Five ties with an underdog angle, the lowest-tier clubs still represented and the complete 40-tie draw: here is a closer look at the FA Cup first round proper.
Replay winners confirmed
Updated 21 October: all eleven fourth qualifying round replays have been completed. Stafford Rangers, Worcester City, Cray Wanderers and Alvechurch are among the clubs through, and the full draw below now names the confirmed winners. The first round is due across the weekend of Saturday 7 November 2026; exact kick-off times and television selections remain subject to confirmation.
Five ties with an upset story to watch
With the qualifying replays settled, these five confirmed ties offer some of the first round’s strongest underdog stories.
Stafford Rangers v Grimsby Town
Eighth-tier Stafford earned this home tie by beating National League Gateshead 5–0 in their replay. The Northern Premier League West side now face League Two opposition, four divisions above them. After that qualifying result, Grimsby have a clear warning about the challenge awaiting them.
Burton Albion v AFC Rushden & Diamonds
Eighth-tier Rushden travel to League One Burton with five divisions between the clubs. They and Stafford are the lowest-tier clubs left in the competition, giving this tie one of the widest gaps in league status in the draw.
Cray Wanderers v Stockport County
Cray came through a 2–2 replay with Bedford Town by winning the shootout 4–3. The seventh-tier side’s reward is a home meeting with League One Stockport, turning a tense qualifying night into a chance to claim an EFL scalp.
Worcester City at Colchester United
Luke Rowe’s late winner against Chorley sent seventh-tier Worcester through. League Two Colchester will host them in the first round, with three divisions separating the sides.
Oxford City v Leicester City
National League North Oxford City host League One Leicester, the 2021 FA Cup winners. The home side have the chance to make a three-division gap count for little in front of their own supporters.
Five of the lowest-ranked clubs still represented
AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Stafford Rangers, both in the eighth tier, are the lowest-tier clubs remaining. Several clubs share the seventh tier, so the other three below are selected examples from that group, rather than a separate ranking by league position.
| Club | 2026/27 division | Tier | First-round tie |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Rushden & Diamonds | Northern Premier League Midlands | 8 | Away to Burton Albion |
| Stafford Rangers | Northern Premier League West | 8 | Home to Grimsby Town |
| Cray Wanderers | Isthmian League Premier | 7 | Home to Stockport County |
| Worcester City | Southern League Premier Central | 7 | Away to Colchester United |
| Alvechurch | Southern League Premier Central | 7 | Away to Plymouth Argyle |
Ninth-tier Tadley Calleva are out after their 2–0 replay defeat by Aldershot. Plymouth Parkway, Berkhamsted, Guiseley, Sholing and Wimborne Town are also seventh-tier clubs in the first-round draw.
Full draw (first round proper)
Here’s the full draw for the Emirates FA Cup first round proper:
- Dover Athletic v Wealdstone
- Mansfield Town v Macclesfield
- Huddersfield Town v Exeter City
- Luton Town v Forest Green Rovers
- Bristol Rovers v Cambridge United
- Oldham Athletic v Sheffield Wednesday
- Kidderminster Harriers v Doncaster Rovers
- Leyton Orient v Harborough Town
- Accrington Stanley v Wycombe Wanderers
- MK Dons v Swindon Town
- Newport County v Walsall
- Bromley v Rotherham United
- Barnet v Tranmere Rovers
- Fleetwood Town v Rochdale
- Barnsley v Aldershot Town
- Plymouth Parkway v Berkhamsted
- Chesterfield v Yeovil Town
- Gillingham v Barrow
- Harrogate Town v AFC Fylde
- Crewe Alexandra v AFC Wimbledon
- Oxford United v Stevenage
- Burton Albion v AFC Rushden & Diamonds
- Cray Wanderers v Stockport County
- Port Vale v Scunthorpe United
- Cheltenham Town v FC Halifax Town
- Colchester United v Worcester City
- Eastleigh v Shrewsbury Town
- Peterborough United v Reading
- Wimborne Town v Crawley Town
- Plymouth Argyle v Alvechurch
- Hornchurch v Blackpool
- Guiseley v Sutton United
- Stafford Rangers v Grimsby Town
- Oxford City v Leicester City
- Bradford City v Marine
- York City v Northampton Town
- Altrincham v Notts County
- Boreham Wood v Wigan Athletic
- Carlisle United v Salford City
- Salisbury v Sholing
Prize money and next steps
The FA states that winning clubs at this stage will receive £47,750 from the competition prize fund, while losing teams will receive £15,800. Clubs and competition organisers will confirm exact kick-off times and any broadcast selections in the coming weeks.
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