Leeds United learn their FA Cup fate as Daniel Farke’s side handed tricky away tie

Add as preferred source on Google

Leeds United have learned their opponents for the Third Round of the FA Cup, as Daniel Farke’s side face a tricky away trip.

The FA Cup has not been a happy hunting ground for Leeds United in recent years, as the Whites have struggled to make an impact in the competition.

Daniel Farke has enjoyed a relatively strong cup record with Leeds, as his side made it to the fourth round last season, having progressed to the fifth round the year before.

Now, Derby County stand in the way of Farke’s men and their dreams of becoming the first Leeds side since Don Revie’s legendary team to lift the FA Cup when they did so in 1972.

Leeds United face Derby County in the third round of the FA Cup

Leeds were assigned ball number 19 in the third round draw and were one of the 65 teams drawn from the pot.

Having been drawn midway through the draw, Leeds face a tricky away trip to renew their rivalry with Derby County.

The Rams are currently mid-table in the Championship, sitting 15th after 19 games. Leeds have a rich recent history with Derby, having clashed many times in the second tier in recent years.

The last FA Cup tie between the two sides came in the third round in January 1996, when the Whites secured a 4-2 win at the old Baseball Ground.

The ties will take place on the weekend of 10th January 2026, the weekend after Leeds face Manchester United in the Premier League. Farke must decide whether to rotate his side for the clash or go all out for the cup.

• READ MORE: David Batty once revealed he came close to retiring before his emotional Leeds United return

Leeds United have a poor recent track record in the FA Cup

The fact that Leeds’ run to the fifth round of the 23/24 FA Cup was a notable achievement shows just how difficult the Whites have found the competition in recent years.

Prior to Farke’s first season in charge, Leeds had fallen in the third round of the competition on five of their previous six attempts to progress.

Leeds’ last FA Cup quarter-final appearance came in the 2002/03 season, when they were knocked out by Neil Warnock’s Sheffield United side.

Their most recent semi-final appearance came nearly 40 years ago, as the Whites fell one game short of the final against Coventry City in the 1986/87 season.