The FA Cup 2025/26 It will be the 145th edition of the oldest football tournament in the world and, although we are only in phase 1, it is already shaping up to be one of the best. He certainly has a lot to live up to, after Crystal Palace won the first major honor in their 164-year history.
We want giant slayings, so what better place to start than Port Vale vs Maldon & Tiptree? That’s 21st in the third-tier League One compared to the top of the eighth-tier Isthmian League North Division. The latter are the lowest-ranked team left in the FA Cup this season and manager Kevin Horlock, a former Manchester City midfielder as a player, hopes his team can make up the five-division gap between the teams.
Also looking to beat the odds will be seventh tier St Albans, sponsored by none other than British rock band Enter Shikari, who will travel to third tier Burton Albion, who sit just one place above Port Vale in League One.
Also keep an eye out for Monday night’s match when Tamworth, of the fifth-tier National League, host Leyton Orient. The Lambs made it all the way to Round 4 last year, playing Tottenham in the process, and have an all-time long kick specialist in the form of midfielder Tom Tonks.
Although there are also big names. Forest Green Rovers visit Luton Town on Friday night, meaning former Wales midfielder Robbie Savage and former Arsenal schemer Jack Wilshere will go head-to-head on the bench.
This is where to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams online from anywhere. potentially FREE.
Watch the 2025/26 FA Cup for FREE
Good news, football fans, in the UK! Select matches from The 2025/26 FA Cup is broadcast on a free streaming platform BBC iPlayer.
The BBC will broadcast 14 matches of the 2025/26 FA Cup live on its television channels (co-exclusively with pay-TV TNT Sports) and on the BBC iPlayer streaming service: two from each round up to the quarter-finals, then a semi-final and the final. He also has free-to-air highlights and digital clips on his social media channels.
Remember, you must be a UK resident and have a valid TV license to access BBC iPlayer. If you do, simply register online and you’re done!
What happens if you are abroad? UK football fans can use NordVPN to watch their usual streaming service from anywhere.
FA Cup 2025/26 TV matches – Round 1
Friday October 31
Luton Town v Forest Green Rovers – 7:30 p.m., TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+
Saturday November 1
Chelmsford City v Braintree Town – 12:00 p.m., TNT Sports 1, 3 and Discovery+
Brackley City v Notts County – 5:30 p.m., BBC iPlayer, TNT Sports 3 and Discovery+
Sunday, November 2
Southern Shields against Shrewsbury Town – 12:00 p.m., TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+
Eastleigh v Walsall – 2:15 p.m., BBC iPlayer, TNT Sports 2 and Discovery+
Port Vale v Maldon and Tiptree – 3:00 p.m., TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+
Gainsborough Trinity v Accrington Stanley – 5:15 p.m., TNT Sports 1, 2 and Discovery+
Monday, November 3
Tamworth v Leyton Orient – 7:30 p.m., TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+
*All times GMT
How to watch any FA Cup 2025/26 broadcast using a VPN
A VPN is useful software that can make your device appear as if you are in your home country, so you can unblock your usual service. Best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything and comes with a 75% discount.
How to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams in the US
USA live streams of the 2025/26 FA Cup come from ESPN Selection.
A standalone subscription costs $12.99 per month or $129.99 per year, but you can also get their ESPN Unlimited package that includes everything ESPN has to offer. Or you can watch it through the Disney Plus/Hulu/ESPN bundle, which starts at $19.99.
If you don’t have access to the other channels through your antenna or cable, you might consider an OTT service like Honda TV. You can get ESPN through their Orange plan, which starts at $45.99 per month.
Alternatively, fubo is an optional cable replacement, which includes ESPN in all its plans). Prices start at $84.99 per month after a FREE 7-Day Fubo Trial.
Traveling outside of the United States right now? You’ll need a VPN to watch your regular streams from abroad.
How to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams in the UK
Live broadcasts of the 2025/26 FA Cup are on TNT Sports and the BBC in the UK.
As we mentioned above, there will be select matches available for free on BBC iPlayer, but the Discovery+ streaming service offers many more games over the course of the competition. In fact, they will show all the matches that do not start in the blackout on Saturday at 3 pm GMT.
You can get it by adding TNT Sports to your Sky, Virgin Media or EE TV package, or paying from £30.99 a month for a Discovery+ plan that includes TNT Sports.
