FA Cup fifth-round draw: Date, start time and what to know

Football supporters can begin plotting their route to Wembley even before the fourth-round drama has fully unfolded, with the FA Cup fifth-round draw set to be conducted on Monday, 16 February 2026. The ceremony will take place at approximately 6:35 p.m. GMT at Moss Rose, the home of Macclesfield FC, immediately prior to the hosts’ televised tie against Premier League side Brentford.

Two fourth-round fixtures remain unresolved: Macclesfield’s meeting with Brentford and the postponed clash between Bristol City and Port Vale, which has been pushed back until March. Nevertheless, the competition’s next phase will be mapped out live on TNT Sports 1, with subscribers also able to stream the event via the Discovery+ website and app. Fans without a subscription can watch at no cost through the TNT Sports YouTube channel.

The draw will feature 16 teams. Twelve clubs have already secured their passage: Liverpool, Fulham, Sunderland, Southampton, Wrexham, Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham United, Mansfield Town, Norwich City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Newcastle United, Manchester City and Leeds United. They will be joined by the winners of the three outstanding ties—Port Vale or Bristol City, and Macclesfield or Brentford—plus the victor of today’s remaining fourth-round encounter.

Fifth-round ties are scheduled for the weekend of Saturday, 7 March 2026. For the first time this season, VAR will be in operation, and there will be no replays; any matches level after 90 minutes will be decided by extra time and, if necessary, penalties.

Supporters wishing to analyse potential pairings can join the conversation on TalkingPoints, a moderated platform designed for constructive debate around the competition’s key talking points.