The 2025–26 FA Youth Cup is the 74th edition of the FA Youth Cup, an annual knockout football competition in domestic English football run by The Football Association for under-18 sides.
The competition consists 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.
A total of 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 defending champions are Aston Villa who defeated Manchester City 3–1 at Villa Park. They were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Crystal Palace.
Calendar Round Matches Clubs 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 → 15922 Third round qualifying 13 October 2025 35 159 → 124 First round 1 November 2025 40 124 → 84 45 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 → 4Semi-finals 11 April 2026 2 4 → 2Final 9 May 2026 1 2 → 1
Qualifying rounds Preliminary round 380 teams from the 7th to 9th tiers entered in this round. Four clubs got a bye into the First Qualifying Round; Blyth Spartans (8), Chasetown (8), Colney Heath (9), and Dereham Town (9).
Before the competition began there were 11 walkovers, as Downton, Farsley Celtic, Fleet Town, Grimsby Borough, Hythe Town, Kettering Town, Padiham, Pagham, Redhill, Uttoxeter Town, and Whitehawk all left the competition. The draw was done on 4 July 2025, alongside the First Qualifying Round. + Number of teams per tier still in competition Tier 5 Tier 6 Tier 7 Tier 8 Tier 9 Total
Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) Monday 1 September 2025 11 Padiham (9) W/O Abbey Hey (9) NA 25 Golcar United (9) W/O Farsley Celtic (9) NA 28 Grimsby Borough (8) W/O Cleethorpes Town (7) NA 62 Kettering Town (7) W/O Crawley Green (9) NA 121 Hythe Town (9) W/O Folkestone Invicta (7) NA 132 Pagham (9) W/O Merstham (8) NA 134 Redhill (9) W/O Westfield (8) NA 140 Whitehawk (7) W/O Badshot Lea (9) NA 165 Hamble Club (9) W/O Downton (9) NA 6 Morpeth Town (7) 3–3 Lancaster City (7) 41 Grantham Town (9) 3–1 Hinckley AFC (9) 75 111 Hanwell Town (7) 2–5 Hayes & Yeading United (8) 80 146 Carshalton Athletic (7) 6–0 East Grinstead Town (8) 181 Taunton Town (7) 11–0 Thornbury Town (9) 130 184 Westbury United (8) 0–7 Swindon Supermarine (8) 4 Pickering Town (9) 2–7 Boro Rangers (9) 38 Ashby Ivanhoe (9) 5–2 Stamford (7) 134 54 Nantwich Town (8) 5–1 Lichfield City (8) 128 56 Whitchurch Alport (9) 9–1 Dudley Town (9) 92 Bowers & Pitsea (8) 0–3 Bishop's Stortford (7) 167 128 Ramsgate (7) A–A Deal Town (8) 172 Bridgwater United (9) 0–1 Paulton Rovers (9) 67 174 Hallen (9) 5–0 Bristol Manor Farm (8) 80 182 Clevedon Town (9) 3–3 Brislington (9) 101 186 St Blazey (9) 3–0 Falmouth Town (8) 90 188 Willand Rovers (8) 2–3 AFC St Austell (9) 33 Basford United (8) 1–8 Harborough Town (7) 35 Spalding United (7) 2–1 GNG Oadby Town (9) Match played at GNG Oadby Town 42 Corby Town (8) 1–4 Loughborough Students (8) 44 Tividale (9) 2–2 Lye Town (9) 45 Rushall Olympic (7) 7–0 Malvern Town (8) 50 Worcester Raiders (9) 2–1 Sporting Club Inkberrow (8) 105 53 Stratford Town (7) 2–4 Stourport Swifts (9) 122 55 Boldmere St Michaels (8) W/O Uttoxeter Town (9) 60 Rugby Borough (8) 2–2 Pershore Town (9) 39 102 Hackney Wick (9) 3–1 Hashtag United (7) 113 North Greenford United (9) 0–4 Beaconsfield Town (8) 54 114 Burnham (9) 3–3 Edgware & Kingsbury (9) 74 123 Dulwich Hamlet (7) 6–1 Rusthall (9) 131 129 Peacehaven & Telscombe (9) 1–1 Eastbourne Town (8) 159 130 Newhaven (9) 2–3 Horsham YM (9) 136 Kingstonian (8) 4–2 South Park (Reigate) (8) 96 150 Tooting & Mitcham United (9) 3–2 Broadbridge Heath (8) 48 156 Abingdon United (9) W/O Fleet Town (9) NA 159 Thatcham Town (9) 7–1 Wallingford & Crowmarsh (9) 118 Tuesday 2 September 2025 32 Anstey Nomads (8) 2–0 Lincoln United (8) 124 Erith Town (8) 8–0 Punjab United (9) 134 141 Shoreham (9) P–P Horley Town (9) 160 Ardley United (9) 3–6 Binfield (8) 12 Cheadle Town (9) 2–3 FC United of Manchester (7) 69 22 North Ferriby (8) 6–0 Eccleshill United (9) 48 Worcester City (7) 1–1 Bedworth United (8) 70 March Town United (9) 1–4 St Ives Town (7) Match played at St Ives Town 71 AFC Dunstable (8) 4–2 Harpenden Town (9) Match played at Harpenden Town 75 Great Yarmouth Town (9) 0–3 Fakenham Town (9) 79 Soham Town Rangers (9) 1–3 Heacham (9) 78 86 Walsham Le Willows (9) 0–2 Mulbarton Wanderers (9) 61 112 Hanworth Villa (8) 2–1 Bedfont Sports Club (8) 116 Sutton Athletic (9) 3–1 Phoenix Sports (9) 30 118 Margate (8) 5–2 AFC Croydon Athletic (8) 145 Jersey Bulls (8) 10–2 Ascot United (8) Match played at Ascot United 151 Burgess Hill Town (7) 7–0 Cobham (9) 54 Match played at Cobham 157 Reading City (9) 3–3 Basingstoke Town (7) 161 Moneyfields (8) 1–2 Winchester City (8) 166 Weymouth (7) 1–2 Bournemouth Poppies (9) 176 Bishop's Cleeve (8) 2–4 Melksham Town (8) 177 Cirencester Town (9) 5–0 Cinderford Town (9) 53 43 Sherwood Colliery (9) 2–2 Blackstones (9) Wednesday 3 September 2025 3 Newcastle Benfield (9) 5–1 Consett (8) 110 15 Warrington Town (7) 0–5 Stockport Town (9) 139 24 Bridlington Town (8) 1–3 Osset United (8) 31 Bradford (Park Avenue) (8) 5–1 Garforth Town (8) 88 64 Hitchin Town (8) 1–3 Milton Keynes Irish (8) 54 163 AFC Portchester (8) 3–3 Wimborne Town (7) 71 169 Hamworthy Recreation (9) 5–2 Poole Town (7) 69 180 Street (9) 1–1 Yate Town (7) 77 29 Handsworth (9) 0–2 Sheffield (9) 94 1 Workington (7) 7–1 Penrith (9) 101 13 Stalybridge Celtic (8) 2–1 Runcorn Linnets (8) 122 14 Clitheroe (8) 15–1 Glossop North End (9) 17 Avro (8) 1–1 West Didsbury & Chorlton (9) 172 34 Leicester Nirvana (9) 1–3 Matlock