FA Cup fifth-round draw set for Monday, Feb. 16 — live ahead of Macclesfield vs Brentford
The draw for the FA Cup fifth round will take place on Monday, February 16, with proceedings scheduled to be made live from Macclesfield ahead of that evening’s fourth-round tie. The draw is set for approximately 1: 35 p. m. ET and will be held during pre-match coverage of the Macclesfield vs Brentford game.
When and where the draw happens
Draw proceedings will be staged in Macclesfield immediately prior to the kick-off of the club’s fourth-round match. Broadcast arrangements will carry the draw as part of the tie’s pre-match build-up, with the presentation team on site and former players conducting the ball pulls. The draw is expected to begin around 1: 35 p. m. ET on Monday, February 16, 2026.
Presenters and former internationals will oversee the sequence, with the draw being carried out live and the full set of fifth-round ties confirmed on the night. The fifth-round ties themselves are scheduled across the weekend of Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8, 2026.
Ball numbers and potential ties — full list
The competition’s ball numbers for the fifth-round draw have been pre-assigned. Clubs and ball numbers are listed below, including two slots that will be filled depending on the outcome of the remaining fourth-round matchups:
- 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. Wolverhampton Wanderers
- 13. Newcastle United
- 14. Manchester City
- 15. Macclesfield or Brentford
- 16. Leeds United
The draw is open, meaning any remaining team can be paired with any other. Clubs will discover their opponents as each ball is drawn out of the drum in sequence. For clubs still competing in the fourth round, qualification will determine which of the paired slots they ultimately occupy.
What fans should expect next
Following the draw, fifth-round fixtures will be confirmed for the weekend of March 7–8, leaving clubs and supporters a few weeks to prepare. The path to the later stages will become clearer once the last-16 matchups are finalised, and ticketing and logistical information will be released by the clubs involved in due course.
Clubs and fans with a stake in the remaining fourth-round ties will find out their opponents ahead of kick-off in Macclesfield. For neutral observers and followers of the competition, the draw marks the beginning of the knockout phase where top-tier sides and lower-league challengers can face one another in winner-takes-all ties as the tournament moves toward the spring schedule.
Supporters planning travel or ticket purchases should wait for official confirmation of kick-off times and venue details once fixtures are published following the draw. The competition calendar anticipates the final to be held in mid-May, rounding out a cup season that continues to produce compelling matchups across the rounds.
