The FA Cup quarter-final draw takes place on Monday evening as the race to Wembley intensifies for the remaining clubs in the competition.
Fifth-round action begins on Friday with Liverpool facing Premier League rivals Wolves.
Arsenal take on Mansfield on Saturday, while Chelsea travel to face Wrexham later that day.
Manchester City also face a stern test against Newcastle United as the field narrows down to the final eight.
When is the FA Cup quarter-final draw?
The draw is expected to take place on Monday, 9 March 2026.
It will be conducted at the London Stadium ahead of the final tie of the round between West Ham and Brentford.
Proceedings are scheduled to begin at approximately 18:35 GMT.
This will occur just before kick-off in the all-London affair, which is set for 20:00 GMT.
How to watch on TV and live stream
Coverage of the draw will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 1.
The programme is due to start at 18:30 GMT.
Fans can also stream the event live via the Discovery+ app and website with a valid subscription.
Alternatively, the draw will be available to watch for free on the TNT Sports YouTube channel.
When will the matches be played?
The quarter-final ties are scheduled to be played across the weekend of 4 and 5 April 2026.
Ball numbers for the draw will be confirmed by the Football Association following the conclusion of the weekend’s earlier fixtures.
Mauricio Pochettino is preparing to name his United States squad for the crucial March international window, marking the final audition before the pre-World Cup camp begins.
The upcoming fixtures represent the last opportunity for players to impress the Argentine manager directly before the tournament roster is finalized in May.
While the former Chelsea and Tottenham boss has previously approached selection with an open mind, the time for experimentation has effectively concluded.
Pochettino is now focused on tactical refinement rather than assessing depth, heightening the pressure on those currently on the periphery of the squad.
Goalkeeper battle heats up
Matt Freese currently holds the advantage as the number one choice, though the coming month remains critical for the New York City FC stopper.
Despite consistent displays in Major League Soccer, doubts linger regarding the 27-year-old’s ability to produce match-winning performances at the highest international level.
Recent form suggests the defensive unit has protected him well, but the spotlight is now firmly on his individual capacity to handle World Cup pressure.
Experience could yet prove vital for Matt Turner, who has returned to the New England Revolution following a loan spell from Lyon.
The 31-year-old has prevented significant expected goals (xG) early in the MLS season, aiming to prove his value to the national setup despite missing out on selection last November.
Pochettino has made it clear that historical achievements mean little, demanding that Turner delivers in the present to reclaim his position.
Columbus Crew’s Patrick Schulte remains in contention, relying on credit built up with the coaching staff despite a difficult start to the domestic campaign under Henrik Rydstrom.
Defensive decisions
Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards is available for selection having fully recovered from a foot laceration sustained in December.
The 25-year-old’s return to fitness provides a timely boost for the national team’s defensive options ahead of the final run-in.
Tottenham Hotspur face a financial catastrophe worth more than £260m in lost revenue if they suffer relegation from the Premier League this season.
The prospect of one of the top flight’s ‘Big Six’ dropping into the second tier has long been considered impossible given their immense resources.
However, the north London club sit just a point above 18th-placed West Ham United with only 10 games remaining of the campaign.
While Wolves and Burnley appear set for the bottom two spots, Spurs remain locked in a survival battle alongside the likes of Nottingham Forest and Leeds United.
Projected income collapse
Should the unthinkable happen, the economic reality for the club would be stark.
Spurs generated £690m in income last year, a figure that ranked them ninth amongst all European clubs.
According to BBC Sport analysis, that figure could plummet by as much as £261m in the Championship.
This reduction represents a fundamental shift in the club’s operating model.
Stadium and matchday revenue
A significant portion of the potential losses would come from matchday income.
Ticket sales currently earn the club £130m annually, the fifth-highest total across the continent.
Having constructed a new stadium for approximately £1bn, the hierarchy has focused heavily on premium hospitality and corporate packages.
Fans currently pay an average of £76 per home match, a pricing structure that would be unsustainable in the second tier.
Hosting Championship fixtures against smaller opposition would force a reduction in ticket prices and likely lead to a drop in overall attendance.
Broadcast and commercial blow
The most immediate impact would be felt in broadcast revenue.
Relegation would strip the club of access to the Premier League’s lucrative domestic and international TV deals.
Furthermore, revenue from Champions League participation would evaporate entirely.
Commercial income, which reached a club-record £269m last year, would also suffer significant damage.
Major sponsorship deals with kit manufacturer Nike and shirt sponsor AIA are worth a combined £70m annually.
However, these contracts typically contain relegation clauses that would slash their value in the event of a drop to the Championship.
Even the fixture list would have a financial cost.
