The FA Cup 2025/26 will be the 145th edition of the world’s oldest football tournament and, though we’re only at the Round 1 stage, it’s already shaping up to be among the best. It certainly has plenty to live up to, after Crystal Palace won the first major honor in their 164-year history.
We want giant-killings, so where better to start than Port Vale vs Maldon & Tiptree – that’s 21st in third-tier League One vs top of eighth-tier Isthmian League North Division. The latter are the lowest-ranked team left in the FA Cup this season and manager Kevin Horlock – a former Manchester City midfielder as a player – will hope his side can make up the five-division gap between the sides.
Also trying to overcome the odds will be seventh-tier St Albans – sponsored by UK rock band Enter Shikari, no less – who travel to third-tier Burton Albion, who sit just one place above Port Vale in League One.
Also keep any eye out for the Monday night game as Tamworth, of the fifth-tier National League, host Leyton Orient. The Lambs made it all the way into Round 4 last year, playing Tottenham in the process, and have a an all-timer of a long-throw specialist in the form of tough-tackling midfielder Tom Tonks.
There are big names, too, though. Forest Green Rovers visit Luton Town on Friday night, meaning former Wales midfielder Robbie Savage and ex-Arsenal schemer Jack Wilshere will face off in the dugouts.
Here’s where to watch the FA Cup 2025/26 live streams online from anywhere, potentially for FREE.
Watch the FA Cup 2025/26 for FREE
Good news, football fans, in the UK! Select matches from the FA Cup 2025/26 are being shown on free-to-air streaming platform BBC iPlayer.
The BBC will show 14 matches from the FA Cup 2025/26 live on its TV channels (co-exclusively with pay-TV TNT Sports) and streaming service BBC iPlayer – two from each round until the quarterfinals, then one semifinal and the final. It also has free-to-air highlights and digital clips on its social media channels.
Remember, you must be a UK resident and have a valid TV license to access BBC iPlayer. If you do, just sign up online and you’re good to go!
What if you’re abroad? Football fans from the UK can use NordVPN to watch their usual streaming service from anywhere.
FA Cup 2025/26 TV games – Round 1
Friday 31 October
Luton Town vs Forest Green Rovers – 7.30pm, TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+
Saturday 1 November
Chelmsford City v Braintree Town – 12pm, TNT Sports 1, 3 and Discovery+
Brackley Town v Notts County – 5.30pm, BBC iPlayer, TNT Sports 3 and discovery+
Sunday 2 November
South Shields v Shrewsbury Town – 12pm, TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+
Eastleigh v Walsall – 2.15pm, BBC iPlayer, TNT Sports 2 and Discovery+
Port Vale v Maldon & Tiptree – 3pm, TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+
Gainsborough Trinity v Accrington Stanley – 5.15pm, TNT Sports 1, 2 and Discovery+
Monday 3 November
Tamworth v Leyton Orient – 7.30pm, TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+
*All times GMT
How to watch any FA Cup 2025/26 stream using a VPN
A VPN is handy piece of software that can make your device appear as if it’s back in your home country, so you can unlock your usual service. The best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything and comes with a 75% discount.
How to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams in the US
US live streams of the FA Cup 2025/26 come from ESPN Select.
A standalone subscription costs $12.99 a month or $129.99 a year, but you can also get their ESPN Unlimited package that includes everything ESPN has to offer. Or you can watch through the Disney Plus/Hulu/ESPN bundle, which costs from $19.99.
If you don’t have access through the other channels through your antenna or cable, you could consider an OTT service like Sling TV. You can get ESPN through its Orange plan, which costs from $45.99 per month.
Alternatively, Fubo is an optional cable replacement, that includes ESPN in all of its plans ). Prices start at $84.99 a month after a FREE 7-day Fubo trial.
Traveling away from the States right now? You’ll need a VPN to watch your regular streams from abroad.
How to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams in the UK
The FA Cup 2025/26 live streams are on TNT Sports and the BBC in the UK.
As we’ve mentioned earlier, there will be select matches available for free on BBC iPlayer, but Discovery+ streaming service) offers many more games over the course of the competition. In fact, they will show every game that doesn’t kick-off in the Saturday 3pm GMT blackout.
You can get it by adding TNT Sports to your Sky, Virgin Media or EE TV package, or pay from £30.99 per month for a Discovery+ plan that includes TNT Sports.
