FA Cup quarterfinal draw 2025-26: Date, time, teams and how it works

The next stage of the 2025-26 FA Cup will be decided ahead of the conclusion of the fifth round on Monday. The quarterfinal draw will determine whether Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea are drawn together or kept apart, and how likely it is that Port Vale, the bottom team in English soccer’s third tier, can continue their cup fairytale.

Fans of the remaining clubs will discover their potential paths to Wembley when the balls get rolled around and randomly picked on Monday, March 9.

When is the 2025-26 FA Cup quarterfinal draw?

The draw will be held at the London Stadium ahead of Monday’s all-Premier League game between West Ham United and Brentford, the last matchup in the fifth round.

It is expected to begin at 3:05 p.m. ET during the match’s pre-game coverage.

Supporters will be able to watch the draw live on YouTube, where it will be streamed for free.

Who will conduct the FA Cup quarterfinal draw?

The draw is expected to be conducted with the help of former England goalkeeper Joe Hart, with our usual hope that he goes full Rod Stewart.

FA Cup quarterfinal draw ball numbers

Although there is still one fifth-round game remaining, the Football Association has already confirmed the ball numbers for the draw:

1. Southampton
2. Port Vale
3. Manchester City
4. Leeds United
5. Arsenal
6. Liverpool
7. Chelsea
8. West Ham United or Brentford

Once the fifth-round ties are completed, the winners will take the corresponding numbers into the quarterfinal draw.

There is no seeding in the FA Cup, which means teams are drawn to face one another other in the order the balls come out of the bag.

When will the 2025-26 FA Cup quarterfinals be played?

The quarterfinal games are scheduled to take place on the weekend of Saturday April 4 and Sunday April 5, with the winners moving one step closer to the semifinals at Wembley Stadium.

While one of Liverpool, City, Arsenal and Chelsea will be expected to lift the trophy, Port Vale, 24th in England’s League One, and Championship club Southampton will be hoping for favorable draws as they look to continue their incredible cup runs.

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