EFL clubs will discover their FA Cup first-round opponents this evening as the 2025/26 edition of the world’s oldest cup competition officially gets underway.
EFL teams enter the draw looking to avoid an early exit, while the non-league minnows dream of a big day against the likes of 1929 winners, Bolton Wanderers.
Wanderers Eye Improved Cup Run
The Whites’ FA Cup history is among the most distinguished in the EFL. Beyond their 1929 triumph, they lifted the trophy in 1923, 1926, and 1958 with their cup pedigree stretching back over a century. For a club now chasing promotion from League One, a strong run could help restore pride and provide valuable momentum as the winter schedule approaches. Their ball number is 7, and the draw will determine who they face in next month’s first-round ties.
Bolton’s recent record in the competition has been disappointing, with last season’s 2-1 defeat away at Walsall ending their journey at the first hurdle. That result came despite a superb Josh Sheehan free-kick and left supporters frustrated at another missed opportunity for a cup run.
This season’s draw
This year’s draw takes place live on TNT Sports from around 6.30 pm this evening (Monday, October 13) during the build-up to the televised tie between Worthing and Forest Green Rovers. Fans can also watch via the TNT Sports YouTube channel. The event will be hosted by Becky Ives, with Michail Antonio of West Ham United and Joel Ward of Crystal Palace drawing the numbered balls.
The draw always brings excitement for clubs across the EFL and beyond, with the first-round stage marking the point when professional sides from League One and League Two join the competition. It provides the chance for non-league sides to test themselves against established league opposition and dream of pulling off a giant-killing result.
When And Who They Could Face
First-round ties are scheduled for the weekend of November 1. All of the League One and League Two clubs now enter, so sides Bolton have recently lost against, such as Burton at the weekend, could provide tricky. Other League One clubs in the draw in quarter-finalists in 2017, Lincoln City, as well as Blackpool, Huddersfield and Cardiff City.
A number of clubs made it throguh the 4th qualfiying rounds, with confirmned names including Braintree Town, Carlisle United, Chelmsford City, AFC Telford United, Aldershot Town, Boreham Wood, Ebbsfleet United, Eastleigh, Hemel Hempstead Town, Macclesfield, Maldon & Tiptree, York City, Buxton, Scunthorpe United, Slough Town, South Shields, Southend United, Halifax Town, Spennymoor Town, Tamworth, Chatham Town, Wealdstone, and Weston-super-Mare.
Ball numbers
1. Accrington Stanley
2. AFC Wimbledon
3. Barnet
4. Barnsley
5. Barrow
6. Blackpool
7. Bolton Wanderers
8. Bradford City
9. Bristol Rovers
10. Bromley
11. Burton Albion
12. Cambridge United
13. Cardiff City
14. Cheltenham Town
15. Chesterfield
16. Colchester United
17. Crawley Town
18. Crewe Alexandra
19. Doncaster Rovers
20. Exeter City
21. Fleetwood Town
22. Gillingham
23. Grimsby Town
24. Harrogate Town
25. Huddersfield Town
26. Leyton Orient
27. Lincoln City
28. Luton Town
29. Mansfield Town
30. Milton Keynes Dons
31. Newport County
32. Northampton Town
33. Notts County
34. Oldham Athletic
35. Peterborough United
36. Plymouth Argyle
37. Port Vale
38. Reading
39. Rotherham United
40. Salford City
41. Shrewsbury Town
42. Stevenage
43. Stockport County
44. Swindon
45. Tranmere Rovers
46. Walsall
47. Wigan Athletic
48. Wycombe Wanderers
49. AFC Telford United
50. Macclesfield
51. Gainsborough Trinity or Hartlepool United
52. Carlisle United
53. York City
54. Buxton
55. Morecambe or Chester
56. South Shields
57. Tamworth
58. Scunthorpe United
59. Gateshead
60. Spennymoor Town
61. Halifax Town
62. Altrincham or Harborough Town
63. Worthing or Forest Green Rovers
64. Maldon & Tiptree
65. Woking or Brackley Town
66. Wealdstone
67. Slough Town
68. Boreham Wood
69. Eastleigh
70. Southend United
71. Ebbsfleet United
72. Braintree Town
73. Chatham Town
74. Weston Super Mare
75. Hemel Hempstead Town
76. Banbury United or St Albans City
77. Chelmsford City
78. AFC Totton or Truro City
79. Aldershot Town
80. Farnham Town or Sutton United
