Manchester City FA Cup Third Round Date and Kick-Off Time Confirmed

Manchester City will face Exeter City in the FA Cup Third Round at the Etihad Stadium on 10 January 2026 at 15:00 UK Time, it has been confirmed.

This fixture will be the first of City’s engagements in this season’s competition and comes in a busy period of the season, with the Sky Blues having won the FA Cup seven times – the latest being in 2023 as part of a domestic treble.

As the club is tracking and analysing their league, European, and domestic cup progress, this match will likely invite some self-reflection on how they prepped for and played their last cup matches.

Manchester City discover first FA Cup opponents of the season

City’s FA Cup 2025/2026 campaign will kick off against Exeter City at the Etihad Stadium on 10 January at 15:00 GMT, as per the cup draw held on 10 December. The visitors earned the right to face off against the Premier League side by winning a second round match.

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Manchester City’s opponents are a League One side and will be making the journey North looking to cause an upset against the Premier League side. The difference in league standings is significant, and this is a classic story within the history of the FA Cup – lower league teams testing their skills against higher league teams and vice versa.

This has created the opportunity for memorable moments to be created in the history of the Cup.

What the FA Cup fixture means for Manchester City supporters

The round tie is of significant historical importance for the City Supporters. The FA Cup is the oldest domestic knockout cup in English football, and the traditions that this competition has can be placed alongside the unpredictability of the tournament.

The club has had its name printed in the history of the FA Cups when they won it in 1904, 1934, 1956, 1969, 2011, 2019, and most recently, 2023 – part of a domestic treble that was claimed that season. This clearly imprinted the FA Cup in the recent history of the club.

Supporters’ interest in the FA Cup fixtures represents the mood of the entire fanbase. The FA and league attendance indicate that once confirmed in advance, the domestic cup fixtures across Premier League venues continue to draw good attendance numbers.

With the Etihad Stadium boasting a 53,600 capacity for football matches, a reachable Saturday afternoon kick-off maximises attendance and ambience.

Fan forums and supporter surveys suggest that the third round matches create notable discourse surrounding team selection, travel and matchday arrangements. These discussions are amplified with fixtures drawn against lower league opposition, with fans speculating on tactics and the possibility of upset wins.

Kick-off time and venue details confirmed for third-round tie

The match will take place at the Etihad Stadium at 15:00 UK time on Saturday, 10th January 2026. This is in accordance with the FA’s arrangement for the third round’s matches to take place across the 10th and 11th of January, when Premier League and EFL clubs join the tournament after the preliminary rounds.

Being one of the larger stadiums in England, the Etihad Stadium’s domestic capacity of 53,600 adds to the occasion, and supporters can now better organise travel and ticketing plans well ahead of the match due to the fixed kick time.

Such long notice also benefits the company’s broadcast partners in terms of strategic coverage. Though the broadcasting details of the match are not fully disclosed, the planning of the match has been confirmed to complement the overall coverage of the FA Cup.

Pep Guardiola prepares for domestic cup return

The strategic approach and squad awareness that Pep Guardiola shows when planning for an FA Cup tie is highly specialised. Guardiola has taken Manchester City to the FA cup finals in the past two consecutive years, which demonstrates his ability to manage league and Champions League schedules with cup priorities.

Squad rotation is typically quite high in top clubs, so the data that showed Manchester City at the top in the recent seasons is strong evidence for Guardiola’s adaptability and willingness to change his squad to match the opposition.

The FA Cup tie against Exeter City marks the start of Manchester City’s knockout journey in the FA Cup. Pep Guardiola and his troops will try and take positive charge in the early stages of the tie.