The FA Cup 2025/26 will be the 145th edition of the oldest football tournament in the world and, although we are only in the first round, it is already shaping up to be one of the best. He certainly has plenty to live up to, after Crystal Palace won the first major honor in their 164-year history.
We want giant kills, so where better to start than Port Vale against Maldon & Tiptree – it’s 21st in the third-tier League One against the top of the eighth-tier Isthmian League North Division. They are the lowest-ranked team in the FA Cup this season and manager Kevin Horlock – a former Manchester City midfielder as a player – hopes his side can close the five-division gap between the sides.
Also looking to overcome the odds will seventh-tier St Albans – sponsored by British rock band Enter Shikari, no less – travel to third-tier Burton Albion, who sit one place just above Port Vale in League One.
Also keep an eye on Monday night’s game as fifth-tier National League side Tamworth host Leyton Orient. The Lambs reached the fourth round last year, playing Tottenham in the process, and boast a long-serving all-time specialist in the form of midfielder Tom Tonks.
But there are also big names. Forest Green Rovers visit Luton Town on Friday night, meaning former Wales midfielder Robbie Savage and former Arsenal schemer Jack Wilshere will face off in the dugouts.
Here’s where to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams online from anywhere, potentially FREE.
Watch the 2025/26 FA Cup for FREE
Good news, football fans, UK! Select the matches in the The 2025/26 FA Cup is broadcast on the free streaming platform BBC iPlayer.
The BBC will show 14 matches from the 2025/26 FA Cup live on its television channels (co-exclusive with pay-TV TNT Sports) and on the BBC iPlayer streaming service – two from each round up to the quarter-finals, then a semi-final and the final. It also offers free previews and digital clips on its social media channels.
Remember, you must be a UK resident and have a valid TV license to access BBC iPlayer. If so, simply register online and you’re good to go!
What if you are abroad? Football fans in the UK can use NordVPN to watch their regular streaming service from anywhere.
FA Cup televised matches 2025/26 – 1st round
Friday October 31
Luton Town v Forest Green Rovers – 7:30 p.m., TNT Sports 1 and Découverte+
Saturday November 1st
Chelmsford City v Braintree Town – 12 p.m., TNT Sports 1, 3 and Découverte+
Brackley Town v Notts County – 5:30 p.m., BBC iPlayer, TNT Sports 3 and discovery+
Sunday November 2
South Shields v Shrewsbury Town – 12 p.m., TNT Sports 1 and Découverte+
Eastleigh v Walsall – 2:15 p.m., BBC iPlayer, TNT Sports 2 and Discovery+
Port Vale v Maldon and Tiptree – 3 p.m., TNT Sports 1 and Découverte+
Gainsborough Trinity v Accrington Stanley – 5:15 p.m., TNT Sports 1, 2 and Découverte+
Monday November 3
Tamworth v Leyton Orient – 7:30 p.m., TNT Sports 1 and Découverte+
*All times GMT
How to watch any FA Cup 2025/26 stream using a VPN
A VPN is a handy piece of software that can make your device appear to be in your home country, so you can unblock your usual service. The best VPN at the moment? We recommend NordVPN – it does it all and has a 75% discount.
How to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams in the USA
US FA Cup 2025/26 live streams are from ESPN Select.
A standalone subscription costs $12.99 per month or $129.99 per year, but you can also get their ESPN Unlimited package which includes everything ESPN has to offer. Or you can watch via the Disney Plus/Hulu/ESPN bundle, which costs from $19.99.
If you don’t have access to other channels via your antenna or cable, you may want to consider an OTT service like Sling TV. You can get ESPN through its Orange plan, which costs from $45.99 per month.
Alternately, Fubo is an optional cable replacement, which includes ESPN in all of its plans). Prices start at $84.99 per month after one FREE 7-Day Fubo Trial.
Are you traveling far from the United States at the moment? You’ll need a VPN to watch your regular streams from abroad.
How to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams in the UK
Live streams of the 2025/26 FA Cup are shown on TNT Sports and the BBC in the UK.
As we mentioned earlier, some matches will be available for free on BBC iPlayer, but the Discovery+ streaming service has many more games during the competition. In fact, they will broadcast all matches that do not start during the Saturday blackout at 3pm GMT.
You can get it by adding TNT Sports to your Sky, Virgin Media or EE TV package, or pay from £30.99 per month for a Discovery+ package that includes TNT Sports.