Traveling away from the UK today? Use a VPN to watch Discovery+ from abroad while you’re away from home.
How to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams in Canada
Soccer fans in Canada can watch the FA Cup 2025/26 on Sportsnet.
You can either watch Sportsnet on TV, or via the Sportsnet Plus streaming service, which starts at $24.99 per month or $199.99 per year.
Outside Canada during the FA Cup 2025/26? Simply use a VPN to watch from abroad.
How to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams in Australia
In Australia, the FA Cup 2025/26 fixtures (from Round 3 onwards) will be on Stan Sport.
Soccer fans will need to subscribe to Stan Sport. It costs $20 a month on top of a regular Stan subscription costing from $12 a month.
Unfortunately, if you’re looking to watch Rounds 1 or 2 – before the Premier League and Championship enter – you’re out of luck.
Away from Australia right now? Use a VPN to watch Stan Sport from abroad.
How to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams in New Zealand
beIN SportsNZ is the FA Cup 2025/26 TV rights holder in New Zealand.
A subscription to beIN Sports costs NZ$14.99 a month or NZ$149.99 if you pay for a year up front. New subscribers can also get a 7-day free trial, cancel before the trial period ends at no cost if you’re not fully satisfied.
Missing a game due to work commitments abroad? NordVPN will give you access to your home streaming service.
FA Cup 2025/26 Q+A
FA Cup Round 1 Fixtures
Click to see full fixture list ▼
1 Weston Super Mare v Aldershot Town
2 Salford City v Lincoln City
3 Luton Town v Forest Green Rovers
4 Gainsborough Trinity v Accrington Stanley
5 Colchester United v MK Dons
6 Tranmere Rovers v Stockport County
7 Wigan Athletic v Hemel Hempstead Town
8 Newport County v Gillingham
9 Cheltenham Town v Bradford City
10 Barnsley v York City
11 Reading v Carlisle United
12 Bromley v Bristol Rovers
13 Peterborough United v Cardiff City
14 Oldham Athletic v Northampton Town
15 Crewe Alexandra v Doncaster Rovers
16 Tamworth v Leyton Orient
17 Stevenage v Chesterfield
18 Boreham Wood v Crawley Town
19 Sutton United v AFC Telford United
20 Bolton Wanderers v Huddersfield Town
21 Chelmsford City v Braintree Town
22 Spennymoor Town v Barrow
23 Wycombe Wanderers v Plymouth Argyle
24 FC Halifax Town v Exeter City
25 Slough Town v Altrincham
26 Wealdstone v Southend United
27 Rotherham United v Swindon Town
28 Grimsby Town v Ebbsfleet United
29 Buxton v Chatham Town
30 Burton Albion v St Albans City
31 Brackley Town v Notts County
32 Blackpool v Scunthorpe United
33 Cambridge United v Chester
34 AFC Wimbledon v Gateshead
35 Mansfield Town v Harrogate Town
36 Macclesfield v AFC Totton
37 South Shields v Shrewsbury Town
38 Fleetwood Town v Barnet
39 Port Vale v Maldon & Tiptree
40 Eastleigh v Walsall
Can I watch the FA Cup for free?
Yes! As we’ve outlined above, select matches will be available to viewers in the UK on BBC iPlayer. In New Zealand, there’s a 7-day free trial option for new subscribers to beIN SportsNZ.
Fans away from home can use a VPN to watch the free coverage from abroad.
Who has won the FA Cup the most times?
Arsenal – 14
Manchester United -13
Chelsea – 8
Liverpool – 8
Tottenham – 8
Manchester City – 7
Aston Villa – 7
Newcastle United – 6
Blackburn Rovers – 6
Everton – 5
West Brom – 5
Who have won the FA Cup recently?
2025 – Crystal Palace
2024 – Manchester United
2023 – Manchester City
2022 – Liverpool
2021 – Leicester City
2020 – Arsenal
2019 – Manchester City
2018 – Chelsea
2017 – Arsenal
2016 – Manchester United
Can I watch the FA Cup 2025/26 on my mobile?
Of course, most broadcasters have streaming services that you can access through mobile apps or via your phone’s browser. For example, BBC iPlayer or the Discorvery+ app in the UK.
You can also stay up-to-date with all key moments from the EPL on the official social media channels on X/Twitter (@EmiratesFACup), Instagram (@emiratesfacup), TikTok (@emiratesfacup) and YouTube (@TheFACup).
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