The FA Cup draw is where a small club learns whether its season will be remembered. In 2025-26 it gave League One Mansfield Town a fifth-round home tie against Arsenal, then leading the Premier League. Months earlier, it had sent eighth-tier Maldon & Tiptree to Port Vale.
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Who is in the hat, and when
The first-round draw took place on Monday, October 13, 2025. It brought all 48 League One and League Two clubs into the competition alongside the 32 non-league sides that had come through qualifying. The Premier League and Championship clubs wait until the third round to join.
The BBC listed the weekends the season would follow. The first round fell on Saturday, November 1, and the final on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
The smallest club left
Maldon & Tiptree were the lowest-ranked side still standing when the first-round draw was made, The Independent reported. They led the Isthmian League North Division and had beaten Flackwell Heath 1-0, with a goal from former West Ham striker Freddie Sears. The Independent counted six wins for them since the extra-preliminary round, the only first-round side to have played in every round.
Their manager, Kevin Horlock, had said what he wanted from the draw. It was a winnable home game, or else the biggest club available away from home, for “a nice payday”. The draw gave them a trip to Port Vale of League One.
The same draw put Luton Town, who had named Jack Wilshere as manager that day, at home to Forest Green Rovers or Worthing. Forest Green, managed by Robbie Savage, went on to beat Worthing 4-1.
How Mansfield reached Arsenal
Mansfield earned their fifth-round place by knocking out Burnley of the Premier League. Sky Sports noted it was the first time in 50 years the club had reached that round. The reward was Arsenal at the One Call Stadium.
Wrexham had a similar story. Having beaten Ipswich Town to reach the fifth round for the first time in 29 years, they drew eight-time winners Chelsea at the Racecourse Ground. Port Vale, still in the competition, drew Sunderland at home.
Among the Premier League sides, Manchester City drew a trip to Newcastle United. The fifth-round games were set for March 6 to 9, 2026.
Where it ended
Manchester City went on to win the 2026 final, beating Chelsea 1-0. That result makes City the holders when the next season’s draws begin.