The Championship season involves four extra home matches, reducing the available dates for hosting lucrative non-football events and concerts at the stadium.
Former striker Robbie Keane has emerged as a surprise contender to take over as Tottenham manager this summer alongside Mauricio Pochettino and Roberto De Zerbi.
The north London club are weighing up their long-term options to replace caretaker boss Igor Tudor.
Tudor is unlikely to remain in the post beyond the current campaign.
Spurs have identified their former captain as a potential candidate following his managerial success abroad.
Keane impressing in Europe
The 45-year-old has rebuilt his reputation in the dugout with Hungarian champions Ferencvaros.
Keane has guided the Budapest-based side to a league title, winning 42 of his 69 matches in charge.
This equates to a win rate of 61% for the Republic of Ireland legend.
However, Tottenham may face competition for his signature.
Premier League rivals Crystal Palace are also tracking Keane as they prepare to lose Oliver Glasner when his contract expires.
Relegation battle complicates search
Tottenham’s ability to land a high-profile target remains dependent on their Premier League status.
The club sits just one point above the relegation zone ahead of a crucial clash with Palace on Thursday.
Spurs are currently on a dismal run of 11 league matches without a win.
De Zerbi is considered a top target, but the Italian is unlikely to accept a role in the Championship.
The former Brighton boss is also being monitored by Manchester United, Liverpool, and Manchester City.
Pochettino link remains
Mauricio Pochettino remains a primary candidate for a return to north London.
The Argentine is currently preparing to lead the USA at their home World Cup.
Reports suggest Pochettino would not necessarily be deterred by managing in the second tier.
However, his salary demands could prove a stumbling block if the club suffers relegation.
Robert Lewandowski says Harry Kane’s pursuit of his Bundesliga goalscoring record has made him even prouder of the feat as the Barcelona striker considers his own future.
Kane closes in on historic tally
The England captain has scored 30 goals in 24 league games for Bayern Munich this season, threatening the total set by his predecessor in the 2020-21 campaign.
Lewandowski established the benchmark of 41 goals in just 29 appearances during his final years in Germany.
Despite the threat to his legacy, the 37-year-old insists seeing another elite forward chase the number highlights just how difficult the original achievement was.
“Harry Kane is scoring always so many goals and he’s playing really good and he’s doing a great job,” Lewandowski told Sky Sports.
“I saw I did this in 29 games… if I played 34 games, I can only imagine I could even score more.”
The Polish international admits the Englishman’s form has offered a new perspective on his own statistics.
“Because of him, I can be more proud of my record now,” he added.
The changing role of the number nine
Currently in his 22nd season as a professional, the Barcelona forward believes the production of elite strikers has stalled due to modern coaching methods.
He suggests that academies are now prioritizing tactical uniformity over individual brilliance.
“From academies you have so many similar players,” the former Borussia Dortmund attacker explained.
“The way they want to learn how to play football is like copy and paste. Like a factory.”
He noted that while unique talents still emerge, the volume of “maverick” players has decreased significantly compared to when he began his career.
Rashford potential and Barcelona future
Lewandowski also discussed the potential of Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, whom he views as a significant talent in the European game.
The veteran marksman is currently chasing a La Liga and Champions League double with Barcelona as the 2025-26 campaign enters its final stages.
However, questions remain regarding his long-term future in Catalonia.
With his contract at the Nou Camp set to expire this summer, the forward maintains his primary focus is adding further silverware to his collection before making a decision on his next step.
Gareth Bale has revealed a long-standing back injury he suffered as a teenager eventually forced his retirement from football at the age of 33.
The former Real Madrid forward called time on his illustrious career in January 2023.
He hung up his boots shortly after captaining Wales at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
However, the five-time Champions League winner has now disclosed he played with a torn disc from the age of 18.
The injury, sustained during his time at Tottenham, was kept largely private throughout his playing days.
“I tore my disc in my back when I was 18 at Tottenham,” Bale told the Stick to Football podcast.
“I played my whole career with that.”
Managing chronic pain
Bale explained that the spinal issue was directly responsible for the recurring calf problems that plagued his later years in Spain.
He admitted to keeping the severity of the condition quiet to avoid accusations of making excuses for his fitness record.
The injury required constant management, including spinal injections to reduce inflammation.
It even affected his daily routine, forcing him to stand on his heels while brushing his teeth to protect his calves.
“I had a lot of calf injuries which was due to my back,” he added.
“It was manageable but over time it caught up with me.”
Real Madrid were aware
The ex-Southampton winger became the world’s most expensive player when he joined Real Madrid in 2013.
He confirmed the Spanish giants were fully aware of his medical history before completing the transfer.