Are you traveling outside the UK today? Use a VPN to watch Discovery+ from abroad while you’re away from home.
How to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams in Canada
Soccer fans in Canada can watch the 2025/26 FA Cup on sportsnet.
You can watch Sportsnet on TV or through the Sportsnet Plus streaming service, which starts at $24.99 per month or $199.99 per year.
Outside Canada during the 2025/26 FA Cup? Simply use a VPN to watch from abroad.
How to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams in Australia
In Australia, the 2025/26 FA Cup matches will take place (starting from Round 3) sport.
Football fans will need to subscribe to sport. It costs $20 a month on top of a regular Stan subscription that starts at $12 a month.
Unfortunately, if you’re looking to watch Rounds 1 or 2, before the Premier League and Championship kick in, you’re out of luck.
Far from Australia right now? Use a VPN to watch Stan Sport from abroad.
How to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams in New Zealand
beIN SportsNZ is the television rights holder for the 2025/26 FA Cup in New Zealand.
A subscription to beIN Sports costs NZ$14.99 a month or NZ$149.99 if you pay for a year in advance. New subscribers can also get a 7-day free trial, cancel before the free trial period ends if you are not completely satisfied.
Did you miss a match due to work commitments abroad? NordVPN will give you access to your streaming service at home.
FA Cup 2025/26 Questions and answers
FA Cup first round fixtures
Click to see the full list of matches ▼
1 Weston Super Mare v Aldershot Town
2 Salford City v Lincoln City
3 Luton Town v Forest Green Rovers
4 Gainsborough Trinity v Accrington Stanley
5 Colchester United v MK Dons
6 Tranmere Rovers v Stockport County
7 Wigan Athletic v Hemel Hempstead Town
8 County of Newport v Gillingham
9 Cheltenham Town v Bradford City
10 Barnsley v York City
11 Reading v Carlisle United
12 Bromley v Bristol Rovers
13 Peterborough United v Cardiff City
14 Oldham Athletic-Northampton Town
15 Crewe Alexandra v Doncaster Rovers
16 Tamworth v Leyton Orient
17 Stevenage v Chesterfield
18 Boreham Wood v Crawley Town
19 Sutton United v AFC Telford United
20 Bolton Wanderers-Huddersfield Town
21 Chelmsford City v Braintree Town
22 Spennymoor Town v Barrow
23 Wycombe Wanderers v Plymouth Argyle
24 FC Halifax Town – Exeter City
25 Slough Town v Altrincham
26 Wealdstone v Southend United
27 Rotherham United v Swindon Town
28 Grimsby Town v Ebbsfleet United
29 Buxton v Chatham Town
30 Burton Albion v St Albans City
31 Brackley City v Notts County
32 Blackpool v Scunthorpe United
33 Cambridge United-Chester
34 AFC Wimbledon – Gateshead
35 Mansfield Town v Harrogate Town
36 Macclesfield – AFC Totton
37 Southern Shields against Shrewsbury Town
38 Fleetwood Town v Barnet
39 Port Vale v Maldon and Tiptree
40 Eastleigh v Walsall
Can I watch the FA Cup for free?
Yeah! As we have described above, certain matches will be available to viewers in the UK on BBC iPlayer. In New Zealand, there is a 7-day free trial option for new subscribers beIN SportsNZ.
Away fans can use a VPN to watch free coverage from abroad.
Who has won the FA Cup the most times?
Arsenal – 14
manchester united -13
Chelsea – 8
Liverpool – 8
Tottenham – 8
City of Manchester – 7
Aston Villa – 7
Newcastle United – 6
Blackburn Rovers – 6
Everton – 5
West Brom – 5
Who have won the FA Cup recently?
2025 – Crystal Palace
2024 – Manchester United
2023 – City of Manchester
2022 – Liverpool
2021 – Leicester City
2020 – Arsenal
2019 – City of Manchester
2018-Chelsea
2017 – Arsenal
2016 – Manchester United
Can I watch the FA Cup 2025/26 on my mobile?
Of course, most broadcasters have streaming services that you can access through mobile apps or through the browser on your phone. For example, BBC iPlayer or the Discovery+ app in the UK.
You can also stay up to date with all the key EPL moments on the official social media channels on X/Twitter (@EmiratesFACup), Instagram (@emiratesfacup), TikTok (@emiratesfacup) and YouTube (@TheFACup).
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