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When is FA Cup second round draw? Ball numbers, time and how to watch

The draw for the second round of the FA Cup will take place on Monday 9 November after this weekend’s fixtures

(Steven Paston/PA Wire)

The FA Cup is in full swing for the 2026-27 season with 40 first round fixtures to be played over the weekend before the draw for the second round takes place on Monday 9 November.

32 non-league sides remain in the competition and will be seeking to stake a claim for a spot in the next round as they come up against the teams from League’s One and Two.

Friday night’s matches see 2021 champions, and former Premier League winners, Leicester City take on the National League’s Oxford City while Bristol Rovers do battle with Cambridge United.

Over the weekend, there are exciting and intriguing fixtures across the board with the potential for the magic of the FA Cup to provide some upsets. League One’s promotion-chasers Bradford City host Marine FC while, AFC Rushden & Diamonds - one of four teams to reach this stage of the competition for the very first time - travel to Burton Albion.

Another of those first-time clubs is Sholing who face fellow non-league side Salisbury in a winnable fixture while the two remaining teams, Plymouth Parkway and Berkhamsted, conclude the first round fixtures on Monday evening and will contest a spot in the next round following the second round draw on TNT Sports.

Other teams of note are former FA Cup winners Sheffield Wednesday (1896, 1907 and 1935) who take on Oldham Athletic, Huddersfield Town (1922) who face Exeter City and Wigan Athletic (2013) who will travel to Boreham Wood.

Here’s everything you need to know about the second-round draw.

When is the FA Cup second-round draw?

The draw for the second round of the 2026-27 FA Cup takes place on Monday 9 November, before the clash between non-league clubs Plymouth Parkway and Berkhamsted.

The television coverage of the game starts at 6:30pm BST, with the draw itself expected to begin shortly afterwards.

Where to watch FA Cup second-round draw

The draw will be available to watch live in the UK on TNT Sports 1, HBO Max, and on the TNT Sports YouTube channel. Coverage begins at 6.30pm, with the draw itself expected to start before kick off at 7.30pm.

FA Cup second-round draw ball numbers

There will be 40 teams in the draw for the second round with 20 fixtures to be made ahead of the entry of the Premier League and Championship clubs from the third round onwards.

The ball numbers for the draw will be revealed over the weekend closer to the time of the draw itself.

40 balls will be drawn for the second-round ties
40 balls will be drawn for the second-round ties (Getty)

When will the FA Cup second-round ties take place?

The 20 FA Cup second-round matches will be held across the weekend of 5-6 of December, with the third-round draw presumed to take place on the evening of Monday 7 December.

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