2025–26 FA Youth Cup

2025–26 FA Youth Cup
Tournament details
Teams535

The 2025–26 FA Youth Cup was the 74th edition of the competition.

The competition consisted of several rounds and was preceded by a qualifying competition, starting with one preliminary round which was followed by three qualifying rounds for non-League teams. The Football League teams entered the draw thereafter, with League One and League Two teams entered in the first round proper, and Premier League and Championship teams entered in the third round proper.

535 clubs were accepted into the competition almost 100 less than last year's competition although this is because 10th tier clubs are no longer eligible for the competition. The current defending Champions are Aston Villa who defeated Manchester City 3–1 at the Villa Park in front of 25,073 fans.

Calendar

Round Matches played from Matches Clubs New entries
Preliminary round 1 September 2025 188 535 → 347 380
First round qualifying 15 September 2025 118 347 → 229 44
Second round qualifying 29 September 2025 70 229 → 159 22
Third round qualifying 13 October 2025 35 159 → 124
First round 1 November 2025 40 124 → 84 45
Second round 22 November 2025 20 84 → 64
Third round 13 December 2025 32 64 → 32 44
Fourth round 24 January 2026 16 32 → 16
Fifth round 21 February 2026 8 16 → 8
Quarter-finals 14 March 2026 4 8 → 4
Semi-finals 11 April 2026 2 4 → 2
Final 9 May 2026 1 2 → 1

Qualifying rounds

Preliminary round

380 teams from the 7th to 9th Tiers compete in this round of the competition. 4 clubs get a bye into the First Qualifying Round, Blyth Spartans, Chasetown, Colney Heath, and Dereham Town. Before the competition began there were 6 walkovers, as Downton, Farsley Celtic, Grimsby Borough, Kettering Town, Padiham, and Whitehawk all left the competition. The draw was done on July 4, 2025 alongside the First Qualifying Round.[1]

First Qualifying Round

The 188 winners of the preliminary round join the 44 teams from the National League North, and National League South. Although there are 48 teams in the 6th Tier, Farnborough, Hornchurch, Peterborough Sports, and Worksop Town did not apply to join the competition this year. The draw was done on July 4, 2025 alongside the Preliminary Round. [1]

Second Round Qualifying

The winners from the previous round will join the 22 teams from the 5th Tier National League. Although there are 24 teams in this tier, Braintree Town, and Scunthorpe United did not apply to the Youth Cup this season.

Third Round Qualifying

Competition Proper

First Round

45 teams from League One and League Two joined the 35 winners from the previous round. Accrington Stanley[2] closed their academy, and Barrow, and Crawley Town will not participate in this round as they did not apply to enter the competition. Wycombe Wanderers set to return for the first time since 2011/12 after they reopened their academy.

Second Round

Third Round

44 teams from the EFL Championship and the Premier League join in this stage of the competition.

Fourth Round

Fifth Round

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Final

References

  1. ^ a b "EARLY ROUND DRAWS RELEASED FOR EMIRATES FA CUP, YOUTH CUP, ISUZU FA TROPHY AND VASE". The FA.
  2. ^ "UPDATE: Closure of Academy". Accrington Stanley. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
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