Traveling far from the UK today? Use a VPN to watch Discovery+ from abroad when you’re away from home.
How to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams in Canada
Football fans in Canada can watch the 2025/26 FA Cup on Sports Network.
You can watch Sportsnet on TV or through the Sportsnet Plus streaming service, which starts at $24.99 per month or $199.99 per year.
Outside Canada during the 2025/26 FA Cup? Simply use a VPN to watch from abroad.
How to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams in Australia
In Australia, the 2025/26 FA Cup matches (from the third round onwards) will take place Stan Sports.
Football fans will need to subscribe to Stan Sports. It costs $20 per month on top of a regular Stan subscription which costs from $12 per month.
Unfortunately, if you want to watch rounds 1 or 2 – before the Premier League and Championship enter – you’re out of luck.
Are you away from Australia at the moment? Use a VPN to watch Stan Sport from abroad.
How to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams in New Zealand
beIN SportsNZ is the TV rights holder for the 2025/26 FA Cup in New Zealand.
A beIN Sports subscription costs NZ$14.99 per month or NZ$149.99 if you pay for a year in advance. New subscribers can also benefit from a 7-day free trial, cancel before the end of the trial period at no charge if you are not completely satisfied.
Are you missing a match due to work commitments abroad? NordVPN will give you access to your home streaming service.
FA Cup 2025/26 Q&A
FA Cup Matchday 1 Schedule
Click to see the full list of meetings ▼
1 Weston Super Mare v Aldershot Town
2 Salford City v Lincoln City
3 Luton Town v Forest Green Rovers
4 Gainsborough Trinity v Accrington Stanley
5 Colchester United v MK Dons
6 Tranmere Rovers v Stockport County
7 Wigan Athletic v Hemel Hempstead Town
8 Newport County v Gillingham
9 Cheltenham Town v Bradford City
10 Barnsley v York City
11 Reading against Carlisle United
12 Bromley v Bristol Rovers
13 Peterborough United v Cardiff City
14 Oldham Athletic v Northampton Town
15 Crewe Alexandra v Doncaster Rovers
16 Tamworth v Leyton Orient
17 Stevenage v Chesterfield
18 Boreham Wood v Crawley Town
19 Sutton United v AFC Telford United
20 Bolton Wanderers v Huddersfield Town
21 Chelmsford City v Braintree Town
22 Spennymoor Town v Barrow
23 Wycombe Wanderers v Plymouth Argyle
24 FC Halifax Town v Exeter City
25 Slough Town v Altrincham
26 Wealdstone v Southend United
27 Rotherham United v Swindon Town
28 Grimsby Town v Ebbsfleet United
29 Buxton v Chatham Town
30 Burton Albion v St Albans City
31 Brackley Town v Notts County
32 Blackpool v Scunthorpe United
33 Cambridge United v Chester
34 AFC Wimbledon v Gateshead
35 Mansfield Town v Harrogate Town
36 Macclesfield v AFC Totton
37 South Shields v Shrewsbury Town
38 Fleetwood Town v Barnet
39 Port Vale v Maldon and Tiptree
40 Eastleigh v Walsall
Can I watch the FA Cup for free?
Yes! As we highlighted above, some matches will be available to viewers in the UK on BBC iPlayer. In New Zealand, there is a 7-day free trial option for new subscribers. beIN SportsNZ.
Fans away from home can use a VPN to watch free coverage from abroad.
Who has won the FA Cup the most times?
Arsenal-14
Manchester United -13
Chelsea-8
Liverpool – 8
Tottenham – 8
Manchester City – 7
Villa Aston – 7
Newcastle United – 6
Blackburn Rovers – 6
Everton-5
Brom West – 5
Who won the FA Cup recently?
2025 – Crystal Palace
2024 – Manchester United
2023 – Manchester City
2022 – Liverpool
2021 – Leicester City
2020 -Arsenal
2019 – Manchester City
2018 -Chelsea
2017 -Arsenal
2016 – Manchester United
Can I watch the 2025/26 FA Cup on my mobile?
Of course, most broadcasters offer streaming services that you can access through mobile apps or through your phone’s browser. For example, BBC iPlayer or the Discovery+ app in the UK.
You can also stay up to date with all the key moments from the EPL on the official social channels on X/Twitter (@EmiratesFACup), Instagram (@emiratesfacup), TikTok (@emiratesfacup) and YouTube (@TheFACup).
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