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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Luke Baker

FA Cup draw: When is first-round draw, ball numbers and how to watch

FA Cup League One League Two Fara Williams Martin Keown Matt Smith Huddersfield Town Leicester City Sheffield Wednesday Wigan Athletic
The 2026-27 FA Cup has reached the first-round stage - (Getty Images)

The 2026-27 FA Cup has reached the first-round stage, with some EFL teams now entering the competition and they will find out their fate when the draw takes place this evening.

Thirty-two non-league sides, who have battled through the qualifying rounds, have their names in the hat alongside 48 teams from League One and League Two, including plenty of big names and former FA Cup winners. The likes of Leicester City (2021 winners), Wigan Athletic (2013 winners), Sheffield Wednesday (1896, 1907 and 1935 winners) and Huddersfield Town (1922 winners) are some of the plum ties available, while four teams will be playing in the FA Cup first round proper for the first time in their history.

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