The magic of the FA Cup is alive and well, and the fourth-round draw for the 2025-26 edition has delivered a fresh batch of tantalizing matchups, upsets in the making, and storylines that have football fans buzzing across England. Held on January 12, 2026, just before Liverpool’s third-round tie with Barnsley at Anfield, the draw whittled the field to 32 teams and set the stage for a weekend of drama between February 13 and 16.
None have captured the nation’s imagination quite like Macclesfield Town. The sixth-tier, National League North side stunned the football world when they ousted holders Crystal Palace 2-1 at Moss Rose, producing what many have called the biggest giant-killing in FA Cup history. Now, the Silkmen are rewarded with another home tie, this time against Premier League high-flyers Brentford, who currently sit fifth in the top flight and just two points off the Champions League places.
Macclesfield’s manager, John Rooney, could barely contain his excitement after the draw. “We said before that we would have liked to get Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal, but another Premier League side is incredible,” Rooney told reporters. The club, only recently saved from extinction, has become the feel-good story of the competition, and Brentford will be wary of suffering the same fate as Crystal Palace when they visit Moss Rose.
Elsewhere, the draw has thrown up a host of intriguing clashes between Premier League giants and lower-league hopefuls. Seven top-flight teams are set to travel to opposition from outside the Premier League, and the potential for upsets looms large. Chelsea, having just appointed Liam Rosenior as head coach after the sacking of Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day, will travel to Hull City—Rosenior’s old stomping ground and the club where his managerial journey began in earnest back in 2022. Rosenior’s reign at Stamford Bridge got off to a flying start with a 5-1 victory over Charlton, but a return to Hull promises to be an emotional affair.
Arsenal, the FA Cup’s most decorated club, survived a third-round scare against Portsmouth and now face League One side Wigan Athletic at the Emirates. The Gunners will be eager to avoid complacency, especially after seeing so many big names tumble out of the competition already. Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, both members of the so-called ‘big six,’ were among the marquee casualties—United falling to Brighton & Hove Albion, and Spurs sent packing by Aston Villa.
Liverpool’s fate still hangs in the balance as they must first overcome Barnsley in their third-round match. Should the Reds prevail, they’ll host Brighton in one of the round’s most anticipated all-Premier League encounters. Brighton, fresh off their Old Trafford triumph, will be relishing the chance to take on another giant, but Liverpool at Anfield is always a daunting proposition.
Manchester City, meanwhile, await the winner of the rescheduled Salford City versus Swindon Town tie, which was postponed due to a frozen pitch and is now set for January 20. If Salford, owned by Manchester United legends including David Beckham and Gary Neville, pull through, they’ll set up a fascinating local showdown with City at the Etihad.
Wrexham, the Championship side owned by Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, also made headlines by defeating Nottingham Forest on penalties—marking their first win over Premier League opposition in 26 years. Their reward is a home tie against Ipswich Town, currently third in the Championship and just four points ahead of Phil Parkinson’s side. Wrexham will be hoping to reach the fifth round for the first time since 1997, and the Racecourse Ground is sure to be rocking.
West Ham United, mired in the Premier League relegation zone, face a tricky trip to League One’s Burton Albion. The Hammers’ narrow 2-1 win over QPR in the third round was their first taste of victory since early November, and they’ll need to be on guard to avoid another embarrassing exit.
Other fixtures see Fulham visiting Stoke City, Sunderland traveling to Oxford United, and Wolves heading to Grimsby Town—each a classic FA Cup banana skin. Burnley, fresh from a strong third-round showing, host Mansfield Town, while Norwich City take on West Bromwich Albion in an all-Championship affair. Birmingham City’s clash with Leeds United and Port Vale’s meeting with Bristol City round out the draw, ensuring that clubs from every corner of the English football pyramid have a shot at glory.
The road to Wembley is mapped out: after the fourth round, the fifth round is scheduled for the weekend of March 7, quarter-finals on April 4, semi-finals on April 25, and the grand final on May 16, 2026. With the holders already out and a host of lower-league teams still dreaming, this season’s FA Cup feels as open as it’s ever been.
For Macclesfield, the fairytale continues. The Silkmen’s Moss Rose will once again be the backdrop for what could be another historic night. Brentford, flying high in the Premier League, will bring all their firepower, but if the last round taught us anything, it’s that romance and drama are never far away in the world’s oldest cup competition. As John Rooney and his players prepare to write another chapter, fans across the country can only watch and wonder—who will be the next giant to fall?
With so many storylines and the promise of more upsets, the FA Cup’s fourth round is shaping up to be another unforgettable weekend. All eyes will be on Moss Rose, Hull, and Anfield, as the magic of the cup continues to weave its spell.
