FA Cup First Round Weekend Sees Exciting Matchups Ahead of Second Round Draw
The 2026-27 FA Cup continues this weekend with 40 first-round matches scheduled before the second-round draw occurs on Monday, November 9.
With 31 non-league teams still vying for advancement, many will aim to secure their places in the next stage by facing off against clubs from League One and League Two.
On Friday night, Leicester City, the 2021 champions and former Premier League winners, successfully navigated their match against sixth-tier Oxford City, while Bristol Rovers triumphed over Cambridge United.
This weekend is filled with intriguing fixtures that might yield some unexpected outcomes. Bradford City, chasing promotion in League One, will host Marine FC. Meanwhile, AFC Rushden & Diamonds, one of four teams participating in the FA Cup for the first time, will journey to Burton Albion.
Another debutant team, Sholing, will compete against fellow non-league club Salisbury in what is seen as a favorable match. Plymouth Parkway and Berkhamsted will conclude the first-round fixtures on Monday evening, competing for a chance to progress before the second-round draw on TNT Sports.
Notable fixtures include three previous FA Cup winners: Sheffield Wednesday (1896, 1907, and 1935) facing Oldham Athletic, Huddersfield Town (1922) taking on Exeter City, and Wigan Athletic (2013) visiting Boreham Wood.
When is the FA Cup second-round draw?
The draw for the second round of the FA Cup is set for Monday, November 9, taking place prior to the match between Plymouth Parkway and Berkhamsted. Television coverage will begin at 6:30 PM BST, with the draw expected to follow shortly after.
Where to watch FA Cup second-round draw
Fans can watch the draw live in the UK on TNT Sports 1, HBO Max, and the TNT Sports YouTube channel, starting at 6:30 PM, with the actual draw planned to start before the match at 7:30 PM.
FA Cup second-round draw ball numbers
The second-round draw will feature 40 teams, including 20 fixtures, prior to the entrance of teams from the Premier League and Championship in the third round. The ball numbers for the draw will be revealed over the weekend leading up to the draw.
When will the FA Cup second-round ties take place?
The second-round matches are scheduled for the weekend of December 5-6, with the draw for the third round anticipated to occur on the evening of Monday, December 7.
