Leicester City will travel to Oxford City, a National League North club, for the first round of the 2026-27 FA Cup. The draw determined that Leicester, five-time winners of the competition, will compete at this stage for the first time since 2008.
Leicester City won the FA Cup in 2021, five years before the first round of the 2026-27 edition. The club was relegated to League One for this season, and Russell Martin’s team is currently 14th in the table following an inconsistent start to the campaign. They face a sixth-tier opponent in the first round, with a victory leading to the second round.
Among other first-round fixtures, Peterborough United will play Reading. Peterborough manager Robbie Savage will face the team of his son, Charlie. The first round is played around the weekend on Saturday, 7 November.
Ninety-one teams were named during the draw. Four clubs reached the first round in the true sense of the competition for the first time. The lowest-ranked team, Tadley Calleva, twice came from behind to force a replay against Aldershot. If they progress, Tadley Calleva will visit League One side Barnsley.
The highest-ranked team, Bradford City, will host Marine from the National League North. Bradford City lead the League One table. Eighth-tier AFC Rushden & Diamonds won five matches in the competition this season to reach the first round, and their reward is an away trip to League One’s Burton Albion.
Other first-round pairs include Dover Athletic against Wealdstone, Mansfield Town against Macclesfield or Anstey Nomads, Huddersfield Town against Exeter City, Luton Town against Chesham United or Forest Green Rovers, Bristol Rovers against Cambridge United, Oldham Athletic against Sheffield Wednesday, Kidderminster Harriers against Doncaster Rovers, Leyton Orient against Harborough Town, Accrington Stanley against Wycombe Wanderers, MK Dons against Swindon Town, Newport County against Walsall, Bromley against Rotherham United, Barnet against Tranmere Rovers, Fleetwood Town against Rochdale, Barnsley against Aldershot or Tadley Calleva, Plymouth Parkway against Berkhamsted, Chesterfield against Leatherhead or Yeovil Town, Gillingham against Barrow or Gloucester City, Bury or Harrogate Town against AFC Fylde, Crewe Alexandra against AFC Wimbledon, Oxford United against Stevenage, Burton Albion against AFC Rushden & Diamonds, Bedford Town or Cray Wanderers against Stockport County, Port Vale against Scunthorpe United, Cheltenham Town against FC Halifax Town, Colchester United against Chorley or Worcester City, Eastleigh against Shrewsbury Town, Peterborough United against Reading, Wimborne Town against Crawley Town, Plymouth Argyle against Spalding United or Alvechurch, Hornchurch against Blackpool, Guiseley against Sutton United, Gateshead or Stafford Rangers against Grimsby Town, Oxford City against Leicester City, Bradford City against Marine, York City against Northampton Town, Altrincham or FC United of Manchester against Notts County, Boreham Wood against Wigan Athletic, Carlisle United against Salford City, and Salisbury against Sholing.
