup in the UK on TV and via live streaming

Fans can enjoy live matches in the FA Cup exclusively on free-to-air television in the UK on BBC and ITV, at least until the 2024-25 season when the current TV rights deal expires. BBC has the right to broadcast 18 live matches per season, while ITV can show at least 20. The BBC will air five matches and ITV four matches from the third round between Friday (7 January) and Monday (10 January). ITV will be airing their fixtures on their flagship channel ITV and their live streaming platform ITV Hub. Both are completely free to use for UK residents with a TV license. The same goes for the BBC who will be broadcasting their fixtures on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer. Whether you prefer to watch on your TV or your mobile device, both providers have you covered.

FA Cup third round ties available to watch on TV or via live stream this weekend

There are several fascinating encounters to be served up by the FA Cup third round this weekend including potential giant killings, fierce local derbies and feisty tussles between top flight sides. It all kicks off on Friday as Manchester City head to League Two Swindon Town. The hosts eliminated League One Crewe Alexandra in the first round before dispatching their fourth tier rivals Walsall in the second and will hope to pack out the County Ground and grind out a famous result. Pep Guardiola's side have proved immune to such embarrassments for the most part but with the magic of the FA Cup in the air, there's always hope. Perhaps an even more seismic shock could come at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea will host National League leaders Chesterfield. The visitors may be from the fifth tier of the English pyramid but they are top of the league, in good form and have previous when it comes to FA Cup giant killings, having reached the semi-finals as a third tier club back in the 90s. Thomas Tuchel's side aren't in the best form and this could potentially be a disaster defeat for them.

Another tie worth watching is the South London derby between Championship club Millwall and Premier League outfit Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon. It's a keenly contested rivalry which hasn't been revisited in nine years since both clubs were in second tier. There should be a cracking atmosphere at The Den for this one. The best may well have been left for last as the long weekend of FA Cup action is rounded off with Manchester United vs Aston Villa. Such is the size and importance of both of these clubs that for a long time Old Trafford and Villa Park were used as neutral grounds to host the semi finals of this competition. They are two of English football's oldest and proudest institutions, and both will be desperate to advance to the fourth round. United have struggled to adapt to the demands of new coach Ralf Rangnick, while Steven Gerrard has enjoyed a very good start to his career in the dugout of the Midlands club. It should be an interesting encounter tactically and one which will probably provide the best quality matchup of this round.

Here's a full list of all nine FA Cup third round matches available on TV and live stream this weekend:

*All ties available on BBC iPlayer are also available on the BBC Sport website or app, so whatever device you are using, you will be able to live stream the match for free.

Who else is playing in the FA Cup third round this weekend

While those nine fixtures are set to be televised by the BBC and ITV, there will be a full round of matches taking place up and down the country pitting teams against each other from six levels of the English football pyramid, from Premier League leaders Manchester City all the way down to Kidderminster Harriers, who currently sit fifth in the National League North, the sixth tier of English football, and host Championship club Reading on Saturday.

Here's the full list of FA Cup third round fixtures taking place between this Friday and next Monday:

Friday 7 January 2022

20.00: Swindon Town vs Manchester City

Saturday 8 January 2022

12.15: Mansfield Town vs Middlesbrough
12.30: Bristol City vs Fulham
12.30: Burnley vs Huddersfield Town
12.30: Coventry City vs Derby County
12.30: Hartlepool United vs Blackpool
12.45: Millwall vs Crystal Palace
15.00: Barnsley vs Barrow
15.00: Boreham Wood vs AFC Wimbledon
15.00: Kidderminster Harriers vs Reading
15.00: Leicester City vs Watford
15.00: Newcastle United vs Cambridge United
15.00: Peterborough United vs Bristol Rovers
15.00: Port Vale vs Brentford
15.00: Queens Park Rangers vs Rotherham United
15.00: West Bromwich Albion vs Brighton & Hove Albion
15.00: Wigan Athletic vs Blackburn Rovers
17.30: Birmingham City vs Plymouth Argyle
17.30: Chelsea vs Chesterfield
17.30: Hull City vs Everton
17.30: Swansea City vs Southampton
17.45: Yeovil Town vs AFC Bournemouth

Sunday 9 January 2022

12.30: Luton Town vs Harrogate Town
14.00: Cardiff City vs Preston North End
14.00: Charlton Athletic vs Norwich City
14.00: Liverpool vs Shrewsbury Town
14.00: Stoke City vs Leyton Orient
14.00: Tottenham Hotspur vs Morecambe
14.00: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Sheffield United
14.00: West Ham United vs Leeds United
17.10: Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal

Monday 10 January 2022

19.55: Manchester United vs Aston Villa

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