Ball numbers, how to watch, fixture dates, potential opponents – 2025/26 FA Cup quarter-final round draw

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City Xtra

·6 March 2026

Ball numbers, how to watch, fixture dates, potential opponents – 2025/26 FA Cup quarter-final round draw

Manchester City will find out their possible opponents for the quarter-final of this season’s FA Cup, should they progress beyond Newcastle at St James’ Park on Saturday night.

Pep Guardiola and his players will be desperate to keep their trophy-winning ambitions alive for as long as possible this season, and also keen to bounce back from Wednesday night’s disappointing draw against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

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That result at the Etihad Stadium left City seven points adrift of league leaders Arsenal, albeit retaining a game in hand on Mikel Arteta’s squad – who now have the direction of this season’s Premier League title firmly in their own hands.

Beyond the weekend’s trip to the North-East lies even more crucial fixtures, particularly a last-16 double-header in the Champions League against Real Madrid, beginning with a trip to the Bernabeu on Wednesday 11, March.

City will then return to England to take on West Ham at the London Stadium prior to welcoming Real Madrid to the Etihad Stadium for the return leg of their latest Champions League meeting.

But for now, and as Manchester City and their star-studded prepare to take on Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United for the fifth time across all competitions this season, here are all of the details for the FA Cup’s quarter-final draw procedure!

FA Cup Quarter-Final Draw: Date, Time, and TV Channel

The FA Cup Quarter Finals draw will be made on Monday 9 March from approximately 7:05PM GMT.

The draw will be held live from the London Stadium ahead of West Ham United’s fifth round match against Brentford, available to watch on TNT Sports 1, discovery+ and the TNT Sports YouTube channel.The draw will be presented by Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist, and completed by former Manchester City and England international goalkeeper, Joe Hart.

Ball Numbers: Who could Manchester City face in the last-eight?

1. Fulham or Southampton

2. Port Vale or Sunderland

3. Newcastle United or Manchester City

4. Leeds United or Norwich City

5. Mansfield Town or Arsenal

6. Wolverhampton Wanderers or Liverpool

7. Wrexham or Chelsea

8. West Ham United or Brentford

When will the FA Cup fifth round ties take place?

The FA Cup quarter-finals will be played around the weekend of Saturday 4 April.

For Manchester City, that will mean the clash would be the first game back after the March international break and the 2026 Carabao Cup final against Arsenal on Sunday 22 March.

Following a potential FA Cup quarter-final tie, Manchester City would then face either a UEFA Champions League first-leg clash – should they progress beyond Real Madrid this month – or an away meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday 12 April.