FA Cup third round postponements with games cancelled in weather chaos | Football | Sport
Weather is set to cause further disruption to the football calendar as the aftermath of Storm Goretti leaves clubs fighting to save their fixtures from cancellation. The storm has battered the nation with freezing temperatures and a succession of snow and ice alerts.
Rail services have faced delays, schools have shut their doors, and tens of thousands are enduring widespread power outages. The Met Office issued a rare red warning on Friday for “dangerous, stormy” conditions in one area of the country, whilst Britons are experiencing travel mayhem with transport networks hit by severe winds and heavy snowfall.
The FA Cup’s third round is due to commence this weekend, but has already witnessed its first postponement. Salford City announced they have acted swiftly to defer their tie with Swindon Town.
“Salford City’s Emirates FA Cup Third Round fixture against Swindon Town on Saturday has been postponed due to a frozen pitch,” a statement confirmed.
“Sheets have remained on the pitch over the last couple of weeks in anticipation of the forecasted sub-zero temperatures, and heat lamps have been moved around the pitch throughout the week to try and help thaw the pitch out.
“However, despite the best efforts of the ground staff, there are still parts of the pitch that are frozen, and the decision has been made early in conjunction with the FA and Swindon to prevent unnecessary disruption to travelling supporters.”
Cambridge, meanwhile, will inspect their pitch at midday on Sunday ahead of their FA Cup tie against Birmingham. The match is due to kick off at 5.45pm but it’s unclear if it will go ahead or not.
All 64 clubs remaining in the FA Cup will be guaranteed payments from the competition’s prize fund, regardless of whether they win or lose their tie. Clubs featured in television broadcasts will receive an additional £80,000 on linear channels, while those participating in matches streamed on discovery+ will earn a fee of £40,000.
The FA Trophy has also been affected by adverse weather conditions, with Kidderminster Harriers’ match against Morecambe postponed and rescheduled for Tuesday, January 13. The decision was made by a match official following a pitch inspection at Aggborough Stadium on Friday afternoon.
Heavy rain, snowfall and ice resulted in a waterlogged pitch. With temperatures expected to drop further, it was deemed that there was ‘no prospect of the pitch being playable’ on Saturday.
Below is the full list of FA Cup fixtures, with postponed matches clearly indicated.
FRIDAY 9 JANUARY 2026.
19:30: Milton Keynes Dons v. Oxford United.
19:30: Port Vale v. Fleetwood Town.
19:30: Preston North End v. Wigan Athletic.
19:30: Wrexham v. Nottingham Forest.
SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2026.
12:15: Cheltenham Town v. Leicester City.
12:15: Everton v. Sunderland.
12:15: Macclesfield v. Crystal Palace.
12:15: Wolverhampton Wanderers v. Shrewsbury Town.
15:00: Boreham Wood v. Burton Albion.
15:00: Burnley v. Millwall.
15:00: Doncaster Rovers v. Southampton.
15:00: Fulham v. Middlesbrough.
15:00: Ipswich Town v. Blackpool.
15:00: Manchester City v. Exeter City.
15:00: Newcastle United v. AFC Bournemouth.
15:00: Salford City v. Swindon Town – Postponed.
15:00: Sheffield Wednesday v. Brentford.
15:00: Stoke City v. Coventry City.
17:45: Bristol City v. Watford.
17:45: Cambridge United v. Birmingham City.
17:45: Tottenham Hotspur v. Aston Villa.
17:45: Grimsby Town v. Weston Super Mare.
20:00: Charlton Athletic v. Chelsea.
SUNDAY 11 JANUARY 2026.
12:00: Derby County v. Leeds United.
14:00: Portsmouth v. Arsenal.
14:30: Hull City v. Blackburn Rovers.
14:30: Norwich City v. Walsall.
14:30: Sheffield United v. Mansfield Town.
14:30: Swansea City v. West Bromwich Albion.
14:30: West Ham United v. Queens Park Rangers.
16:30: Manchester United v. Brighton and Hove Albion.
MONDAY 12 JANUARY 2026.
19:45: Liverpool v. Barnsley.
