When is the FA Cup fifth round draw? Start time, ball numbers and how to watch on TV

The FA Cup fifth round draw is scheduled for Monday, February 16, 2026, live from Macclesfield ahead of their fourth round match against Brentford.[1][3]

It will air during pre-match coverage on TNT Sports 1, discovery+, and the TNT Sports YouTube channel, starting approximately at 6:35pm GMT (7:30pm local time for the Brentford game, which kicks off at 2:30pm ET).[1][2][3][4] The broadcast, presented by Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist, will feature the draw conducted by Joe Cole and Karen Carney.[1][3]

Only 14 of the 16 teams are confirmed, as the Port Vale vs. Bristol City fourth round tie was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and rescheduled for Tuesday, March 3. Thus, ball numbers 11 (Port Vale or Bristol City) and 15 (Macclesfield or Brentford) remain pending.[2][3] Confirmed qualifiers include Wrexham (1-0 win over Ipswich), Chelsea (4-0 at Hull), Liverpool (over Brighton), Manchester City (over Salford), Newcastle (over Aston Villa), and others.[1][4]

Ball numbers for the draw:[3][4]

• 1. Liverpool
• 2. Fulham (or Stoke City in some reports)
• 3. Sunderland (or Oxford United)
• 4. Southampton (or Leicester City)
• 5. Wrexham
• 6. Arsenal (or Wigan Athletic)
• 7. Chelsea
• 8. West Ham United (or Burton Albion)
• 9. Mansfield Town (or Burnley)
• 10. Norwich City (or West Brom)
• 11. Port Vale or Bristol City
• 12. Wolverhampton Wanderers (or Grimsby Town)
• 13. Newcastle United (or Aston Villa)
• 14. Manchester City (or Salford City)
• 15. Macclesfield or Brentford
• 16. Leeds United (or Birmingham City)

The fifth round ties are set for the weekend of March 7-8, 2026, with no seeding in the traditional open draw.[2][3][5] Subsequent rounds include quarter-finals on April 4, semi-finals on April 25, and the final on May 16.[1][5]

This event builds excitement for potential upsets, highlighted by lower-league sides like Macclesfield facing Premier League opposition.[2]