The FA Cup never fails to deliver drama, and this season is no exception. After Macclesfield’s stunning upset over Crystal Palace, the sixth-tier underdogs have not only guaranteed a new tournament winner but also set the stage for another thrilling chapter in their journey. But here’s where it gets even more intriguing: their fourth-round opponents are none other than Brentford, a Premier League side from London. Can the Silkmen pull off another giant-killing feat? Only time will tell.
The draw, held on Monday before the Liverpool vs Barnsley clash, has thrown up some mouth-watering fixtures. Chelsea’s Liam Rosenior, for instance, will face his former club Hull City—a storyline that’s sure to add emotional weight to the tie. Meanwhile, Aston Villa’s reward for dispatching Tottenham Hotspur is a showdown with Newcastle United, another Premier League heavyweight. And this is the part most people miss: the draw has ensured that at least a couple of teams from outside the top two tiers will make it to the final 16, keeping the magic of the Cup alive.
But here’s the controversial bit: with so many lower-league sides still in the mix, is the FA Cup becoming more about David vs. Goliath stories than genuine competition for the trophy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
The fourth round is set to take place around the weekend of February 14-15, with matches potentially spilling over to Friday the 13th and Monday the 16th. For those who missed the live draw, it was streamed on YouTube at 1:30 PM ET on January 12—a must-watch for any football fan.
Here’s a breakdown of the qualified teams so far, categorized by league:
Premier League: Wolves, Newcastle United, Manchester City, Fulham, Brentford, Sunderland, Burnley, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Leeds United, Arsenal, West Ham United, Brighton & Hove Albion
Championship: Southampton, Wrexham, Oxford United, Leicester City, Ipswich Town, Stoke City, Bristol City, Birmingham City, Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion
League One: Port Vale, Wigan Athletic, Burton Albion, Mansfield Town
League Two: Grimsby Town
National League North: Macclesfield
The full fourth-round draw is as follows:
- Manchester City vs Salford or Swindon Town
- Birmingham City vs Leeds United
- Macclesfield vs Brentford
- Aston Villa vs Newcastle United
- Grimsby Town vs Wolves
- Port Vale vs Bristol City
- Norwich City vs West Bromwich Albion
- Burnley vs Mansfield Town
- Burton Albion vs West Ham United
- Hull City vs Chelsea
- Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic
- Wrexham vs Ipswich Town
- Southampton vs Leicester City
- Oxford United vs Sunderland
- Stoke City vs Fulham
- Liverpool or Barnsley vs Brighton & Hove Albion
For those keeping track, here are the ball numbers for the draw:
1. Wolves
2. Southampton
3. Aston Villa
4. Port Vale
5. Wigan Athletic
6. Ipswich Town
7. Wrexham
8. Chelsea
9. Manchester City
10. West Ham United
11. Brentford
12. Fulham
13. Sunderland
14. Liverpool or Barnsley
15. Burnley
16. Norwich City
17. Arsenal
18. Leeds United
19. West Bromwich Albion
20. Salford City or Swindon Town
21. Burton Albion
22. Grimsby Town
23. Hull City
24. Newcastle United
25. Oxford United
26. Leicester City
27. Birmingham City
28. Bristol City
29. Stoke City
30. Macclesfield
31. Brighton & Hove Albion
32. Mansfield Town
So, who’s your money on to lift the trophy? And do you think the FA Cup’s underdog charm is its greatest strength—or a sign of bigger clubs taking it less seriously? Let the debate begin!
