The FA Cup first-round has taken place as League One and League Two sides enter the fray in the world’s oldest cup competition.
The 48 teams from the third and fourth tier of English football join the 32 non-league sides who have successfully negotiated the fourth qualifying round, with eighth-tier Maldon & Tiptree – current leaders of the Isthmian League North Division – the lowest-ranked team left in the competition after they beat Flackwell Heath 1-0 over the weekend thanks to a goal from ex-West Ham striker Freddie Sears.
They’ll face an almighty trip to League One outfit Port Vale in the headline-grabbing tie of the draw, while EFL heavyweights Bolton Wanderers, Bradford City and Cardiff City also learned their opponents.
Luton Town – who confirmed Jack Wilshere as their new manager today following the departure of Matt Bloomfield – will meanwhile play host to either Forest Green Rovers or Worthing as the former Arsenal midfielder looks to sprinkle some of the cup magic he experienced during his playing career on the Hatters.
Relive the first-round draw with our live blog below:
FA Cup first round draw - live updates
- The FA Cup first-round draw sees 48 League One and Two teams join the 32 non-league qualifiers
- EFL heavyweights such as Bolton, Bradford, Cardiff and Luton have learned their fate
- Eight-tier Maldon & Tiptree face an almighty trip to League One side Port Vale
- Draw in full
FA Cup first-round draw in full
Monday 13 October 2025 19:00 , Will CastleWeston Super Mare vs Aldershot Town
Salford City vs Lincoln City
Luton Town vs Worthing/Forest Green Rovers
Gainsborough Trinity/Hartlepool United vs Accrington Stanley
Colchester United vs MK Dons
Tranmere Rovers vs Stockport County
Wigan Athletic vs Hemel Hempstead Town
Newport County vs Gillingham
Cheltenham Town vs Bradford City
Barnsley vs York City
Reading vs Carlisle United
Bromley vs Bristol Rovers
Peterborough United vs Cardiff City
Oldham Athletic vs Northampton Town
Crewe Alexandra vs Doncaster Rovers
Tamworth vs Leyton Orient
Stevenage vs Chesterfield
Boreham Wood vs Crawley Town
Farnham Town/Sutton United vs AFC Telford United
Bolton Wanderers vs Huddersfield Town
Chelmsford City vs Braintree Town
Spennymoor Town vs Barrow
Wycombe Wanderers vs Plymouth Argyle
FC Halifax Town vs Exeter City
Slough Town vs Altrincham/Harborough Town
Wealdstone vs Southend United
Rotherham United vs Swindon Town
Grimsby Town vs Ebbsfleet United
Buxton vs Chatham Town
Burton Albion vs Banbury United/St Albans City
Woking/Brackley Town vs Notts County
Blackpool vs Scunthorpe United
Cambridge United vs Morecambe/Chester
AFC Wimbledon vs Gateshead
Mansfield Town vs Harrogate Town
Macclesfield vs AFC Totton/Truro City
South Shields vs Shrewsbury Town
Fleetwood Town vs Barnet
Port Vale vs Maldon & Tiptree
Eastleigh vs Walsall
Stunning FA Cup strikes
Monday 13 October 2025 21:00 , Luke BakerSomething to whet the appetite ahead of the first round!
WHAT A HIT 🤯
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) October 12, 2025
Alex Newby with a fantastic strike for @YorkCityFC 👌#EmiratesFACup | 📹 @YorkCityFC pic.twitter.com/Ds3ZgCzrM5
Jake Vokins that is special 🤩
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) October 11, 2025
The @EastleighFC defender with a great strike against @HAMRICHFC!#EmiratesFACup | 📹 @Alifesmall4
pic.twitter.com/ypSYx4BEXi
What a way to win it 😮💨
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) October 12, 2025
Luke Brennan of @Buxton_FC with a 90th minute strike to send them into the #EmiratesFACup First Round Proper!
