When is the FA Cup first round draw? Date, start time, ball numbers, TV channel and live stream

The qualifying journey in football’s oldest competition has long since begun for swathes of non-league clubs, many of whom will now be eyeing significant upsets against opponents from League One and League Two.

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.

There were shocks aplenty in last season’s FA Cup, with holders Crystal Palace dumped out by sixth-tier Macclesfield in stunning fashion.

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.

The draw for the first round of the 2026/27 Emirates FA Cup takes place 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.

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

All-time upset: Sixth-tier Macclesfield knocked out holders Crystal Palace last season AFP/Getty 60. Spalding United or Alvechurch

Matches in the FA Cup first round will be held across and around the weekend of November 7/8.