FA Cup on TV Today
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Where to Stream FA Cup Live
The following premium networks and streaming platforms hold the verified digital broadcast rights to air official FA Cup action.
About FA Cup
The FA Cup is the oldest domestic knockout soccer competition in the world. It's been running since 1871 and features clubs from the Premier League down to the grassroots levels of English football. The tournament runs from August through May, with the final scheduled for May 16, 2026 at Wembley Stadium. The quarterfinals are coming up, with the semifinals next month and the final in May.
Top teams
Arsenal has won the FA Cup more than any other club. Manchester United is close behind. Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City have also won multiple times in the modern era. The competition is known for upsets. Lower-league clubs knock out Premier League giants every season. A club from outside the top flight made the semifinals in 2025. That's the magic of the cup.
Format
The FA Cup is a straight knockout tournament. Non-league clubs enter in the first round. Premier League and Championship clubs enter in the third round. The early rounds are single-leg matches at the smaller club's stadium. Replays were scrapped in recent years to reduce fixture congestion. The semifinals are at Wembley. The final is also at Wembley. The magic of the cup is in the early rounds. A tiny club from the seventh tier can draw a Premier League giant. It happens almost every year.
Viewership
The FA Cup final pulls massive numbers. The 2025 final between Manchester City and Manchester United drew over 200 million viewers globally. The semifinals and early rounds also get strong ratings in the UK. The tournament is a cultural institution. People who don't follow club football still watch the final. It's the biggest domestic cup competition in the world.
Streaming options in the UK
Discovery+ (TNT Sports) is the new primary rights holder in the UK, streaming nearly every match, excluding 3 PM Saturday kick-offs. BBC iPlayer shows 14 matches, including two per round, one semifinal, and the final for free with a valid TV license. This is a change from previous years — TNT Sports now holds the majority of the rights.
Streaming options in the US
ESPN+ is the exclusive home for the FA Cup in the US through 2028, streaming all 79 matches from the first round to the final. Select marquee matches may be simulcast on ESPN2 or ESPN Deportes, which can be streamed via services like Fubo, DirecTV Stream, or Sling Orange using their ESPN packages.
Streaming options in Canada
Sportsnet+ is the streaming home for the FA Cup in Canada.
Streaming options in Australia and other regions
In Australia, Stan Sport has exclusive rights starting from the 2025-26 season, taking over from Optus Sport. In New Zealand, beIN Sports NZ is the broadcaster. In the Middle East and North Africa, beIN Sports holds the rights. In Western Europe, rights are managed by Pitch International. In the rest of the world, rights are managed by IMG.
Current season
The 2025-26 FA Cup kicked off in August 2025. The third round took place in January. The quarterfinals are coming up in April. The semifinals are scheduled for later in April at Wembley. The final is on May 16, 2026 at Wembley Stadium. Manchester City are the defending champions after winning the 2024-25 final against Manchester United. The tournament has been full of upsets this year, with several Premier League clubs knocked out by lower-league opposition.