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FA Cup 2026 Fixtures and Results

Welcome to your comprehensive source for FA Cup 2026 fixtures and results. As the world's oldest football tournament enters its 155th year, we track every football match from the Extra Preliminary Round through to the iconic FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. Whether you're looking for upcoming football fixtures, checking recent football results, or planning around the complete FA Cup schedule, this page has you covered.

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Understanding FA Cup Fixtures and Rounds

The FA Cup operates as a knockout tournament with 736 competing clubs from across the English football pyramid. This spectacular football competition begins in August with the Extra Preliminary Round and culminates in May with the FA Cup Final. Each football fixture in the FA Cup represents a single-elimination match, where the loser is immediately eliminated from the football tournament.

What makes FA Cup fixtures so special is the random draw format. After each round, balls are drawn from a hat to determine the next football match pairings. This creates the possibility of dramatic giant-killings and memorable cup upsets that define the football championship. Every football result matters, as one poor performance can end a team's FA Cup journey.

The FA Cup draw is completely unseeded, meaning smaller clubs can face Premier League giants from the Third Round Proper onwards. This format has produced some of the most famous moments in English football history and continues to make each football fixture a must-watch event.

Complete FA Cup 2026 Round Schedule

FA Cup Rounds Overview

Extra Preliminary Round

August 2025

144 teams enter the competition

Preliminary Round

August 2025

92 teams join from previous round

First Round Qualifying

September 2025

League Two & National League clubs enter

Second Round Qualifying

October 2025

22 winners advance

Third Round Qualifying

October 2025

44 teams compete

Fourth Round Qualifying

November 2025

Final qualifying round

First Round Proper

November 2025

League One & Two join (48 teams)

Second Round Proper

December 2025

40 teams remain

Third Round Proper

January 2026

Premier League & Championship enter (64 teams)

Fourth Round Proper

January/February 2026

32 teams advance

Fifth Round Proper

February/March 2026

16 teams remain in football tournament

Quarter-Finals

March 2026

8 teams compete for FA Cup trophy

Semi-Finals

April 2026

4 teams at Wembley Stadium

FA Cup Final

May 2026

The football championship decider at Wembley

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FA Cup 2026 Fixtures by Round

Third Round Proper Fixtures - January 2026

The Third Round Proper marks the most exciting stage of the FA Cup, when Premier League giants and Championship clubs enter the football competition. This is where the FA Cup truly comes alive, with potential giant-killings and dramatic football results that capture headlines across English football.

Typical FA Cup fixtures in this round include 32 matches played over the first weekend of January. Each football fixture is determined by a random draw conducted in December, with the balls being drawn at Wembley Stadium. The FA Cup draw creates instant storylines and talking points for football fans everywhere.

Note: FA Cup Third Round weekend traditionally features the most football fixtures of any round, with matches spread across Friday evening, Saturday afternoon/evening, Sunday, and Monday evening. Replays are scheduled for midweek if football results end in draws.

Fourth Round Proper Fixtures - February 2026

Following the drama of the Third Round, the Fourth Round Proper continues the FA Cup journey with 16 fixtures. By this stage, non-league giant-killers who survived the previous round face another test against professional football clubs. The football tournament intensity increases as the FA Cup trophy comes into clearer view.

Fourth Round FA Cup fixtures typically take place in late January or early February, with the draw conducted immediately after the previous round's completion. Football results from this round often feature heavyweights facing each other, producing some of the most anticipated matches of the football competition.

Fifth Round to Quarter-Finals - March 2026

With 16 teams becoming 8, then 4, the FA Cup enters its business end. Fifth Round fixtures feature 8 matches, followed by 4 quarter-final ties. These football fixtures are where the FA Cup trophy truly becomes a realistic ambition for the remaining clubs in the football tournament.

The football stakes are incredibly high at this stage. Every football result carries immense weight, and the pressure of knockout football produces some of the most memorable moments in English football. Quarter-final weekends are particularly special in the FA Cup calendar.

How FA Cup Draws Work

The FA Cup draw is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the English football calendar. Conducted at Wembley Stadium, draws determine the FA Cup fixtures for each round. The balls are drawn by former FA Cup winners or football legends, adding to the occasion's prestige.

