When's the FA Cup fifth-round draw? Date, time and ball numbers revealed
The Emirates FA Cup fifth-round draw will be made on Monday, February 16, 2026, with live coverage beginning during pre-match build-up from Macclesfield at approximately 1: 35 p. m. ET. The draw will be conducted on-site before Macclesfield's fourth-round tie and will be overseen by former England internationals Joe Cole and Karen Carney, with presentation duties handled by Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist.
How the draw will be carried out
Organisers will stage the draw in the stadium ahead of kick-off for the Macclesfield fourth-round fixture. Fans tuning in to the pre-match coverage should expect the draw to take place around 1: 35 p. m. ET. The event format is standard: numbered balls will be used to determine the fifth-round pairings from the 16 remaining teams.
With the draw taking place in the build-up to a live fourth-round match, attention will focus on both the immediate tie and the route to the last 16. Two fourth-round ties remain unresolved in the run-up to the draw, which means a small number of entries will appear on the ball list as conditional, pending the outcomes of those fixtures.
Ball numbers and who could face whom
Organisers have allocated ball numbers to the 16 entries for the fifth round. Two slots remain conditional, reflecting ongoing fourth-round matches. The full list of ball numbers is set out below and will determine the order of names drawn for the fifth-round ties:
- 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
Because two slots are conditional, supporters of Port Vale, Bristol City, Macclesfield and Brentford will have to wait for their fourth-round results to know their precise opponents. The draw sequence means every club will discover its next opponent on the day, setting up potential heavyweight ties or favorable match-ups for lower-league sides who have progressed to this stage.
When the fifth-round ties are scheduled
The fifth-round matches are pencilled in for the weekend of Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8, 2026. Clubs and competition organisers will confirm kick-off times and any television selections after the draw has taken place. For fans planning travel, now is a good moment to pencil in that weekend while awaiting the formal schedule and venues.
The draw represents a key milestone on the road to the latter stages of the competition, offering a fresh set of possibilities for Premier League sides and lower-league challengers alike. Expect plenty of reaction and analysis once the balls are pulled and the fifth-round map is revealed.