📹 @Buxton_FC
pic.twitter.com/FLWeZ9RXTv
Jack Wilshere on becoming a manager, Mikel Arteta’s influence and the key to making it at Arsenal
Monday 13 October 2025 20:40 , Luke BakerSome more reading on new Luton boss Jack Wilshere for you, who will take on his first FA Cup assignment next month. He sat down with our Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney back in March to discuss Mikel Arteta’s influence on his career and his coaching journey.
Just two years ago, Wilshere wasn’t even sure he wanted to go into coaching but seeing Arteta work means the former Arsenal and England man is now adamant.
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Jack Wilshere on becoming a manager and the key to making it at Arsenal
Maldon & Tiptree, the remaining FA Cup minnows
Monday 13 October 2025 20:20 , Luke BakerThere is only one eighth-tier side left in this season’s FA Cup and that’s Essex-based outfit Maldon & Tiptree.
The superbly-nicknamed Jammers are the current leaders of the Isthmian League North Division and they beat Flackwell Heath 1-0 over the weekend to reach this stage.
The scorer of that goal was ex-West Ham striker Freddie Sears, who is now 35, as he turned in Courtney Senior’s cross at the near post with his head just after the half-hour mark.
They're the only team in the first round proper to have played in every round since the extra-preliminary round and have won six games to reach this stage.
“[This win is] massive,” said Maldon & Tiptree boss Kevin Horlock. “It was something we set out to do. The owners came in and have spent a lot of time and money on this football club and rightly want to be talked about. So, the target was to get to the first round. We've achieved that. And now we want to go further.
“We’d look for a winnable game at home. Or one of the big boys, the highest-ranked team we can get away, where the club gets a nice payday.”
A special group of players. 💙🍓@EmiratesFACup | #NonLeague #Essex pic.twitter.com/KQntNWTUe6
— Maldon & Tiptree FC (@MaldonTiptreeFC) October 12, 2025
Latest FA Cup winner odds ahead of first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 20:00 , Will CastleLiverpool 9/2
Man City 5/1
Arsenal 6/1
Newcastle 9/1
Man United, Aston Villa, Tottenham 14/1
Nottingham Forest, Brighton, Bournemouth 25/1
Everton, Crystal Palace, West Ham 33/1
Fulham 40/1
Leeds, Brentford, Wolves 66/1
Burnley, Sunderland 100/1
Odds via BetVictor. The Independent vets betting sites for useability, security and responsible gambling tools. You can claim free bets here to use across a range of sports. Please read the terms.
FA Cup schedule in full
Monday 13 October 2025 19:45 , Will CastleFirst Round Proper: Saturday 1 November 2025
Second Round Proper: Saturday 6 December 2025
Third Round Proper: Saturday 10 January 2026
Fourth Round Proper: Saturday 14 February 2026
Fifth Round Proper: Saturday 7 March 2026
Quarter Final: Saturday 4 April 2026
Semi-Final: Saturday 25 April 2026
The Final: Saturday 16 May 2026
When will the FA Cup first-round ties take place?
Monday 13 October 2025 19:30 , Will CastleFirst round ties in the FA Cup will take place on Saturday 1 November.
Who have the EFL heavyweights drawn?
Monday 13 October 2025 19:20 , Will CastleThe FA Cup first-round draw is particularly notable as it sees some of League One and League Two’s biggest hitters - many with Premier League experience - enter the competition alongside those lower down the pyramid.
Cardiff City are up there with the biggest names and in slightly underwhelming news for the smaller outfits, they will face Peterborough United in an all-League One clash.
Luton, now under the management of Jack Wilshere, will play host to either Worthing or Forest Green Rovers - both of whom play in the National League.
Wigan Athletic will play Hemel Hempstead Town, while Grimsby - who shocked Man United in the Carabao Cup - will hope not to have the same done to them as they clash with National League South side Ebbsfleet United.
Blackpool face the test of Scunthorpe United, who are finding their feet again after back-to-back relegations. Meanwhile, Notts County will face either Woking or Brackley Town, and Bradford City will travel to Cheltenham.