Here's how the FA Cup draw process works:

  • All balls are placed in a central container, with no seeding or protection for any team
  • Teams are drawn out one by one to create pairings for the next round's football fixtures
  • The first team drawn gets home advantage if drawn against another lower-league side
  • Numbered balls determine which fixture is played first (for scheduling purposes)
  • Replays are automatically scheduled if football results end in draws (until Sixth Round)

FA Cup Draw Tradition: The draw is usually conducted on a Monday evening, with football fans gathering to watch live on BBC or ITV. The anticipation of potential FA Cup fixtures and the possibility of giant-killings makes this a must-watch event for every English football supporter.

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Key FA Cup Fixtures to Watch in 2026

Potential Giant-Killings

Every FA Cup season produces shock football results where lower-league teams defeat Premier League opposition. Keep an eye on FA Cup fixtures featuring non-league sides against top-flight clubs - these matches often produce the most memorable moments in the football tournament.

Premier League Clashes

When the FA Cup draw pairs two Premier League giants, football fans are treated to high-stakes knockout matches. These FA Cup fixtures often feature depleted squads due to injuries and European commitments, adding an element of unpredictability to football results.

Replay Dramas

FA Cup replays offer smaller clubs a second chance, often with the financial reward of a lucrative TV appearance. These football fixtures can produce some of the most dramatic football results, as momentum swings between the original tie and the replay.

Local Derbies

When the FA Cup draw creates local derby matchups, the intensity reaches fever pitch. These football fixtures carry extra bragging rights and often produce passionate atmospheres and unforgettable football results in the knockout tournament.

Tracking FA Cup Results

Staying updated with FA Cup results is essential for football fans throughout the football competition season. Each football result has immediate implications for the next round's draw, making every match in the knockout tournament compelling viewing.

Our FA Cup fixtures and results page provides real-time updates, including:

Live Football Scores

Real-time updates as matches happen across all FA Cup fixtures

Match Reports

Detailed analysis of key football results and performances

Draw Announcements

Immediate updates on upcoming FA Cup fixtures after each draw

Replay Information

Dates and times for replayed matches in the knockout tournament

FA Cup Fixtures: Historical Context

Since the first FA Cup in 1871-72, the football competition has grown from 15 teams to 736 clubs competing in the knockout tournament. The FA Cup has witnessed remarkable football results and iconic football fixtures that have shaped English football history.

Some famous FA Cup fixtures and results include:

  • Wimbledon 1-0 Liverpool (1988 FA Cup Final) - The Crazy Gang's famous giant-killing
  • Sutton United 2-1 Coventry City (1989) - Non-league giants toppling top-flight opposition
  • Wigan Athletic 1-0 Manchester City (2013 FA Cup Final) - A modern giant-killing classic

The FA Cup continues to produce magical moments every season, proving why this knockout tournament remains the most prestigious domestic football cup competition in the world. Each football fixture carries the weight of 150 years of football history.

FA Cup 2026 Results Archive

As the FA Cup 2026 season progresses, we maintain a comprehensive archive of football results from every round. This historical record includes:

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Match-by-match results

Full scorelines from every FA Cup fixture

Goal scorers and timings

Detailed match statistics from the football tournament

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Attendance figures

Crowd numbers from every football fixture

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FA Cup Format and Rules Summary

Match Format

  • • 90 minutes of play in each football fixture
  • • 30 minutes of extra time if drawn (until Quarter-Finals)
  • • Penalty shootout if still level
  • • Replays available until Sixth Round

Home Advantage

  • • Lower-league team hosts if both are non-Premier League
  • • Coin toss determines home team in same-tier matchups
  • • Semi-finals and Final played at Wembley Stadium
  • • FA Cup Final is neutral venue (Wembley)

FA Cup 2026: The Road to Wembley

The FA Cup 2026 season promises another magical journey through English football's most prestigious knockout tournament. From the Extra Preliminary Round in August to the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium in May, every football fixture represents an opportunity for glory or heartbreak in this magnificent football competition.

Football fans worldwide will follow every FA Cup fixture, checking football results and anticipating the next dramatic moment in the knockout tournament. The football trophy remains one of the most coveted prizes in English football, representing 155 years of tradition and excellence in the football championship.

Whether you're supporting a Premier League giant chasing the FA Cup trophy or a non-league side dreaming of giant-killing glory, the FA Cup 2026 fixtures and results will deliver countless unforgettable moments. Stay tuned to this page for comprehensive coverage of every football match throughout the football tournament season.

The FA Cup remains the greatest football cup competition in the world, where dreams are made and history is written with every football fixture. Check back regularly for the latest FA Cup 2026 fixtures, results, and updates on the journey to the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. This is English football at its finest.

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