When is FA Cup draw? Start time, ball numbers, TV channel and live stream for first round today

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

Getty

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

AFP/Getty

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.