The road to Wembley gathers pace this weekend as the FA Cup first round proper gets under way on Friday following six preliminary and qualifying rounds. A bumper schedule of 40 ties will unfold across an extended weekend, kicking off with two fixtures on Friday, followed by 33 games on Saturday, four on Sunday, and a single clash on Monday. Reigning trophy holders Manchester City, alongside their fellow Premier League and Championship competitors, will not enter the tournament until the third round stage scheduled to begin on 9 January 2027.
Television viewers will be treated to eight live matches over the four-day stretch, with six ties broadcast on TNT Sports and two featured across BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. The BBC's live broadcast schedule begins on Saturday with coverage starting at 17:15 ahead of a 17:30 kick-off between National League side Altrincham and League One outfit Notts County. Altrincham hold a storied reputation for upsets, having recorded 17 wins against league opponents—the most of any club to never feature in the top four tiers—while Notts County represent the world's oldest professional league team and won the tournament in 1894.
A second live BBC broadcast takes place on Sunday afternoon as seventh-tier Cray Wanderers take on League One high-flyers Stockport County, with coverage starting at 14:00 prior to the 14:15 kick-off. Cray Wanderers, of the Isthmian League, are believed to be London's oldest football club and pre-date the FA Cup itself, reaching the competition's first round proper for the very first time in their history. Later that evening at 17:10, presenter Jason Mohammad will anchor a live highlights show on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, recapping the weekend's events including 2021 FA Cup winners Leicester City visiting sixth-tier Oxford City.
Supporters can stay connected to the rest of the 40-match card through live text updates and digital clips published on the BBC Sport website, app, and social media channels. Full radio coverage will also be delivered through local BBC radio stations on BBC Sounds, with five fixtures selected across BBC 5 Sports Extra, Sports Extra 2, and Sports Extra 3. Featured broadcasts include Bristol Rovers against Cambridge United on Friday, Peterborough United facing Reading on Saturday, Sunday's late encounter between Oldham Athletic and Sheffield Wednesday, and Monday's tie between Plymouth Parkway and Berkhamsted.
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