The road to Wembley continues as the FA Cup Third Round Qualifying draw has been confirmed, with 40 ties set to take place on Saturday 3 October 2026.
There are some intriguing ties across the non-league pyramid, with clubs battling for a place in the next stage of the competition and the chance to move one step closer to the FA Cup proper.
🏆 Full Third Round Qualifying Draw
- Macclesfield v Scarborough Athletic
- Marine v Warrington Town
- Trafford v Atherton Collieries
- Guiseley v Bradford (Park Avenue)
- Leamington or Gainsborough Trinity v Anstey Nomads
- Morecambe v Darlington
- Buxton v South Shields
- Bury v Bromsgrove Sporting
- Barton Town v Chorley
- AFC Telford United or Worksop Town v FC United of Manchester
- Stafford Rangers v Halesowen Town
- Spennymoor Town v Chester
- Mulbarton Wanderers v Gloucester City
- Bury Town v Spalding United
- Harborough Town v St Albans City
- Bedford Town v Hemel Hempstead Town or Wingate & Finchley
- Kettering Town v Worcester City
- Cambridge City v Alvechurch
- Brackley Town v Chelmsford City
- Chesham United v Real Bedford
- Oxford City v Enfield Town
- Brentwood Town v Waltham Abbey or Dagenham & Redbridge
- Leiston v Coventry United
- Redditch United v Berkhamsted
- AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Needham Market or Braintree Town
- Southall or Dorking Wanderers v Chatham Town
- Merthyr Town or Truro City v Cirencester Town or Farnham Town
- Tonbridge Angels v Torquay United
- Weymouth v SE Dons
- Sheppey United v Chertsey Town
- Cray Wanderers or Maidstone United v Yate Town or Chippenham Town
- Hampton & Richmond Borough or Crowborough Athletic v Weston-super-Mare or Wimborne Town
- Plymouth Parkway v Horsham
- Uxbridge or Farnborough v Hungerford Town
- Ebbsfleet United v Sholing
- Salisbury v Dulwich Hamlet
- Thame United or Exmouth Town v Eastbourne Borough
- Hanwell Town v Dover Athletic
- Tadley Calleva v Dartford
- Leatherhead v Hanworth Villa
💰 FA Cup prize money
There is plenty at stake beyond simply progressing in the competition.
The winners of each Third Round Qualifying tie will receive £5,625, while the losing clubs will receive £1,875.
For clubs operating at the non-league level, the additional revenue from a successful FA Cup run can make a significant difference, while progression also brings the possibility of even bigger ties and prize money in the rounds ahead.
📅 When are the matches?
The default date for the Third Round Qualifying ties is:
Saturday 3 October 2026
Kick-off: 3:00pm
If a match finishes level after 90 minutes, a replay is mandatory. Replays must be played on or before Thursday 8 October, with a scheduled kick-off time of 7:45pm.
Postponed first-round ties must also be rearranged and played by Thursday 8 October, while a postponed or delayed replay must be completed by Thursday 15 October 2026.
👀 Plenty of ties to watch
There are some particularly interesting contests scattered throughout the draw, including Macclesfield v Scarborough Athletic, Buxton v South Shields, Spennymoor Town v Chester, Brackley Town v Chelmsford City and Tonbridge Angels v Torquay United.
Further down the pyramid, Weymouth v SE Dons and Leatherhead v Hanworth Villa are among the ties that will attract plenty of attention, while clubs such as FC United of Manchester, Gloucester City, Dulwich Hamlet and Dover Athletic will all be looking to continue their FA Cup journeys.
With 40 ties, £5,625 on offer for every winner and the next stage of the competition within touching distance, the Third Round Qualifying promises another weekend of classic FA Cup action.
