FA Cup first round: surprises and key matchups to watch this weekend

The FA Cup first round returns with a full slate of knockout drama, as clubs from across the English pyramid chase glory, upsets, and a coveted spot in the next round.

Match Schedule

Among the standout ties, Burton Albion FC host non-league upstarts AFC Rushden & Diamonds in a classic David versus Goliath encounter. For the visitors, this is the biggest match in their short history, with 2,000 traveling fans set to back the fan-owned phoenix club on their first foray into the FA Cup proper. Burton Albion FC will be wary of the magic the FA Cup so often conjures, aiming to avoid an upset and keep their own cup dreams alive.

Elsewhere, momentum and form play key roles in several intriguing matchups. Crewe Alexandra FC welcome AFC Wimbledon with the hosts boasting an unbeaten record at home and sitting fourth in League Two, while their visitors desperately seek to snap an eight-game winless streak. Accrington Stanley FC put their ten-match unbeaten run on the line against Wycombe Wanderers FC, eager to convert resilience into victory after a series of draws. Meanwhile, Carlisle United FC face high-flying Salford City FC in a clash of in-form sides, though the hosts must cope without manager Rob Elliot, who serves a touchline ban.

Cup romance abounds in ties like Colchester United FC vs Worcester City FC, where the League Two side must heed the warnings of cup history against seventh-tier opposition hungry for another scalp. Similarly, Guiseley AFC will hope for home advantage against a confident Sutton United FC, whose recent league and cup successes have lifted spirits on and off the pitch. At the Completely-Suzuki Stadium, Cheltenham Town FC put their impressive home form to the test against FC Halifax Town, with both sides aiming to exploit defensive vulnerabilities.

The first round also features a host of matches that could deliver surprises. Boreham Wood FC take on Wigan Athletic FC, Barnet FC meet Tranmere Rovers FC, and Salisbury FC look to Gibraltar international Jaiden Bartolo for inspiration against Sholing FC. Other ties, such as Barnsley FC vs Aldershot Town FC, Newport County AFC vs Walsall FC, and Fleetwood Town FC vs Rochdale AFC, offer their own intrigue, with limited team news heightening the unpredictability.

Across Saturday’s fixtures, teams like Peterborough United FC—desperate to reverse poor form against an in-form Reading FC—and Bromley FC, who hope new boss Karl Robinson can spark a turnaround versus Rotherham United FC, will look to the FA Cup as a platform for renewal. With ties like Leyton Orient FC vs Harborough Town FC, York City FC vs Northampton Town FC, and Chesterfield FC vs Yeovil Town FC all on the slate, the potential for cup shocks is palpable.

As the 2026-2027 FA Cup gets underway in earnest, fans can look forward to a classic blend of ambition, tension, and the ever-present possibility of underdog heroics. Whether supporting local hopefuls or established clubs, Saturday promises the kind of drama only the world’s oldest cup competition can deliver.