The FA Cup, the world's oldest domestic cup competition, returns for its 145th edition in the 2025/26 season. The first round proper marks the entry of 48 EFL clubs from League One and League Two, joining 32 qualifiers from lower divisions. Notable teams include Reading, Wigan Athletic, Cardiff City and Bolton Wanderers.
The draw for the first round proper takes place on Monday, October 13, 2025, starting at approximately 6.30pm BST. UK viewers can watch exclusively on TNT Sports 1, with coverage beginning at 6.30pm ahead of the live broadcast of Worthing vs Forest Green Rovers. It is also available to stream on discovery+ and the TNT Sports YouTube channel for free.
The 80 clubs in the draw are assigned ball numbers: EFL teams 1-48, non-league qualifiers 49-80. The full list includes Accrington Stanley (1), AFC Wimbledon (2), Barnet (3), Barnsley (4), and others up to Farnham Town or Sutton United (80).
The first round proper ties are scheduled across the weekend of November 1-2, 2025, with kick-off times at 3pm GMT on Saturday and selected matches on Sunday. All fixtures will be confirmed post-draw, subject to broadcast selections.
Teams from the Premier League and Championship will enter in the third round, with that draw taking place in December and fixtures in January. Crystal Palace are the holders after beating Manchester City in last season's final.
