📅 FA Cup Fifth Round Draw — Date & Time
The FA Cup fifth round draw for the 2025-26 season is scheduled to take place on Monday, 16 February 2026.
Rather than a stand-alone event at an FA headquarters, this draw is being staged live before kick-off of the final fourth-round tie between Macclesfield FC and Brentford. Coverage starts with the build-up to that match, and the draw itself is expected to be made at around 18:35 UK time (which is 6:35 pm GMT) — or 1:35 pm Eastern Time in the United States.
The draw features 16 teams who have all progressed from the fourth round, and the outcome will determine all eight fixtures in the competition’s last 16.
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📺 How to Watch the Draw on TV & Online
For fans wanting to follow the draw live:
In the UK, the draw will be broadcast and streamed live on TNT Sports 1 and on discovery+.
TNT Sports will host pre-match coverage of Macclesfield vs Brentford, with the draw being conducted during that window.
The club and official FA Cup social channels often share updates, and in many regions you can also see clips or live moments on platforms like YouTube via TNT Sports’ official feed.
Outside the UK, broadcasters vary: in the USA, the draw and games might be shown via ESPN+, while rights holders in Africa usually include SuperSport depending on your provider.
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🔢 Ball Numbers & Teams in the Draw
Unlike a straight random draw where teams are simply picked out of the pot, the FA Cup usually assigns ball numbers to clubs so that the draw is made in numerical order. Here are the known ball numbers for the 2025-26 fifth round draw:
1. Liverpool (or Brighton & Hove Albion)
2. Stoke City or Fulham
3. Oxford United or Sunderland
4. Southampton
5. Wrexham
6. Arsenal or Wigan Athletic
7. Chelsea
8. West Ham United
9. Mansfield Town
10. Norwich City
11. Port Vale or Bristol City
12. Grimsby Town or Wolverhampton Wanderers
13. Newcastle United
14. Manchester City
15. Macclesfield or Brentford
16. Birmingham City or Leeds United
Since Liverpool have already progressed from the fourth round — beating Brighton to secure their place in the last 16 — they will definitely be ball number one in the draw if Brighton lose that final fourth-round tie. If Brighton were to upset Liverpool (very unlikely but technically possible if the fixture were reversed), then Brighton would take that spot instead.
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⚽ Who Liverpool Can Face in the Fifth Round
Given Liverpool’s position as ball number one, their possible opponents hinge on how all 16 teams are drawn. In an open draw, they could be paired with:
🔹 Premier League opposition
Chelsea — a classic rivalry tie
West Ham United — another tough London-based opponent
Manchester City — if the draw pairs 1 vs 14, this is a massive fixture
Norwich City — if they progress
🔹 Championship or lower-league foes
Stoke City / Fulham — if one wins their fourth-round replay
Oxford United / Sunderland — both are strong League One sides
Wrexham — the surprise package from the Championship
🔹 Smaller clubs
Mansfield Town or Port Vale / Bristol City — could offer classic “cup upset” vibes
Macclesfield — a lower-league giant-killing side that could draw headlines
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🔚 What Happens After the Draw
Once the draw is made on 16 February 2026, all eight fifth-round ties will be scheduled for the weekend of 7–8 March. Winners of these ties will move on to the FA Cup quarter-finals, with other rounds staged throughout March and April leading up to the Final at Wembley Stadium on 16 May 2026.
For Liverpool fans, this draw is a key moment in the club’s pursuit of silverware; their potential path could include high-profile fixtures or dream cup runs against underdogs — all of which make the FA Cup one of English football’s most cherished competitions.
