Football fans around the world are tuning in as the 146th edition of the FA Cup reaches its First Round Proper for the 2026/27 season. This stage brings teams from EFL Leagues One and Two into the competition alongside non-League clubs aiming to pull off major upsets. Standout fixtures for the first round include former Premier League champions Leicester City visiting National League North side Oxford City, Notts County playing away at Altrincham, and Stockport County facing Cray Wanderers of the seventh-tier Isthmian League Premier Division. Viewers across multiple regions can catch the action live through various television broadcasts and streaming platforms.
Key takeaways
- The FA Cup 2026/27 First Round Proper runs from Friday, November 6 to Monday, November 9, 2026.
- The BBC will show 14 matches live on its TV channels and BBC iPlayer, with select games also available on 9Now in Australia.
- ESPN holds exclusive broadcast rights in the US, while TNT Sports and HBO Max cover the UK market.
- International viewers in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand can access coverage via Sportsnet, Stan Sport, and beIN Sports respectively.
Free streaming options and regional UK coverage
UK residents with a valid TV license can watch select matches for free through the BBC iPlayer streaming platform and BBC TV channels. The broadcaster is scheduled to show 14 matches live across the tournament, consisting of two matches from each round between the first round and the quarter-finals, followed by one semi-final and the final. The BBC shares co-exclusive rights with pay-TV broadcaster TNT Sports in the UK market. For pay-TV subscribers, TNT Sports and its HBO Max streaming service will broadcast a minimum of 47 games throughout the entire competition. UK fans can add TNT Sports to packages like Sky, Virgin Media, or EE TV, or purchase a standalone HBO Max plan starting at £25.99 per month with a minimum 12-month term.
Specific first-round fixtures have designated TV and streaming slots. The opening match features Oxford City hosting Leicester City on Friday, November 6 at 7:45 pm GMT on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max, with 9Now providing free coverage in Australia. Saturday, November 7 features Altrincham against Notts County at 5:30 pm GMT on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, TNT Sports 1, and HBO Max, alongside Peterborough United versus Reading at 8 pm GMT. Sunday matches include Stafford Rangers versus Grimsby Town at 12 pm GMT, Cray Wanderers taking on Stockport County at 2:15 pm GMT on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, Wimborne Town against Crawley Town at 3 pm GMT, and Oldham Athletic versus Sheffield Wednesday at 5:15 pm GMT. The first round concludes on Monday, November 9 with Plymouth Parkway playing Berkhamsted at 7:30 pm GMT.
International broadcast partners and VPN access
Football enthusiasts outside the UK must rely on different regional rights holders to view the tournament. In the United States, ESPN serves as the exclusive rights-holder, broadcasting every game live through the ESPN Select streaming platform. A standalone subscription costs $13.99 per month or $139.99 annually, while broader packages like ESPN Unlimited or the Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN bundle starting at $21.99 per month are also available. Cord-cutters can access ESPN channels through platforms such as YouTube TV, Fubo, and Sling.
In Canada, Sportsnet covers the tournament on television and through the Sportsnet Plus streaming service, which ranges from $34.99 per month to $269.99 per year. Australian viewers can watch via Stan Sport for $20 a month on top of a base Stan subscription starting at $9.99 a month, alongside free games on 9Now. New Zealand fans look to beIN Sports NZ, priced at NZ$16.99 a month or NZ$169.99 annually, which includes a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. Fans traveling abroad who wish to access their home country's streaming services can utilize virtual private network providers like NordVPN to bypass regional blocks and watch broadcasts securely.
Comments