The 2026-27 FA Cup has reached the first-round stage, with some EFL teams now entering the competition and they will find out their fate when the draw takes place this evening.
Thirty-two non-league sides, who have battled through the qualifying rounds, have their names in the hat alongside 48 teams from League One and League Two, including plenty of big names and former FA Cup winners. The likes of Leicester City (2021 winners), Wigan Athletic (2013 winners), Sheffield Wednesday (1896, 1907 and 1935 winners) and Huddersfield Town (1922 winners) are some of the plum ties available, while four teams will be playing in the FA Cup first round proper for the first time in their history.
Eighth-tier AFC Rushden & Diamonds, who were founded in 2011 after the demise of Rushden & Diamonds, are one of that quartet after stunning National League North side Morecambe 2-1 in the fourth qualifying round, with seventh-tier trio Berkhamsted – who beat Southend 2-1 at Roots Hall to secure their spot – Sholing and Plymouth Parkway also there for the first time.
Meanwhile, ninth-tier Tadley Calleva are the lowest-ranked team in the hat after brilliantly securing a replay with National League side Aldershot following a 2-2 draw.
Here’s everything you need to know about the first-round draw.
When is the FA Cup first-round draw?
The draw for the first round of the 2026-27 FA Cup takes place this evening, Monday October 19, at around 6.35pm.
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
The draw will be available to watch live in the UK on TNT Sports 1, HBO Max, and on the TNT Sports YouTube channel. Coverage begins at 6.30pm, with the draw itself expected to start around five minutes later. It will be hosted by Matt Smith, with Martin Keown and Fara Williams in charge of drawing the balls.
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
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
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 the FA Cup first-round ties take place?
The 40 FA Cup first-round matches will be held across the weekend of 7-8 of November, with the second-round draw presumed to take place on the evening of Monday 9 November.