Crystal Palace set to defend FA Cup title against Macclesfield Town
Crystal Palace will kick off their FA Cup defence against Macclesfield Town, who currently play in the sixth tier of English football, reports BritPanorama.
The draw took place earlier today, with former England stars Joe Cole and Peter Crouch pulling the balls from the pot. It’s a fascinating tie for the holders, who’ll be heavy favourites against their non-league opponents.
All 20 Premier League sides and 24 Championship clubs entered at this stage, alongside the winners from the second round. Fans won’t have long to wait for the action, with fixtures set to take place around the weekend of Saturday 10 January 2026.
Palace’s triumph last season was truly historic, marking the club’s first major trophy. They secured the silverware with a 1-0 victory over Manchester City at Wembley back in May. Eberechi Eze, who has since moved to Arsenal, netted the decisive goal in the first half to deny Pep Guardiola another piece of silverware. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson was equally brilliant on the day, saving a penalty and producing several stunning stops to keep City at bay.
There’s a twist to this year’s competition that fans should know about – replays have been scrapped entirely. If any match finishes level after 90 minutes, it’ll head straight to extra-time and penalties to settle things on the day.
Macclesfield aren’t the only non-league outfit dreaming of a giant-killing, either. Boreham Wood from the National League made it through to the third round, along with Weston-super-Mare from the sixth tier. Brackley Town could also join them if they manage to see off Burton Albion in their outstanding second-round tie.
Fans are hoping for another magical cup run this time around, creating an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation ahead of the matches to come.