Highlights from the draw
Monday 13 October 2025 19:07 , Will CastleMaldon & Tiptree were always going to be the focus of this draw - they’re the lowest-ranked team still in the competition, playing their football in the English EIGHTH tier. They will go to League One side Port Vale in a mammoth FA Cup test.
Elswehere, Macclesfield will play host to AFC Totton or Truro City - notable for the fact the club’s part-owner Robbie Savage was in the studio as it was drawn out. Sounded like he would prefer to avoid the test of the Cornish side, who play their football in the National League.
Aside from the actual matches, Michail Antonio got a reaction from the youngens in attendance at Worthing FC -where the draw was held - for doing the ‘67’ meme when pulling out Slough Town, aka ball 67. I still don’t get it.
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:57 , Will CastleAnd that’s the FA Cup first-round draw for you!
We’ll bring you a full list of fixtures imminently.
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:56 , Will CastleAnd that leaves...
Eastleigh vs Walsall
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:56 , Will CastlePort Vale vs Maldon & Tiptree
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:56 , Will CastleFleetwood vs Barnet
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:55 , Will CastleSouth Shields vs Shrewsbury Town
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:55 , Will CastleMacclesfield vs AFC Totton/Truro City
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:55 , Will CastleMansfield Town vs Harrogate Town
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:54 , Will CastleAFC Wimbledon vs Gateshead
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:54 , Will CastleCambridge United vs Morecambe/Chester
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:54 , Will CastleBlackpool vs Scunthorpe United
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:54 , Will CastleWoking/Brackley Town vs Notts County
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:53 , Will CastleBurton Albion vs Banbury United/St Albans City
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:53 , Will CastleBuxton vs Chatham Town
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:53 , Will CastleGrimsby Town vs Ebbsfleet United
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:52 , Will CastleRotherham United vs Swindon
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:52 , Will CastleWealdstone vs Southend United
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:52 , Will CastleSlough Town vs Altrincham/Harborough Town
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:51 , Will CastleHalifax Town vs Exeter City
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:51 , Will CastleWycombe Wanderers vs Plymouth Argyle
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:51 , Will CastleSpennymoor Town vs Barrow
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:51 , Will CastleChelmsford City vs Braintree Town
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:50 , Will CastleBolton vs Huddersfield
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:50 , Will CastleFarnham Town/Sutton United vs AFC Telford United
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:50 , Will CastleBoreham Wood vs Crawley
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:49 , Will CastleStevenage vs Chesterfield
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:49 , Will CastleTamworth vs Leyton Orient
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:49 , Will CastleCrewe Alexandra vs Doncaster Rovers
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:49 , Will CastleOldham Athletic vs Northampton Town
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:48 , Will CastlePeterborough vs Cardiff City
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:48 , Will CastleBromley vs Bristol Rovers
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:48 , Will CastleReading vs Carlisle
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:48 , Will CastleBarnsley vs York City
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:47 , Will CastleCheltenham Town vs Bradford City
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:47 , Will CastleNewport County vs Gillingham
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:47 , Will CastleWigan vs Hemel Hempstead
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:47 , Will CastleTranmere vs Stockport
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:46 , Will CastleColchester vs MK Dons
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:46 , Will CastleGainsborough Trinity/Hartlepool vs Accrington Stanley
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:45 , Will CastleLuton vs Worthing/Forest Green Rovers
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:45 , Will CastleSalford City vs Lincoln City
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:45 , Will CastleWeston Super Mare vs Aldershot Town
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:44 , Will CastleThe balls are out of the bag...
And we're live!
Monday 13 October 2025 18:44 , Will CastleTNT Sports’ live stream is up and running!
Joel Ward and Michael Antonio are the special guests doing the honours.
First-round draw to come!
Moments away from the first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:39 , Will CastleAnd here’s the second half of the list of tonight’s ball numbers. The remaining handful of EFL clubs plus the non-league sides.
