The draw for the fifth round of the 2025-26 FA Cup will accept place on Monday, February 16, shortly before the fourth-round tie between Macclesfield Town and Brentford, with former England internationals Joe Cole and Karen Carney conducting the draw on TNT Sports, according to the BBC. The draw is scheduled for approximately 18:35 GMT.
Macclesfield Town, currently the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition, will face Brentford, with the winner progressing to the fifth round. This match adds extra intrigue to the draw, as a potential underdog story continues to unfold. The fifth round ties themselves will be played around the weekend commencing Saturday, March 7, 2026, as detailed by The FA.
Ball Numbers for the FA Cup Fifth-Round Draw
Here are the ball numbers for the draw, as confirmed by the BBC:
- Liverpool
- Fulham
- Sunderland
- Southampton
- Wrexham
- Arsenal
- Chelsea
- West Ham United
- Mansfield Town
- Norwich City
- Port Vale or Bristol City
- Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Newcastle United
- Manchester City
- Macclesfield or Brentford
- Leeds United
Several Premier League clubs remain in the competition, including Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City. League One side Mansfield Town has also secured a place in the fifth round after a notable upset victory over Burnley in the previous round, as reported by Sporting News. Wrexham, having already eliminated Championship sides, are also in the draw.
No Replays in the Fifth Round
A significant change for this season’s FA Cup is the elimination of replays in the event of a draw. All ties will now go to extra time, and if necessary, a penalty shootout, as outlined by the BBC. This alteration aims to streamline the competition schedule and reduce fixture congestion.
The Sporting News reports that the ties will take place from March 6 to March 9, 2026. The draw will determine the 16 teams that will compete for a place in the quarter-finals. The competition has already seen some surprises, with Tottenham and Manchester United falling in the third round, and Aston Villa and Brighton eliminated in subsequent rounds.
The FA Cup fourth round is not yet complete, with Port Vale’s tie against Bristol City postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and rescheduled for March 3, according to Yahoo Sports.
Following the fifth round, the competition will progress to the quarter-finals on April 4, 2026, the semi-finals on April 25, 2026, and culminate in the final on May 16, 2026, as per the FA’s schedule.
The outcome of the draw will set the stage for an exciting fifth round, with several intriguing matchups likely to emerge. Fans will be keen to see how the remaining teams navigate the challenges ahead as they compete for a place in the latter stages of the competition. Stay tuned for updates following the draw.
What do you think of the potential matchups? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to share this article with fellow football fans!