Despite the physical toll, Bale played a pivotal role in the club’s return to European dominance.
Yet, the unpredictability of the injury created significant mental pressure.
“I never knew when it would come,” said Bale.
“I would literally make sure my calves and soleus were bulletproof. But again, if it misfires and it goes, there’s nothing I could do about it.”
Achieving closure
Bale is widely regarded as Wales’ greatest ever footballer.
He broke records for both appearances and goals for the men’s national side, having debuted as a 16-year-old.
After leading his country to the semi-finals of Euro 2016, his final ambition was to reach a World Cup.
Once he achieved that historic qualification for Qatar, he felt ready to step away.
“I felt like I achieved everything I wanted to,” he said.
“The last thing I did was qualify for a World Cup, which was the one thing that was last on my list.”
Bale also cited a family illness as a contributing factor to his decision to leave the sport.
Since retiring, the 36-year-old has explored business opportunities, including potential investment in his hometown club, Cardiff City.
The International Football Association Board has agreed to implement significant rule changes, including countdown clocks for restarts and expanded VAR protocols, which will come into effect ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The game’s lawmakers confirmed the new measures will officially begin on 1 July, ensuring they are in place for the tournament starting on 11 June.
These updates focus heavily on combatting time-wasting and widening the scope of video technology.
Countdown clocks introduced
Referees will now initiate a five-second visual countdown if they believe a throw-in or goal kick is being deliberately delayed.
Failure to restart play within the time limit will result in an immediate turnover of possession.
A delayed throw-in will see the restart awarded to the opposition, while a stalled goal kick will result in a corner kick for the attacking team.
This follows data analysis showing that goal kicks – from collection to release – can currently consume up to a minute of playing time.
Former Select Group referee Andy Davies believes the penalty of losing the ball is far more effective than a caution.
“The threat of the opposition gaining possession from a reversed throw-in or a corner is a game changer in the fight against deliberate delaying tactics,” said Davies.
“It puts the responsibility back on to the players to speed things up.”
VAR scope expanded
The protocols for Video Assistant Referees have been widened to cover second yellow card offences for the first time.
Officials will also be able to intervene in cases of mistaken identity regarding cards awarded to the wrong player.
Furthermore, using technology to review corner kick decisions will now be an available option for competitions.
However, the IFAB did not deem physical grappling during set-pieces severe enough to warrant specific new legislative measures at this stage.
Substitution speed limits
To further streamline match flow, substituted players must now leave the field of play within 10 seconds of the board being displayed.
This rule aims to eliminate the slow walks often used by managers to disrupt the tempo in the dying moments of matches.
These changes build upon the recent success of the eight-second rule for goalkeepers holding the ball, which officials believe has had a positive impact on game speed.
Joao Pedro produced a clinical hat-trick to guide Chelsea to a crucial victory over Aston Villa and reignite the club’s push for Champions League qualification.
The 24-year-old’s treble at Villa Park provided a definitive answer to head coach Liam Rosenior’s pre-match fears that time was "running out" for the Blues’ top-four ambitions.
It was an exceptional, all-action display from a forward who has now registered 17 goals across all competitions this campaign.
Filling the void left by Costa
Chelsea have spent nine years searching for a striker capable of leading the line with the aggression and output of Diego Costa during the 2016-17 title-winning season.
The former Brighton attacker is now just three strikes away from becoming the first Blues player since Costa to break the 20-goal barrier in a single season.
His 14 non-penalty goals in the Premier League place him in elite company, with only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland managing more from open play this term.
With at least 12 games remaining, including a Champions League tie against Paris St-Germain, the Brazilian is on course for a landmark campaign.
A ‘world-class’ finish
The visitors fell behind early to a Douglas Luiz strike, but the number 20 responded by peeling away from Ezri Konsa to tap home the equaliser.
He put the west Londoners ahead before the break, dinking a composed finish over Emiliano Martinez.
After Cole Palmer had powered in a third, the hat-trick was completed with a simple tap-in from an Alejandro Garnacho cross.
Rosenior, who replaced the forward in the 85th minute to a standing ovation, was full of praise for his leading marksman.
"He is a top player and growing in confidence. His goal with his left foot is world class, but I was really delighted with his two tap-ins."
Liam Rosenior, Chelsea head coach
"He was in the right place at the right time and we have worked hard with him on that. He gets a hat-trick and it is an outstanding team performance."
Savvy business in a record market
The victory lifts Chelsea to fifth in the table, cutting the gap to Villa to just three points.
It also highlights the value of the club’s £55m investment in the South American last July.
While rivals Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool spent heavily on Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, and Alexander Isak respectively, the Blues appear to have found their solution for a fraction of the price.