Ball numbers, how to watch, fixture dates, potential opponents – 2025/26 FA Cup fifth round draw

Manchester City booked their place in the fifth round of the 2025/26 FA Cup with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over League Two visitors Salford City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The result sets up a Monday-night draw that will determine Pep Guardiola’s next hurdle in the competition.

Omar Marmoush opened the scoring inside ten minutes, although replays later confirmed the breakthrough arrived via an Alfie Dorrington own goal—City’s sixth such slice of fortune this season. The Premier League leaders were made to wait until stoppage time for breathing space, when substitute Marc Guehi pounced from close range to seal progression.

Attention now turns to the fifth-round draw, scheduled for Monday 16 February. The ceremony will be staged at Macclesfield’s Moss Rose ahead of the Silkmen’s fourth-round tie against Brentford and will be screened live on TNT Sports 1, discovery+ and the TNT Sports YouTube channel from approximately 6:35 pm GMT. Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist will present, with former England internationals Joe Cole and Karen Carney conducting the draw.

Manchester City will discover their next opponents alongside the remaining 15 clubs. The fifth-round matches are pencilled in for the weekend of Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 March 2026. For City, that slot falls between a midweek Premier League encounter with Nottingham Forest at the Etihad and the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie away from home. Full draw details and City’s ball number will be published immediately on City Xtra’s website and social channels.