FA Cup Fifth Round Draw: Date, TV Channel, Live Stream & Liverpool Ball Number

The FA Cup fifth round draw for the 2025-26 season is set for Monday, February 16, 2026, airing live on TNT Sports 1 from approximately 6:35pm GMT. This exciting event precedes the fourth-round clash between Macclesfield and Brentford, building anticipation for potential upsets in England's oldest cup competition.[1][3][5]

Liverpool FC, fresh off a commanding 3-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in the fourth round at Anfield, secures their spot in the draw as ball number 1. The Reds join 15 other teams vying for favorable matchups ahead of the fifth-round ties scheduled for the weekend of March 7/8, 2026.[1][3]

Teams in the Draw

At the time of the draw, 14 teams are confirmed, with two spots pending outcomes from ongoing fourth-round matches (Macclesfield or Brentford; Port Vale or Bristol City). The full list of ball numbers includes:

• 1. Liverpool
• 2. Fulham
• 3. Sunderland
• 4. Southampton
• 5. Wrexham
• 6. Arsenal
• 7. Chelsea
• 8. West Ham United
• 9. Mansfield Town
• 10. Norwich City
• 11. Port Vale or Bristol City
• 12. Wolverhampton Wanderers
• 13. Newcastle United
• 14. Manchester City
• 15. Macclesfield or Brentford
• 16. Leeds United

The draw follows traditional FA Cup rules: no seeding or restrictions, meaning Premier League giants like Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City could face lower-league underdogs such as Mansfield or Wrexham. Fans can watch live on TNT Sports, discovery+, or the TNT Sports YouTube channel, presented by Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist, with Joe Cole and Karen Carney conducting the draw from Macclesfield.[3][5]

This stage highlights the FA Cup's magic, where non-league sides dream of glory against top-flight opposition. Fifth-round winners advance to the quarter-finals on April 4, en route to the Wembley final on May 16.[2][6]

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