FA Cup 2025/26 live streams: How to watch for free, full fixture list & upcoming matches

• FA Cup 2025/26: Friday, October 31, 2025, to Saturday, May 16, 2026
• FREE streams: BBC iPlayer (UK)
• Stream on ESPN Select (US) and TNT Sports (UK)
• Unlock your stream with NordVPN (save 75%)

The FA Cup 2025/26 will be the 145th edition of the world's oldest football tournament and, though we're only at the Round 1 stage, it's already shaping up to be among the best. It certainly has plenty to live up to, after Crystal Palace won the first major honor in their 164-year history.

We're still two rounds before the Premier League and Championship clubs enter the fray, but this is the first stage at which mud-on-your-boots grassroots non-league meets the professional game with League One and Two teams in the hat.

We want giant-killings, so where better to start than Port Vale vs Maldon & Tiptree – that's 21st in third-tier League One vs top of eighth-tier Isthmian League North Division. The latter are the lowest-ranked team left in the FA Cup this season and manager Kevin Horlock – a former Manchester City midfielder as a player – will hope his side can make up the five-division gap between the sides.

Also trying to overcome the odds will be seventh-tier St Albans – sponsored by UK rock band Enter Shikari, no less – who travel to third-tier Burton Albion, who sit just one place above Port Vale in League One.

Also keep any eye out for the Monday night game as Tamworth, of the fifth-tier National League, host Leyton Orient. The Lambs made it all the way into Round 4 last year, playing Tottenham in the process, and have a an all-timer of a long-throw specialist in the form of tough-tackling midfielder Tom Tonks.

There are big names, too, though. Forest Green Rovers visit Luton Town on Friday night, meaning former Wales midfielder Robbie Savage and ex-Arsenal schemer Jack Wilshere will face off in the dugouts.

Here's where to watch the FA Cup 2025/26 live streams online from anywhere, potentially for FREE.

Watch the FA Cup 2025/26 for FREE

Good news, football fans, in the UK! Select matches from the FA Cup 2025/26 are being shown on free-to-air streaming platform BBC iPlayer.

The BBC will show 14 matches from the FA Cup 2025/26 live on its TV channels (co-exclusively with pay-TV TNT Sports) and streaming service BBC iPlayer – two from each round until the quarterfinals, then one semifinal and the final. It also has free-to-air highlights and digital clips on its social media channels.

Remember, you must be a UK resident and have a valid TV license to access BBC iPlayer. If you do, just sign up online and you're good to go!

What if you're abroad? Football fans from the UK can use NordVPN to watch their usual streaming service from anywhere.

FA Cup 2025/26 TV games – Round 1

Friday 31 October

Luton Town vs Forest Green Rovers - 7.30pm, TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+

Saturday 1 November

Chelmsford City v Braintree Town - 12pm, TNT Sports 1, 3 and Discovery+
Brackley Town v Notts County - 5.30pm, BBC iPlayer, TNT Sports 3 and discovery+

Sunday 2 November

South Shields v Shrewsbury Town - 12pm, TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+
Eastleigh v Walsall - 2.15pm, BBC iPlayer, TNT Sports 2 and Discovery+
Port Vale v Maldon & Tiptree - 3pm, TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+
Gainsborough Trinity v Accrington Stanley - 5.15pm, TNT Sports 1, 2 and Discovery+

Monday 3 November

Tamworth v Leyton Orient - 7.30pm, TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+

*All times GMT

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How to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams in the US

US live streams of the FA Cup 2025/26 come from ESPN Select.

A standalone subscription costs $12.99 a month or $129.99 a year, but you can also get their ESPN Unlimited package that includes everything ESPN has to offer. Or you can watch through the Disney Plus/Hulu/ESPN bundle, which costs from $19.99.

If you don't have access through the other channels through your antenna or cable, you could consider an OTT service like Sling TV. You can get ESPN through its Orange plan, which costs from $45.99 per month.

Alternatively, Fubo is an optional cable replacement, that includes ESPN in all of its plans ). Prices start at $84.99 a month after a FREE 7-day Fubo trial.

Traveling away from the States right now? You'll need a VPN to watch your regular streams from abroad.

How to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams in the UK

The FA Cup 2025/26 live streams are on TNT Sports and the BBC in the UK.

As we've mentioned earlier, there will be select matches available for free on BBC iPlayer, but Discovery+ streaming service) offers many more games over the course of the competition. In fact, they will show every game that doesn't kick-off in the Saturday 3pm GMT blackout.

You can get it by adding TNT Sports to your Sky, Virgin Media or EE TV package, or pay from £30.99 per month for a Discovery+ plan that includes TNT Sports.

Traveling away from the UK today? Use a VPN to watch Discovery+ from abroad while you're away from home.

How to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams in Canada

Soccer fans in Canada can watch the FA Cup 2025/26 on Sportsnet.

You can either watch Sportsnet on TV, or via the Sportsnet Plus streaming service, which starts at $24.99 per month or $199.99 per year.

Outside Canada during the FA Cup 2025/26? Simply use a VPN to watch from abroad.

How to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams in Australia

In Australia, the FA Cup 2025/26 fixtures (from Round 3 onwards) will be on Stan Sport.

Soccer fans will need to subscribe to Stan Sport. It costs $20 a month on top of a regular Stan subscription costing from $12 a month.

Unfortunately, if you're looking to watch Rounds 1 or 2 – before the Premier League and Championship enter – you're out of luck.

Away from Australia right now? Use a VPN to watch Stan Sport from abroad.

How to watch FA Cup 2025/26 live streams in New Zealand

beIN SportsNZ is the FA Cup 2025/26 TV rights holder in New Zealand.

A subscription to beIN Sports costs NZ$14.99 a month or NZ$149.99 if you pay for a year up front. New subscribers can also get a 7-day free trial, cancel before the trial period ends at no cost if you're not fully satisfied.

Missing a game due to work commitments abroad? NordVPN will give you access to your home streaming service.

FA Cup 2025/26 Q+A

FA Cup Round 1 Fixtures