FA Cup first qualifying round draw: date, time, place
The FA Cup first qualifying round draw is expected on Monday, August 24, with pairings likely released shortly after midday on TheFA.com. No official venue is set; recent draws used FA Headquarters, St George's Park or Wembley. Ties are scheduled for the weekend of September 5.
As the 2026/27 FA Cup preliminary round wraps up, non-league sides are already eyeing the next step on the road to Wembley. Football London reports that the official draw date is not yet confirmed, but Monday, August 24 is expected after Saturday's preliminary ties on August 22.
Key Takeaways
- The first qualifying round draw is expected on Monday, August 24, with fixtures likely published shortly after midday.
- The draw is held behind closed doors; results appear on TheFA.com and FA social channels, not on TV.
- No official location is set; recent years point to FA Headquarters in London, St George's Park or Wembley Stadium.
- First qualifying ties are scheduled for the weekend of Saturday, September 5, when Step 3 clubs enter.
- Winners receive £2,250 in prize money; defeated clubs still pocket £750.
When is the FA Cup first qualifying round draw?
Football London says the FA has not locked in an official date for the 2026/27 First Round Qualifying draw. The governing body usually stages that draw immediately after the preliminary round weekend, which falls on Saturday, August 22.
That timeline points to Monday, August 24 as the likeliest day for clubs and fans to learn their next opponents. Pairings are expected shortly after midday, though no formal release time has been announced.
Where will the draw take place and will it be on TV?
No official location has been announced. Looking at recent years, the ceremony is likely at The FA Headquarters in London, St George's Park or Wembley Stadium.
The draw will not be televised. It takes place behind closed doors, with fixtures published directly through TheFA.com and official social media. For more viral sports and oddball headlines, browse our Bizarre News & Florida Man hub.
Who enters at this stage and when are the matches?
Step 3 non-league clubs from the Northern Premier League, Southern League and Isthmian League join the tournament here. They will be drawn against winners emerging from the preliminary round.
To keep travel costs down, the draw is split into regionalised northern and southern sections, which often creates local derbies. All fixtures from the draw are set for the weekend of Saturday, September 5. Victors advance to the Second Round Qualifying.
If a tie finishes level after 90 minutes, a mandatory replay follows the next week. Replays still level after 90 minutes go straight to extra time and penalties.
How does the preliminary round feed into the cup draw?
Preliminary Round action is already shaping the field. Weymouth dismantled Shepton Mallet 6-0, with Holmes scoring a hat-trick after a first-half penalty and Burgess sent off for handling on the line. Genesini and Beardmore also scored as the Terras took complete control, according to the Dorset Echo.
Before that tie, manager Jamie Wells told the Dorset Echo that reaching the FA Cup first round proper would be "unbelievable" for a Step 4 side, while stressing the financial value of a deep run. Weymouth would receive £1,444 for beating Shepton Mallet and £22,069 if they reached the first round proper.