Leicester City Draws Oxford City in FA Cup First Round

Leicester City will travel to sixth-tier Oxford City in the first round of the 2026-27 FA Cup, following the draw held on Monday, October 19. The tie offers the 2021 winners a route into the second round as they compete in League One after their recent relegation from the Championship. According to the English Football Association, the draw produced 40 ties as League One and League Two clubs joined teams that advanced through qualifying.

The first-round matches are scheduled for the weekend of November 7, 2026, with some fixtures subject to confirmation. Winning teams will receive £47,750 in prize money, while clubs eliminated in the first round will collect £15,800, the FA said. Eleven fourth-round qualifying replays were scheduled for Tuesday, October 20, leaving several places in the competition to be decided.

Leicester's appearance at this stage marks the club's first participation in the FA Cup first round since 2008, according to the BBC. Managed by Russell Martin, the Foxes were 14th in League One after an inconsistent start to the season.

Oxford City, who compete in the National League North, will host Leicester for a place in the second round. The draw pairs the former FA Cup winners with opposition from two divisions below their current level in the English football league system. Another notable fixture will see Peterborough United face Reading. The matchup will pit Peterborough manager Robbie Savage against the team coached by his son, Charlie, when the first round begins around the weekend of November 7.

Exeter City will travel to Huddersfield Town in a meeting between two League One sides. Exeter confirmed that the match will take place at Huddersfield's Accu Stadium, with the precise fixture details and broadcast arrangements to be announced later. Gillingham will host either Barrow or Gloucester City after the two sides drew 0-0 in their initial qualifying match. Barrow and Gloucester City were scheduled to play a replay on Tuesday, October 20, to determine which club advances to face Gillingham.

Bradford City, the highest-ranked team entering the draw, will welcome National League North side Marine. Bradford were leading League One at the time of the draw, according to the BBC. At the other end of the rankings, eighth-tier AFC Rushden & Diamonds earned a first-round trip to Burton Albion after winning five matches in this season's competition.

The run secured the club a meeting with League One opposition. Tadley Calleva, the lowest-ranked team involved in the draw, could face League One club Barnsley if it progresses beyond its replay against Aldershot. Tadley Calleva came from behind twice to force the additional match, according to the BBC.

The FA said further information about fixture dates and television coverage would be released in due course. The first-round schedule covers the weekend of November 7, with ties expected to be played across the November 6-9 window.