41. Shrewsbury Town
42. Stevenage
43. Stockport County
44. Swindon
45. Tranmere Rovers
46. Walsall
47. Wigan Athletic
48. Wycombe Wanderers
49. AFC Telford United
50. Macclesfield
51. Gainsborough Trinity or Hartlepool United
52. Carlisle United
53. York City
54. Buxton
55. Morecambe or Chester
56. South Shields
57. Tamworth
58. Scunthorpe United
59. Gateshead
60. Spennymoor Town
61. FC Halifax Town
62. Altrincham or Harborough Town
63. Worthing or Forest Green Rovers
64. Maldon & Tiptree
65. Woking or Brackley Town
66. Wealdstone
67. Slough Town
68. Boreham Wood
69. Eastleigh
70. Southend United
71. Ebbsfleet United
72. Braintree Town
73. Chatham Town
74. Weston Super Mare
75. Hemel Hempstead Town
76. Banbury United or St Albans City
77. Chelmsford City
78. AFC Totton or Truro City
79. Aldershot Town
80. Farnham Town or Sutton United
Moments away from the first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:38 , Will CastleHere’s a quick reminder of all the confirmed ball numbers, starting with balls 1-40:
1. Accrington Stanley
2. AFC Wimbledon
3. Barnet
4. Barnsley
5. Barrow
6. Blackpool
7. Bolton Wanderers
8. Bradford City
9. Bristol Rovers
10. Bromley
11. Burton Albion
12. Cambridge United
13. Cardiff City
14. Cheltenham Town
15. Chesterfield
16. Colchester United
17. Crawley Town
18. Crewe Alexandra
19. Doncaster Rovers
20. Exeter City
21. Fleetwood Town
22. Gillingham
23. Grimsby Town
24. Harrogate Town
25. Huddersfield Town
26. Leyton Orient
27. Lincoln City
28. Luton Town
29. Mansfield Town
30. Milton Keynes Dons
31. Newport County
32. Northampton Town
33. Notts County
34. Oldham Athletic
35. Peterborough United
36. Plymouth Argyle
37. Port Vale
38. Reading
39. Rotherham United
40. Salford City
Latest FA Cup winner odds ahead of first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 18:35 , Will CastleLiverpool 9/2
Man City 5/1
Arsenal 6/1
Newcastle 9/1
Man United, Aston Villa, Tottenham 14/1
Nottingham Forest, Brighton, Bournemouth 25/1
Everton, Crystal Palace, West Ham 33/1
Fulham 40/1
Leeds, Brentford, Wolves 66/1
Burnley, Sunderland 100/1
Odds via BetVictor. The Independent vets betting sites for useability, security and responsible gambling tools. You can claim free bets here to use across a range of sports. Please read the terms.
Jack Wilshere named Luton boss in first full-time managerial role
Monday 13 October 2025 18:00 , Luke BakerOne of the teams in this evening’s draw will be Luton Town and the League One side appointed a new manager today in the form of Jack Wilshere.
The former Arsenal and England midfielder is taking on his first full-time managerial role, replacing Matt Bloomfield at Kenilworth Road.
The 33-year-old, who retired as a player in 2022, takes over a Luton side who are 11th in League One after back-to-back relegations.
Wilshere earned managerial experience in charge of Arsenal’s Under-18s and was a first-team coach at Norwich last season. He was named interim head coach for the final two games of the Championship campaign, following the departure of Johannes Hoff Thorup.
A two-time #EmiratesFACup winner steps into management 🏆🏆
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) October 13, 2025
Jack Wilshere has taken over at @LutonTown for his first senior managerial position, and his team will be part of the draw for the first round proper tonight 👀 pic.twitter.com/9hGUXuLKnu
When will the FA Cup first-round ties take place?
Monday 13 October 2025 17:30 , Luke BakerFirst-round ties in the FA Cup will take place on the weekend of Saturday 1 November before the second round at the start of December.
