2025–26 FA Cup qualifying rounds


The 2025–26 FA Cup qualifying rounds opened the 145th edition of the FA Cup, the world's oldest association football single knockout competition, organised by The Football Association, the governing body for the sport in England. 655 teams in the 5th to 9th tier of English football competed across six rounds for 32 spots in the 2025–26 FA Cup first round proper.

Eligibility

The qualifying rounds are the point of entry into the FA Cup for all "non-League" teams—teams below the top four tiers of English football, and therefore outside the English Football League. These teams compete in leagues below the EFL which constitute the National League System. The number of teams entered in the FA Cup overall is 747, a rise from 745 teams in 2024–25.

Extra preliminary round

The draw for the extra preliminary round was made on 4 July 2025.

Preliminary round

The draw for the preliminary round was made on 4 July 2025, following the draw for the extra preliminary round. This round saw the remaining teams from Tier 8 enter the competition.

First qualifying round

The draw for the first qualifying round was made on 18 August 2025. This round saw all teams from step three enter the competition.
National LeagueNorth/SouthPremier DivisionDivision OneRegionalTotal

Second qualifying round

The draw for the second qualifying round was made on 1 September 2025. This round saw all teams from Tier 6 enter the competition. 17 teams from Tier 9 entered this round as the lowest ranked teams remaining in the competition.
National LeagueNorth/SouthPremier DivisionDivision OneRegionalTotal

Third qualifying round

The draw for the third qualifying round was made on 15 September 2025. Chadderton, Whitstable Town and Woodford Town from Tier 9 were the lowest ranked teams remaining in the competition.
National LeagueNorth/SouthPremier DivisionDivision OneRegionalTotal

Fourth qualifying round

The draw for the fourth qualifying round was made on 29 September 2025. Whitstable Town, from Tier 9, is the lowest ranked team to progress to this round.
National LeagueNorth/SouthPremier DivisionDivision OneRegionalTotal

National LeagueNorth/SouthPremier DivisionDivision OneRegionalTotal

Broadcasting

The qualifying rounds are not covered by the FA Cup's broadcasting contracts held by TNT Sports and BBC Sport for the competition proper, although one game per round will be broadcast by the BBC on its media platforms. This year, the BBC started with the first qualifying round. This meant that the preliminary round was not shown for the first time since live qualifying matches began on the BBC.
RoundTieBroadcaster
First qualifying roundTadley Calleva v WeymouthBBC Sport
Second qualifying roundPickering Town v Runcorn LinnetsBBC Sport
Third qualifying roundWestbury United v FarnboroughBBC Sport
Fourth qualifying roundFarnham Town v Sutton UnitedBBC Sport
Fourth qualifying roundWorthing v Forest Green RoversTNT Sports