The FA Cup first round draw takes centre stage tonight.
The qualifying journey in football’s oldest competition begun some time ago for swathes of non-league clubs, a number of whom will now be eyeing significant upsets against opponents from League One and League Two - including the likes of former Premier League champions Leicester.
That includes four that have reached the first round proper for the first time ever in AFC Rushden & Diamonds, Berkhamsted, Plymouth Parkway and Sholing, while the likes of Wimborne Town and Guiseley have also made it through.
Teams from the Premier League and the Championship do not enter the FA Cup until the third round in January, but there is still plenty of drama to come before then up and down the country.
Boreham Wood, Brackley, Carlisle and Gateshead were among the biggest winners of the first round as they scored wins over EFL opposition, while Chelmsford, Slough and Weston-super-Mare also took out teams from higher divisions.
When is the FA Cup first round draw?
The draw for the first round of the 2026/27 Emirates FA Cup takes place tonight on Monday October 19, 2026.
The television coverage starts at 6:30pm BST, with the draw itself expected to begin at approximately 6:35pm.
Proceedings will be hosted by Matt Smith, with the draw conducted by Martin Keown and Fara Williams.
Where to watch FA Cup first round draw
TV channel: The FA Cup draw will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 1, with coverage beginning at 6:30pm.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can watch it live online via the HBO Max app, while TNT Sports are also streaming it on their official YouTube channel.
Live coverage: Follow the draw as it happens with Standard Sport’s live blog.
Holders: Manchester City beat Chelsea in last season’s FA Cup final at Wembley
AFP/Getty
FA Cup first round draw ball numbers
1. Accrington Stanley
2. AFC Wimbledon
3. Barnet
4. Barnsley
5. Blackpool
6. Bradford City
7. Bristol Rovers
8. Bromley
9. Burton Albion
10. Cambridge United
11. Cheltenham Town
12. Chesterfield
13. Colchester United
14. Crawley Town
15. Crewe Alexandra
16. Doncaster Rovers
17. Exeter City
18. Fleetwood Town
19. Gillingham
20. Grimsby Town
21. Huddersfield Town
22. Leicester City
23. Leyton Orient
24. Luton Town
Eyes on the prize: The FA Cup is the oldest football competition in the world
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25. Mansfield Town
26. Milton Keynes Dons
27. Newport County
28. Northampton Town
29. Notts County
30. Oldham Athletic
31. Oxford United
32. Peterborough United
33. Plymouth Argyle
34. Port Vale
35. Reading
36. Rochdale
37. Rotherham United
38. Salford City
39. Sheffield Wednesday
40. Shrewsbury Town
41. Stevenage
42. Stockport County
43. Swindon Town
44. Tranmere Rovers
45. Walsall
46. Wigan Athletic
47. Wycombe Wanderers
48. York City
49. Harborough Town
50. Chorley or Worcester City
51. Gateshead or Stafford Rangers
52. FC Halifax Town
53. Guiseley
54. Barrow or Gloucester City
55. Marine
56. Scunthorpe United
57. Macclesfield or Anstey Nomads
58. Altrincham or FC United Of Manchester
59. Bury or Harrogate Town
All-time upset: Sixth-tier Macclesfield knocked out holders Crystal Palace last season
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60. Spalding United or Alvechurch
61. AFC Rushden & Diamonds
62. Kidderminster Harriers
63. Carlisle United
64. AFC Fylde
65. Salisbury
66. Sutton United
67. Chesham United or Forest Green Rovers
68. Leatherhead or Yeovil Town
69. Bedford Town or Cray Wanderers
70. Hornchurch
71. Aldershot Town or Tadley Calleva
72. Oxford City
73. Wimborne Town
74. Wealdstone
75. Boreham Wood
76. Eastleigh
77. Berkhamsted FC
78. Sholing
79. Plymouth Parkway
80. Dover Athletic
When will FA Cup first round ties take place?
Matches in the FA Cup first round will be held across and around the weekend of November 7/8, 2026.