A number of clubs have already secured their spots in the 2025-26 FA Youth Cup fourth round proper as the competition progresses.
West Ham United were the first team to book their place in the next round last month, beating Preston North End 5-4 on penalties.
A host of teams advanced in the competition in December, as Bolton Wanderers shocked Leicester City, coming from behind in a 2-2 draw to win 4-2 on spot-kicks.
Wrexham reached the fourth round for the first time since 1983, putting on a five-star show against Port Vale which saw the young Red Dragons run out 5-1 winners at the Racecourse Ground.
On the same night, Reading also beat Middlesbrough in a 13-penalty shoot-out which the Royals won 7-6.Two first-half goals ensured Burnley progressed, beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0.
Everton edged Millwall in a 3-2 victory, turning it around after trailing in the first half, courtesy of Ceiran Loney’s stoppage-time winner.
Last season’s runners-up Manchester City are through to the next round, seeing off Fulham in a 3-1 win.
Another U18 Premier League side, Crystal Palace, will be joining them in the fourth round, having beaten Bradford City 3-0 at Selhurst Park.
Eleven-time FA Youth Cup winners Manchester United – who hold the most titles – overcame Peterborough Sports in a 1-0 win.
Norwich City and Stoke City were two of the EFL Championship clubs entering the competition at this stage but it was the Canaries who came out on top in a 2-1 win.
Owen Moore’s penalty was the difference in a 1-0 win for Shrewsbury Town which ended FC Halifax Town’s impressive run to the third round last week.
Elsewhere, Sunderland ran out 3-0 winners over Nottingham Forest at Eppleton Colliery Welfare.
Queens Park Rangers were in a goalscoring mood, putting five past Oxford City in a convincing 5-1 win at Loftus Road.
And Derby County are into the fourth round, beating Cambridge United 3-0.
A dramatic 97th minute winner from Brogan Popham saw Swansea City seal their next place in the next round with a 3-2 win over Hull City – led by former FA Youth Cup winner with Millwall, Mark Beard – in East Yorkshire.
Fleetwood Town took the bragging rights in a Lancashire derby against Blackpool. Fawaz Junaid and Kai Cherry made the scoresheet for the Cod Army in a 2-0 win.
Meanwhile, Leeds United ran out 1-0 winners over Bristol City, with Carrick Njinko scoring the only goal of the game.
And Ipswich Town defeated ten-man Sheffield United in a 3-1 win at the Blades’ Bramall Lane.
On Friday night, Blackburn Rovers clinched a 2-1 win over Southampton, with substitute Harvey Higgins the hero, coming off the bench to score a 96th-minute winner.
Bromley ousted Sheffield Wednesday from the competition after 120 minutes of knockout football, winning 4-2 on penalties.
This weekend saw Charlton Athletic beat Liverpool 3-2, despite a second-half fightback from the Reds.
There were four more games to kick off the week's action, as Arsenal ran out 4-1 winners over Mansfield Town.
Coventry City came out on top in a West Midlands derby, beating Birmingham City 4-1 at the CBS Arena.
Watford, who reached last season's semi-final, secured their place in the fourth round with a 1-0 win over Plymouth Argyle.
Defending champions Aston Villa are through after overcoming Doncaster Rovers in a 4-1 win, with England youth international Bradley Burrowes bagging a brace. The Villains beat Manchester City in last year's final against Manchester City.
A Matheos Ferreira hat-trick sealed passage to the fourth round for Newcastle United in a 5-2 victory over Portsmouth.
Brighton & Hove Albion came from behind to beat Tottenham Hotspur 5-2 on Tuesday night.
And Chelsea were 2-1 winners over Brentford in the London derby to round off the evening's action.
The FA Youth Cup third round proper action concluded on Wednesday as Oxford United beat Wigan Athletic 2-0 at the Kassam Stadium.
West Bromwich Albion and Bournemouth played out a seven-goal thriller which the Baggies won 4-3, despite the visitors coming from 4-0 down, coming close to drawing level.
Elsewhere, Stevenage ran out 2-0 winners over Gillingham to advance on the night.
And Southend United made it to the fourth round for the sixth time in the club's history with a penalty shootout victory over Swindon Town after Nikolay Zlatev bagged his fifth goal in this season's competition in a 1-1 draw.
The fourth round proper commences on Wednesday 14 January 2026.