Here’s the full schedule for the FA Cup this season:
First Round Proper: Saturday 1 November 2025
Second Round Proper: Saturday 6 December 2025
Third Round Proper: Saturday 10 January 2026
Fourth Round Proper: Saturday 14 February 2026
Fifth Round Proper: Saturday 7 March 2026
Quarter-Final: Saturday 4 April 2026
Semi-Final: Saturday 25 April 2026
The Final: Saturday 16 May 2026

Confirmed ball numbers 41-80
Monday 13 October 2025 17:20 , Luke BakerAnd here’s the second half of the list of tonight’s ball numbers. The remaining handful of EFL clubs plus the non-league sides.
41. Shrewsbury Town
42. Stevenage
43. Stockport County
44. Swindon
45. Tranmere Rovers
46. Walsall
47. Wigan Athletic
48. Wycombe Wanderers
49. AFC Telford United
50. Macclesfield
51. Gainsborough Trinity or Hartlepool United
52. Carlisle United
53. York City
54. Buxton
55. Morecambe or Chester
56. South Shields
57. Tamworth
58. Scunthorpe United
59. Gateshead
60. Spennymoor Town
61. FC Halifax Town
62. Altrincham or Harborough Town
63. Worthing or Forest Green Rovers
64. Maldon & Tiptree
65. Woking or Brackley Town
66. Wealdstone
67. Slough Town
68. Boreham Wood
69. Eastleigh
70. Southend United
71. Ebbsfleet United
72. Braintree Town
73. Chatham Town
74. Weston Super Mare
75. Hemel Hempstead Town
76. Banbury United or St Albans City
77. Chelmsford City
78. AFC Totton or Truro City
79. Aldershot Town
80. Farnham Town or Sutton United
Confirmed ball numbers 1-40
Monday 13 October 2025 17:13 , Luke BakerWe’ve got the confirmed ball numbers for this evening’s draw and here are the first 40, consisting solely of League One and Two clubs
1. Accrington Stanley
2. AFC Wimbledon
3. Barnet
4. Barnsley
5. Barrow
6. Blackpool
7. Bolton Wanderers
8. Bradford City
9. Bristol Rovers
10. Bromley
11. Burton Albion
12. Cambridge United
13. Cardiff City
14. Cheltenham Town
15. Chesterfield
16. Colchester United
17. Crawley Town
18. Crewe Alexandra
19. Doncaster Rovers
20. Exeter City
21. Fleetwood Town
22. Gillingham
23. Grimsby Town
24. Harrogate Town
25. Huddersfield Town
26. Leyton Orient
27. Lincoln City
28. Luton Town
29. Mansfield Town
30. Milton Keynes Dons
31. Newport County
32. Northampton Town
33. Notts County
34. Oldham Athletic
35. Peterborough United
36. Plymouth Argyle
37. Port Vale
38. Reading
39. Rotherham United
40. Salford City
How to watch the draw
Monday 13 October 2025 17:07 , Luke BakerThe FA Cup first-round draw is scheduled to take place on Monday 13 October, in the build-up to the fourth round qualifying tie between Worthing and Forest Green Rovers, which starts at 7.30pm BST.
The draw will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 and its streaming platform discovery+, as well as the TNT Sports YouTube channel, from approximately 6.30pm BST.

Everything you need to know about the first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 17:00 , Luke BakerThe start of the FA Cup proper is nigh, with the first-round draw happening this evening.
Forty-eight sides from League One and Two enter the fray alongside the 32 non-league qualifiers as the dream of drawing a big boy in the third round inches closer.
Here’s everything you need to know about the draw:

When is the FA Cup first-round draw? Start time tonight, TV and ball numbers
FA Cup first-round draw
Monday 13 October 2025 16:55 , Luke BakerWelcome to The Independent’s coverage of the FA Cup first-round draw for the 2025-26 season.
We’ve got 40 matches to be drawn this evening, so stick with us for all the info