Introduction
Man United knocked out FA Cup hopes in another brutal Old Trafford night as Brighton beat Manchester United 2-1 in the third round on Sunday, January 11, 2026.
Brajan Gruda struck first, Danny Welbeck haunted his former club again, and Benjamin Šeško’s late header wasn’t enough to save United.
Man United knocked out FA Cup after Brighton’s 2-1 win
United started brightly but Brighton scored against the run of play in the 12th minute when Gruda slammed in a loose ball after a goalmouth scramble.
Welbeck then made it 2-0 on 64 minutes with a left-foot finish into the top corner, before Šeško headed in on 85 minutes to set up a tense finale.
Any late push ended when teenage substitute Shea Lacey was sent off in the 89th minute for a second booking, with the second yellow shown for dissent.
Two key context points (both verified):
- United went out in the FA Cup third round for the first time since 2013–14.
- It’s also being reported as United’s earliest exit from both domestic cups since 1981–82.
FA Cup third-round shockers — the biggest upsets and wild finishes
The third round delivered the kind of chaos the FA Cup is famous for, with multiple giant-killings and shootout drama.
Major shock: Macclesfield knock out holders Crystal Palace
- Sixth-tier Macclesfield beat holders Crystal Palace 2-1 at Moss Rose.
- Sky News described it as the biggest shock in history in terms of league places, with 117 places between the sides (previous record gap: 108).
- Scorers: Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts; Palace pulled one back late through Yeremy Pino.
Wrexham’s Hollywood-style comeback win
Wrexham drew 3-3 with Nottingham Forest and advanced 4-3 on penalties, with keeper Arthur Okonkwo saving two in the shootout.
Seven-goal thriller: Mansfield stun Sheffield United
League One Mansfield Town beat Sheffield United 4-3, with Louis Reed scoring twice against his former club.
Sunderland edge Everton on penalties
Everton drew 1-1 with Sunderland (after extra time), but Sunderland went through 0-3 on penalties, with keeper Robin Roefs saving every Everton spot-kick.
Fourth-round draw — date, time, and India (IST) details
The FA Cup fourth-round draw is on Monday, January 12, 2026, made at Anfield before Liverpool vs Barnsley.
Coverage starts 6:30pm GMT, with the draw expected around 6:35pm GMT — that’s 12:05am IST (Tuesday, January 13) for Indian viewers.
It will be shown on TNT Sports 1, discovery+, and the TNT Sports YouTube channel; the FA says the draw will be conducted by Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole, with Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist presenting.
Key Highlights
Brighton knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup, winning 2-1 at Old Trafford.
Macclesfield stunned holders Crystal Palace 2-1 in the competition’s biggest league-place upset (117-place gap).
The fourth-round draw is Monday, January 12 (6:35pm GMT / 12:05am IST Tuesday).
Conclusion
The FA Cup third round delivered pure mayhem — and Manchester United were the headline victims. Macclesfield’s win over the holders underlined why this tournament still produces the most unbelievable nights in football.
Stay tuned to KittoNews for the fourth-round draw and the next set of potential giant-killings.
FAQs
A1: Brighton knocked Manchester United out, winning 2-1 at Old Trafford in the third round on January 11, 2026.
A2: It’s Monday, January 12, 2026, expected around 6:35pm GMT, which is 12:05am IST on Tuesday, January 13.
