The fa cup draw for the quarter-finals will be made Monday at 7: 05 p. m. GMT (2: 05 p. m. ET) at the London Stadium, setting the last-eight roadmap for clubs including Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City. As of Saturday at 9: 24 a. m. ET, details on presentation and ball numbers are confirmed.
Fa Cup Draw Presentation: Darren Fletcher, Ally McCoist and Joe Hart
The quarter-final draw will be staged live from the London Stadium ahead of West Ham United’s fifth-round match against Brentford. Broadcast details were announced, but the key on-site roles are set: Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist will present the coverage, while former England goalkeeper Joe Hart will conduct the draw.
The draw is scheduled to begin at approximately 7: 05 p. m. GMT (2: 05 p. m. ET), during the pre-match window at the venue. That timing places the final eight picture in focus before the evening’s action in London, ensuring clubs and supporters learn their potential paths with enough time to react.
Quarter-final ties are slated to be played across the weekend of April 4/5, giving teams just under a month from Monday’s draw to plan logistics, manage player workloads, and align ticket allocations once match hosts are confirmed.
Ball Numbers: Liverpool 6, Manchester City 3, Arsenal 5, Chelsea 7
The Football Association has listed the ball numbers for the draw, reflecting sides already through and those still to be decided. The full set:
- 1. Fulham or Southampton
- 2. Port Vale or Sunderland
- 3. Manchester City
- 4. Leeds United or Norwich City
- 5. Arsenal
- 6. Liverpool
- 7. Chelsea
- 8. West Ham United or Brentford
Liverpool, assigned ball number six, secured their place with a 3–1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday night. With Arsenal at five, Manchester City at three, and Chelsea at seven, several potential heavyweight ties loom once the numbers are drawn.
Still to be settled are multiple fifth-round outcomes that will finalize the draw’s composition: Fulham or Southampton for ball one, Port Vale or Sunderland for ball two, and Leeds United or Norwich City for ball four remain in play. In addition, West Ham United or Brentford will occupy ball eight after their meeting in London.
The fa cup draw format means every remaining club has a clear numerical identity before the bowls are opened, removing ambiguity for fans tracking the sequence live and ensuring each matchup is immediately recognizable when read aloud.
Saturday’s Fifth-Round Ties and ET Kickoffs
Three fixtures on Saturday help complete the last-eight field, with staggered kickoffs across the day. The slate includes two Premier League versus lower-division matchups and a heavyweight evening clash:
Mansfield Town vs. Arsenal at 12: 15 p. m. GMT (7: 15 a. m. ET). That early start offers Arsenal, already listed as ball five, a path to bank momentum before Monday’s ceremony in London.
Wrexham vs. Chelsea at 5: 30 p. m. GMT (12: 30 p. m. ET). Chelsea carry ball seven into the draw, with attention on how their performance may shape confidence ahead of the quarter-final announcement.
Newcastle vs. Manchester City at 8: 00 p. m. GMT (3: 00 p. m. ET). Manchester City, assigned ball three, close the day in a prime-time showdown with top-flight stakes that could influence perceptions of the balance of power before the quarter-final bracket is revealed.
For now, the blend of confirmed numbers and pending results ensures a suspenseful lineup. Clubs already through can begin sketching scenarios, while those playing Saturday face the delicate task of focusing on the job at hand with Monday’s draw on the horizon.
Once the eight clubs are confirmed, attention will move quickly to April 4/5, when quarter-final ties are scheduled to be played. Fixture specifics, including venues and ET kickoff times, will follow the formal draw and subsequent coordination between the competition organizers and the clubs.
The next confirmed step is the draw itself, beginning Monday at 7: 05 p. m. GMT (2: 05 p. m. ET) from the London Stadium, after which the last-eight schedule will be set.
