Leicester City to travel to Oxford City in FA Cup first round
Leicester City will head to Oxford City’s ground for the opening round of the 2026‑27 FA Cup. It marks the Foxes’ first appearance at this stage since 2008, and they will be up against a National League North side from the sixth tier for a place in the second round.
The 2021 cup winners were relegated to League One for the current campaign and sit 14th in the table under manager Russell Martin after an uneven start to the season.
A family rivalry adds extra intrigue on the same weekend, with Peterborough United taking on Reading. Posh manager Robbie Savage will be on the opposing bench to his son Charlie, who plays for the Royals. The first‑round fixtures are slated for the weekend of Saturday 7 November.
The draw featured a total of 91 clubs, with four teams reaching the first round proper for the first time. Ninth‑tier Tadley Calleva, after twice coming from behind to force a replay with Aldershot, were beaten 2‑0 by the National League side, ending their hopes of a tie with League One’s Barnsley. Eighth‑tier Stafford Rangers delivered a stunning 5‑0 victory over Gateshead in the replay and will host Grimsby Town at home. AFC Rushden & Diamonds, also from the eighth tier, secured five wins in the competition this season and earned a match against League One Burton Albion. Bradford City will host National League North club Marine in what promises to be a classic league‑versus‑non‑league encounter. Two seventh‑tier sides have drawn high‑profile opponents: Alvechurch travel to Tom Cleverley’s Plymouth Argyle, while Cray Wanderers welcome new third‑tier leaders Stockport County.
The full list of first‑round ties is as follows:
Dover Athletic v Wealdstone, Mansfield Town v Macclesfield, Huddersfield Town v Exeter City, Luton Town v Forest Green Rovers, Bristol Rovers v Cambridge United, Oldham Athletic v Sheffield Wednesday, Kidderminster Harriers v Doncaster Rovers, Leyton Orient v Harborough Town, Accrington Stanley v Wycombe Wanderers, MK Dons v Swindon Town, Newport County v Walsall, Bromley v Rotherham United, Barnet v Tranmere Rovers, Fleetwood Town v Rochdale, Barnsley v Aldershot Town, Plymouth Parkway v Berkhamsted, Chesterfield v Yeovil Town, Gillingham v Barrow, Harrogate Town v AFC Fylde, Crewe Alexandra v AFC Wimbledon, Oxford United v Stevenage, Burton Albion v AFC Rushden & Diamonds, Cray Wanderers v Stockport County, Port Vale v Scunthorpe United, Cheltenham Town v FC Halifax Town, Colchester United v Worcester City, Eastleigh v Shrewsbury Town, Peterborough United v Reading, Wimborne Town v Crawley Town, Plymouth Argyle v Alvechurch, Hornchurch v Blackpool, Guiseley v Sutton United, Stafford Rangers v Grimsby Town, Oxford City v Leicester City, Bradford City v Marine, York City v Northampton Town, Altrincham v Notts County, Boreham Wood v Wigan Athletic, Carlisle United v Salford City, Salisbury v Sholing.
The draw sets up a mixture of classic matchups and fresh pairings, offering lower‑league clubs a chance to test themselves against higher‑division opposition. The first round will kick off in early November, with the winners moving on to the second round of the competition.