Town (8) 73 91 Cheshunt (7) 0–1 Brentwood Town (7) 94 Wingate & Finchley (7) 2–0 Concord Rangers (8) 104 98 Aveley (7) 3–0 Potters Bar Town (7) 108 Harrow Borough (8) 1–2 Broadfields United (9) 66 117 Faversham Town (8) 0–4 Chatham Town (7) 131 Roffey (9) 1–3 Metropolitan Police (8) 138 Lancing (9) 0–3 Abbey Rangers (9) 153 Easington Sports (9) 2–0 Marlow (8) 126 175 Oldland Abbotonians (9) 0–6 Portishead Town (8) 50 178 Mangotsfield United (9) 1–1 Hartpury University (8) 101 2 Kendal Town (9) 1–8 Stockton Town (7) 89 9 South Liverpool (9) 2–1 Ramsbottom United (9) 10 Witton Albion (8) 3–1 Hyde United (7) 205 36 Mickleover (8) 2–6 Aylestone Park (9) 37 Quorn (7) 2–2 Long Eaton United (8) 174 40 Gresley Rovers (9) 4–1 Deeping Rangers (9) 107
Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) 61 Stourbridge (7) P–P Coton Green (9) 65 St Neots Town (8) 2–2 Bugbrooke St Michaels (9) 78 Gorleston (8) 3–0 Thetford Town (9) 38 80 Lowestoft Town (8) 3–2 Wroxham (8) 144 93 Barking (9) 3–7 Takeley (8) 57 95 Heybridge Swifts (8) 2–1 Walthamstow (8) 92 97 Waltham Abbey (8) 0–6 Redbridge (8) 105 101 Ilford (9) 1–3 Maldon & Tiptree (8) Match played at Maldon & Tiptree 103 Stanway Rovers (8) 0–6 Hertford Town (8) 118 104 Woodford Town (9) 3–1 Buckhurst Hill (9) 107 Northwood (8) 4–0 Tring Athletic (9) 89 119 Ashford United (8) 4–1 Chislehurst Glebe (9) 73 125 Sittingbourne (8) 0–2 Sheppey United (8) 133 Hastings United (8) 2–0 Chipstead (9) 137 Farnham Town (7) P–P AFC Whyteleafe (8) 148 Chichester City (7) 1–2 Knaphill (9) 149 Leatherhead (8) 2–4 Walton & Hersham (7) 152 Didcot Town (8) 1–1 Banbury United (7) 158 Aylesbury Vale Dynamos (9) 4–5 Windsor & Eton (9) 113 162 Portland United (9) 3–0 Millbrook (Hampshire) (9) 61 168 Petersfield Town (9) 0–1 Alton (9) 117 170 Dorchester Town (7) 3–0 Bashley (8) 171 Havant & Waterlooville (7) 0–2 Gosport Borough (7) 156 126 Hollands & Blair (9) 1–1 Herne Bay (8) 135 Thursday 4 September 2025 5 Newcastle Blue Star (9) 1–0 Whitby Town (7) 7 Hebburn Town (7) 0–2 Heaton Stannington (8) 16 Ashton United (7) 1–4 Bootle (8) 103 19 Atherton Laburnum Rovers (9) 0–1 Atherton Collieries (8) 82 27 Pontefract Collieries (8) 1–3 Frickley Athletic (9) Match played at Frickley Athletic 68 Northampton ON Chenecks (9) 0–4 Moulton (9) 87 Felixstowe & Walton United (8) 0–4 Harwich & Parkeston (9) 140 142 Crawley Down Gatwick (9) 1–1 Balham (9) 20 Trafford (8) 1–1 Irlam (9) 188 21 Wythenshawe (9) 2–0 Vauxhall Motors (8) 167 26 Liversedge (9) 2–5 Tadcaster Albion (9) Match played at Tadcaster Albion 30 Bottesford Town (9) 0–1 Emley (8) 62 46 Alvechurch (7) 1–4 Racing Club Warwick (8) 63 Dunstable Town (9) 4–4 Royston Town (7) 100 89 Tilbury (8) 2–0 Haringey Borough (9) 107 105 Flackwell Heath (8) 0–4 Kings Langley (9) 99 110 Amersham Town (9) 1–1 St Albans City (7) 42 127 Sutton Common Rovers (9) P–P Welling United (7) 143 Lewes (7) 4–0 Three Bridges (8) 50 144 Wick (9) 1–6 Bognor Regis Town (8) 154 Wokingham Town (9) 3–4 Hartley Wintney (8) 183 Lydney Town (9) 1–6 Longlevens (9) 107 185 Tuffley Rovers (9) 3–2 Fairford Town (9) 129 187 Tiverton Town (7) 4–2 Saltash United (9) 23 Stocksbridge Park Steels (7) 1–9 Guiseley (7) 132 49 Rugby Town (8) 1–1 Studley (9) 134 51 Halesowen Town (7) 0–2 AFC Wolverhampton City (9) 103 58 Coventry Sphinx (8) 1–3 Brocton (9) 59 Hereford Pegasus (9) 5–3 Sutton Coldfield Town (8) 66 Arlesey Town (9) 3–3 Leighton Town (8) 67 Histon (9) 17–0 Yaxley (9) 89 69 Newport Pagnell Town (9) 1–0 Daventry Town (9) 91 72 Godmanchester Rovers (9) 6–0 Biggleswade Town (8) 73 Wellingborough Town (8) 8–2 Kempston Rovers (9) 92 74 Baldock Town (9) 0–3 AFC Rushden & Diamonds (8) 76 Woodbridge Town (9) 2–0 Little Oakley (9) 81 Bury Town (7) 6–5 Brantham Athletic (8) 71 82 Cambridge City (8) 6–1 Hadleigh United (9) 83 Stowmarket Town (9) 5–0 Newmarket Town (8) 84 Haverhill Rovers (9) 10–1 Lakenheath (9) 43 85 Wisbech Town (9) 0–15 Needham Market (7) 88 Leiston (7) 3–2 Ipswich Wanderers (9) 55 99 West Essex (9) 0–3 Ware (8) 100 Welwyn Garden City (8) 1–6 Hullbridge Sports (9) 109 Leverstock Green (8) 3–3 Uxbridge (7) 89 122 Erith & Belvedere (9) 3–2 Dartford (7) 135 Corinthian-Casuals (9) 1–6 Camberley Town (9) 139 Steyning Town Community (9) 0–2 Seaford Town (9) 75 147 Haywards Heath Town (9) 1–5 Eastbourne United (9) 167 Brockenhurst (9) 2–0 Fareham Town (8) 134 173 Frome Town (8) 0–7 Slimbridge (9) 72 77 AFC Sudbury (7) 11–0 Ely City (9) 122 Friday 5 September 2025 115 Sevenoaks Town (8) 0–2 Whitstable Town (9) 8 Burscough (9) 2–2 Warrington Rylands (7) 80 47 Leek Town (7) 3–2 Stafford Rangers (8) 141 57 Newcastle Town (8) 5–1 Hednesford Town (7) 98 155 Bracknell Town (7) 4–0 Eversley & California (9) 179 Gloucester City (7) 5–0 Cribbs (9) 140 52 Romulus (9) 1–4 Redditch United (7) 210 90 Billericay Town (7) 2–2 Cockfosters (9) 120 Cray Wanderers (7) 2–1 Cray Valley (PM) (7) 301 164 Sholing (7) 2–4 AFC Stoneham (9) 39 Ilkeston Town (7) 1–2 Eastwood Community (9) Sunday 7 September 2025 96 Great Wakering Rovers (9) 0–2 Saffron Walden Town (9) 18 Pilkington (9) 3–1 Lower Breck (8) 106 Hilltop (9) 3–0 Rayners Lane (8) Match played at Walton & Hersham. Monday 8 September 2025 128 Ramsgate (7) 0–0 Deal Town (8) 144 61 Stourbridge (7) 8–0 Coton Green (9) 78 Wednesday 10 September 2025 127 Sutton Common Rovers (9) 0–8 Welling United (7) 59 Match played at Banstead Athletic. 141 Shoreham (9) 0–5 Horley Town (9) 137 Farnham Town (7) 1–5 AFC Whyteleafe (8) 60
First Round Qualifying