There is something special about the FA Cup. Its unique knockout format brings together clubs from different levels of English football, giving lower-league sides the opportunity to compete against some of the country’s biggest teams.
With its long history of memorable upsets and dramatic finishes, the competition remains one of the highlights of the English football calendar.
The 2026-27 Emirates FA Cup is now underway, with the qualifying rounds completed and the First Round Proper approaching.
This article covers the competition schedule, draw dates, format and results, helping supporters follow the tournament from the opening qualifying round through to the final at Wembley Stadium.
The 2026-27 FA Cup began with the Extra Preliminary Round on Saturday 8 August 2026. This opening stage featured clubs from the lower levels of the English football pyramid, with hundreds of teams competing for a place in the subsequent qualifying rounds.
The competition progresses through several qualifying stages before reaching the First Round Proper. The full schedule for the 2026-27 season is as follows:
The First Round Proper introduces clubs from League One and League Two, alongside the non-league teams that have progressed through the qualifying stages. Premier League and Championship clubs enter the competition in the Third Round Proper in January 2027.
From that point onwards, the tournament moves towards its business end, with each round bringing clubs closer to a potential appearance at Wembley.
The 2026-27 FA Cup Final is scheduled for Saturday 22 May 2027 at Wembley Stadium in London.
The final is one of the biggest occasions in the English football calendar, bringing together the two teams that have successfully navigated the qualifying rounds and knockout stages. Wembley provides the setting for the competition’s showpiece match, with the winners lifting the famous FA Cup trophy.
The date has been confirmed by the Football Association, although the precise kick-off time and broadcast arrangements are subject to further announcements.
The FA Cup draw takes place at different points throughout the season, with each round’s pairings determining the next set of fixtures.
The early-round draws were confirmed in July 2026, allowing non-league clubs to prepare for the opening stages of the competition. The First Round Proper draw took place on Monday 19 October 2026, when League One and League Two clubs joined the qualifying-round winners.
The remaining draws will take place as the competition progresses:
The exact dates and broadcast arrangements for subsequent draws are announced by the FA as the tournament progresses.
The draws are important occasions for supporters because they reveal potential matchups between clubs from different divisions. A favourable home draw can offer a lower-league team an opportunity to progress, while a meeting between two established sides can produce one of the competition’s standout fixtures.
The FA Cup uses an unseeded draw, meaning there are no protected teams or predetermined matchups based on league position or previous achievements.
Once the teams have qualified for the relevant round, they are assigned numbers and entered into the draw. Balls are then selected to determine the pairings, with the first team drawn generally receiving home advantage.
This open format is one of the reasons the FA Cup remains so unpredictable. A non-league club can be drawn against a Premier League opponent, while two leading teams can find themselves facing each other much earlier than expected.
The latest FA Cup draw is:
Friday, 6 November
Bristol Rovers vs Cambridge – 7:30pm
Oxford City vs Leicester – 7:45pm
Saturday, 7 November
Accrington vs Wycombe – 3pm
Fleetwood vs Rochdale – 3pm
Leyton Orient vs Harborough Town – 3pm
Bardford vs Marine – 3pm
York vs Northampton – 3pm
Hornchurch vs Blackpool – 3pm
Oxford United vs Stevenage – 3pm
Burton Albion vs Rushden and Diamonds – 3pm
Salisbury vs Sholing – 3pm
Carlisle vs Salford – 3pm
Kidderminster vs Doncaster – 3pm
Plymouth vs Alvechurch – 3pm
Harrogate vs Flyde – 3pm
Eastleigh vs Shrewsbury – 3pm
Boreham Wood vs Wigan – 3pm
Cheltenham vs Halifax – 3pm
Crewe vs Wimbledon – 3pm
Huddersfield vs Exeter – 3pm
Newport vs Walsall – 3pm
Mansfield vs Macclesfield – 3pm
Barnsley vs Aldershot – 3pm
Guiseley vs Sutton – 3pm
Bromley vs Rotherham – 3pm
Barnet vs Tranmere – 3pm
Dover Athletic vs Wealdstone – 3pm
MK Dons vs Swindon – 3pm
Port Vale vs Scunthorpe – 3pm
Gillingham vs Barrow – 3pm
Luton vs Forest Green – 3pm
Colchester vs Worcester City – 3pm
Chesterfield vs Yeovil – 3pm
Altrincham vs Notts County – 5:30pm
Peterborough vs Reading – 8pm
Sunday, 8 November
Stafford Rangers vs Grimsby – 12pm
Cray vs Stockport – 2:15pm
Wimbourne Town vs Crawley Town – 3pm
Oldham vs Sheffield Wednesday – 5:15pm
Monday, 9 November
Plymouth Parkway vs Berkhamsted – 7:30pm
One important feature of the modern competition is that there are no replays. Since the 2024-25 season, all FA Cup ties have been decided on the day. If a match is level after 90 minutes, it goes to extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shootout.
The 2026-27 FA Cup qualifying rounds have taken place, and the First Round Proper draw has now been completed.
As of 4 November 2026, the First Round Proper matches have not yet been played. Therefore, there are no confirmed results from the main competition rounds at this stage.
The latest FA Cup results are:
The FA Cup offers plenty of exciting football throughout the season, with fixtures involving clubs from across the English football pyramid.
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