Leicester City draw Oxford City as FA Cup first-round ties are set
The 2021 winners will visit Oxford City, while Wigan Athletic head to Boreham Wood and first-time entrants learn their opponents.
Leicester City were drawn away to Oxford City in the 2026-27 FA Cup first round on 19 October, setting up a November tie between the 2021 winners and a National League North club. Wigan Athletic will visit Boreham Wood, while AFC Rushden & Diamonds face Burton Albion after reaching the first round proper for the first time.
Leicester City and Wigan Athletic face away ties
Leicester, who won the cup in 2021, are back at this stage for the first time since 2008, according to BBC Sport. They were relegated to League One for this season and must win at Oxford City to reach the second round. Wigan, the 2013 winners, were paired with another away trip, to Boreham Wood, The Independent reported.
Bradford City, the highest-ranked club in the first-round draw according to both reports, will host Marine. Peterborough United will play Reading in a tie with a family connection: Peterborough manager Robbie Savage faces a side featuring his son Charlie, BBC Sport reported. The draw also paired Oldham Athletic with Sheffield Wednesday and Oxford United with Stevenage.
First-round opponents for non-league newcomers
AFC Rushden & Diamonds earned their place by beating Morecambe 2-1 in the fourth qualifying round, The Independent reported. BBC Sport described the club as an eighth-tier side that had won five FA Cup games this season. Their reward is a trip to Burton Albion, who play in League One.
Plymouth Parkway will play Berkhamsted in an all non-league tie. The Independent reported that the clubs compete in the same Southern League Premier Division South, with Parkway second and Berkhamsted 11th at the time of the draw. Sholing, who beat South East Dons in the fourth qualifying round, were paired with Salisbury, another non-league opponent. Both Parkway and Sholing are also making their first appearance at this stage.
When the FA Cup first-round ties are scheduled
The draw contains 40 first-round ties scheduled for the weekend of 7–8 November. Some opponents still have to be settled by replays: Mansfield Town, for example, will face either Macclesfield or Anstey Nomads, while Luton Town await Chesham United or Forest Green Rovers. Those outstanding results will complete the fixture list.
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Sources and context
- FA Cup minnows discover first round opponents as full draw revealedThe Independent, republished by Yahoo Sports; article credits AFP/Getty for image, with no agency byline observed
- FA Cup first round draw: 2021 winners Leicester City to visit Oxford CityBBC Sport
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.
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