The famous FA Cup third round faces major disruption this weekend as the fierce winter storm named Goretti brings freezing conditions across the UK. The first casualty has been confirmed, with Salford City's home tie against Swindon Town called off due to a frozen pitch.
Storm Goretti's Widespread Chaos
Storm Goretti has plunged the nation into a deep freeze, bringing with it sub-zero temperatures, heavy snow, and ice warnings. The severe weather has caused travel chaos, with train services disrupted, schools closed, and tens of thousands of households experiencing power cuts. The Met Office took the rare step of issuing a red warning on Friday for dangerously stormy winds in parts of the country.
This widespread disruption has now extended firmly into the sporting calendar, threatening the schedule of one of football's most cherished competitions. Clubs and ground staff are engaged in a frantic battle against the elements to ensure their pitches are playable and safe for players and fans.
First FA Cup Postponement Confirmed
Salford City announced the early postponement of their Saturday clash with Swindon Town after exhaustive efforts to protect the pitch failed. The club had used protective sheets and heat lamps for weeks in anticipation of the cold snap, but sections of the surface remained frozen solid.
A club statement explained: "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."
The financial stakes for clubs in this round are significant. All 64 teams still in the competition receive a guaranteed payment from the prize fund, whether they win or lose. Furthermore, clubs featured on linear television broadcasts earn an extra £80,000, while those in matches streamed on discovery+ receive £40,000.
Further Football Disruption and Full Fixture List
The weather's impact is not limited to the FA Cup. The FA Trophy has also seen a postponement, with Kidderminster Harriers' match against Morecambe called off after a Friday pitch inspection. That game has been rescheduled for Tuesday, 13th January.
With further drops in temperature forecast, more fixtures this weekend are under serious threat. Clubs will be conducting pitch inspections right up until kick-off times. Below is the full scheduled fixture list for the FA Cup third round, with the confirmed postponement marked.
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 & Hove Albion
MONDAY 12 JANUARY 2026
19:45: Liverpool v. Barnsley
Fans are strongly advised to check with their clubs and official channels for the very latest updates, as the situation remains fluid. The battle between Britain's winter weather and the magic of the cup is well and truly underway.
