THE GAME. THE STORIES. YOUR TIME.Independent football coverage Sport without borders
matchpulseEVERY SIDE OF SPORT
☰ Menu

MATCHPULSE · SPORTS DESK

FA Cup first round brings a forty-match weekend

Published byMatchPulsePublished
Wembley Stadium — file photo, 2022-10-11
Arne Müseler
Wembley Stadium. Archive photograph; not taken at the reported event.Arne Müseler · Wikimedia CommonsCC BY-SA 3.0 deDisplayed in a cropped frame.

The story

The FA Cup first round stretches across four days, with forty ties bringing league and non-league clubs into the same weekend programme.

BBC Sport’s guide lists two matches on Friday, 33 on Saturday, four on Sunday and one on Monday. The busy schedule gives supporters several opportunities to follow different ties as the competition develops.

The road towards January

Premier League and Championship clubs do not enter until the third round, which begins on January 9, 2027. For the teams playing this weekend, reaching that stage remains a major incentive.

BBC coverage includes two live matches on BBC Two and iPlayer, subject to the broadcaster’s regional availability. The first round’s appeal lies in its variety: familiar professional clubs, smaller grounds and the possibility of a result that changes a club’s season.

Source: BBC Sport
Back to the news desk