Summary: The FA Cup’s fifth-round selection event occurs ahead of Macclesfield welcoming Brentford for the concluding match of the fourth round. 101GreatGoals.com provides comprehensive information regarding the schedule for the ball selection.
The 16 teams still competing in the 2025/26 FA Cup are set to learn their adversaries for the fifth round, as the pairings will be determined by an erstwhile victor of the tournament and a five-time Women’s FA Cup laureate.
Joe Cole and Karen Carney are tasked with arranging the fixtures, with numerous Premier League teams vying to advance further towards this year’s ultimate match.
Cole secured the championship as a Chelsea midfielder in both 2007 and 2010. Concurrently, Carney achieved victory with Arsenal in 2006, 2007, and 2008, with Birmingham City in 2012, and subsequently with Chelsea in 2018.
101GreatGoals.com offers comprehensive information regarding the 2025/26 FA Cup fifth-round selection event, covering its date, commencement time, and viewing options.
What is the schedule for the 2025/26 FA Cup fifth-round fixture selection?
The selection ceremony is scheduled to occur at Macclesfield’s Moss Rose stadium on Monday, February 16. This event precedes the National League North team’s encounter with Premier League side Brentford in the concluding match of the current season’s fourth round.
Hosting responsibilities will be handled by presenter Darren Fletcher, joined by Rangers and Scotland legend Ally McCoist, who played for a Sunderland squad that suffered a 3-0 defeat at home against Liverpool during the 1981/82 fourth round.
FA Cup fifth-round fixture selection 2025/26: When does it commence?
The selection process is anticipated to commence around 18:35 GMT (13:35 ET / 10:35 PT). This will be integrated into a live television programme in the UK, which is set to begin five minutes prior.
FA Cup fifth-round selection: Television channel, real-time digital broadcast
The selection event will be broadcast in real-time on TNT Sports 1, via the Discovery Plus application, and on the TNT Sports YouTube channel.
FA Cup fifth-round allocation numbers
Below are the assigned ball numbers.
| Ball Number | Club |
| 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 | Wolves |
| 13 | Newcastle United |
| 14 | Manchester City |
| 15 | Macclesfield or Brentford |
| 16 | Leeds United |
What is the schedule for the 2025/26 FA Cup fifth round?
The FA Cup fixtures are slated to occur approximately on the weekend of Saturday, March 7, 2026.
Assessment: Which team is predicted to clinch the 2025/26 FA Cup?
Just prior to the selection event, Manchester City held a marginal advantage as the bookmakers’ choice to triumph in the current season’s tournament.
The club, victorious on seven prior occasions, has not yet faced a significant challenge, having decisively beaten third-division Exeter City 10-1 at their home ground in the third round, and then defeating fourth-division Salford City 2-0 in the fourth round.
Arsenal, who boast a record 14 championships, were deemed the second-most likely victors by betting experts, overcoming an initial fright after trailing Championship team Portsmouth in the third round.
The Gunners, then topping the Premier League standings above the Cityzens concurrent with the draw, rapidly retaliated to secure a 4-1 victory in that match, subsequently cruising past struggling third-division side Wigan Athletic with a 4-0 home win in the fourth round.
Liverpool and Chelsea represent the most accomplished clubs remaining in the tournament’s history, having each secured victory on eight occasions.
The Reds are positioned as third-favourites, following their dominant 4-1 home victory over third-division Barnsley in the third round, and subsequently defeating Premier League team Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 at Anfield in their subsequent fixture.
Chelsea, ranked as fourth-favourites, have exhibited remarkable form in their initial two away matches under the stewardship of new manager Liam Rosenior. They secured a 5-1 win against Championship adversaries Charlton Athletic in Rosenior’s inaugural match and subsequently trounced one of his previous teams, Hull City, by a margin of 4-0 in the fourth round.
Newcastle United, Brentford, Leeds United, Fulham, Sunderland, and West Ham United are perceived as potential outsiders by betting analysts.
FA Cup 2025/26 real-time digital broadcast: BBC, TNT Sports
Within the UK, enthusiasts have the option to digitally access the FA Cup through the BBC Sport website and the BBC iPlayer application. These platforms are compatible with a broad range of devices, facilitating mobile viewing.
Fixtures televised on TNT Sports are accessible for streaming via the Discovery Plus application. A subscription to TNT Sports via discovery+ is priced at £29.99 monthly, encompassing Eurosport and entertainment content, and can be viewed across a wide array of devices, such as smart televisions and gaming systems.
FA Cup 2025/26 calendar, timetable
The outstanding match dates for this season’s rounds are scheduled for the subsequent weekends.
- Fifth stage: Saturday, March 7 2026
- Quarter-final matches: Saturday, April 4 2026
- Semi-final matches: Saturday, April 25 2026
- Championship game: Saturday, May 16 2026