FA Cup fifth-round draw set for Monday, Feb. 16 at 1:35 p.m. ET
The Emirates FA Cup fifth-round draw will be made live from Macclesfield on Monday, February 16, 2026, with pre-match coverage beginning at approximately 1: 35 p. m. ET. The draw, which determines the last-16 ties, will be conducted ahead of Macclesfield’s fourth-round fixture against Brentford and features notable Premier League and lower-league names among the 16 entries.
Who will make the draw and where it takes place
The draw will be presented by Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist, with former England internationals Joe Cole and Karen Carney charged with pulling the balls. The event will take place in Macclesfield during the build-up to that evening’s fourth-round tie and will be shown as part of pre-match coverage beginning at approximately 1: 35 p. m. ET.
All 16 entries carry fixed ball numbers for the fifth-round draw, a setup that determines potential matchups instantly when names are pulled from the pot.
- Liverpool
- Fulham
- Sunderland
- Southampton
- Wrexham
- Arsenal
- Chelsea
- West Ham United
- Mansfield Town
- Norwich City
- Port Vale or Bristol City
- Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Newcastle United
- Manchester City
- Macclesfield or Brentford
- Leeds United
When the ties will be played and what to watch for
The fifth-round ties are scheduled for the weekend of Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8, 2026. Clubs and supporters should already be preparing for the possibility of high-profile fixtures that could affect league scheduling, travel and squad rotation for that weekend.
Smaller clubs that have advanced can be drawn against top-tier opponents, offering glamour ties and potential financial windfalls. Ball number allocations mean any of the lower-league sides could be paired with a Premier League heavyweight; for example, Norwich, who occupy ball 10, could draw Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City or any other ball in the pot.
Norwich’s head coach has emphasised that the club will treat whichever opponent comes out of the hat as a valuable challenge. “I’m really bad in predicting which opponent I want, ” he said, adding that each draw presents the next experience for the squad and an opportunity to compete, whether against a rival from the same division or one of the country’s top clubs.
Fixture adjustments are already being made around cup commitments. Norwich’s scheduled Championship trip to Southampton for that weekend has been postponed to avoid a clash with potential cup duties; a new date will be confirmed in due course. Additionally, a lower-league rearrangement has taken place after Port Vale’s home pitch was rendered unplayable, with the club’s tie against Bristol City moved to early next month because of a waterlogged surface.
What this means for fans and clubs
For supporters, the draw offers the excitement of potential marquee games and the chance to plan travel and ticketing should a high-profile pairing arise. Clubs will be monitoring the outcomes closely to finalise logistics and squad planning for an already congested March calendar.
Whether it produces a classic giant-killing fixture or a heavyweight clash between Premier League contenders, the fifth-round draw is one of the competition’s most eagerly anticipated moments. Fans and clubs will be watching the ball numbers closely on Monday afternoon and making plans for whatever the hat throws up for the last 16.
