Yorkshire.com Sport
News • February 15th, 2026
|Leeds United are into the FA Cup fifth round after a nerve-shredding afternoon at St Andrew's, beating Birmingham City 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in normal time.
It was the kind of drama that only the FA Cup can deliver — and now the reward is a place in the last 16 of the world's oldest cup competition.
Attention now turns to Monday evening's draw, where Leeds will discover their fate. Here's everything you need to know.
When Is the FA Cup Fifth Round Draw?
The draw for the FA Cup fifth round takes place on Monday 16 February 2026, shortly before Macclesfield's fourth round tie against Brentford kicks off.
It should be noted that not all fourth round ties are complete — Port Vale vs Bristol City has been postponed until early March due to a waterlogged pitch — so one ball in the draw will represent the winner of that tie.
What Time Is the Draw?
The draw will take place during the pre-match coverage of Macclesfield vs Brentford at approximately 6:35pm GMT.
It can be watched live on TNT Sports, the TNT Sports YouTube channel, and discovery+.
Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist will host proceedings, with Joe Cole and Karen Carney conducting the draw itself.
Who Is in the Fifth Round Draw?
Just 16 teams remain in the hat. Leeds are ball number 16. Here are the full ball numbers:
| Ball Number | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool |
| 2 | Fulham |
| 3 | Sunderland |
| 4 | Southampton |
| 5 | Wrexham |
| 6 | Arsenal or Wigan Athletic |
| 7 | Chelsea |
| 8 | West Ham United |
| 9 | Mansfield Town |
| 10 | Norwich City |
| 11 | Port Vale or Bristol City |
| 12 | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
| 13 | Newcastle United |
| 14 | Manchester City |
| 15 | Macclesfield or Brentford |
| 16 | Leeds United |
Three ties are still to be settled: Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic, Port Vale vs Bristol City (postponed), and Macclesfield vs Brentford (Monday evening).
The Giant-Killers: Macclesfield's Fairytale Run
The story of this season's FA Cup has been Macclesfield. The National League North side — who play in the sixth tier of English football — produced one of the great all-time FA Cup shocks in the third round when they dumped out holders Crystal Palace.
They now host an in-form Brentford side on Monday evening, with the whole country watching. Whatever happens, their run has already written itself into FA Cup folklore.
Big Names Already Out
The FA Cup has lived up to its reputation for upsets this season. Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have both already been knocked out, along with defending champions Crystal Palace.
That means the trophy is guaranteed a new home in May — and Leeds will fancy their chances of a deep run.
When Is the FA Cup Fifth Round?
The fifth round proper is scheduled for Saturday 7 March 2026, though individual ties may be moved for television broadcast.
Full FA Cup 2025/26 Key Dates
| Round | Date |
|---|---|
| First Round Proper | 1 November 2025 |
| Second Round Proper | 6 December 2025 |
| Third Round Proper | 10 January 2026 |
| Fourth Round Proper | 14 February 2026 |
| Fifth Round Proper | 7 March 2026 |
| Quarter-Final | 4 April 2026 |
| Semi-Final | 25 April 2026 |
| Final | 16 May 2026 |
Leeds United's Route So Far
Daniel Farke's side have done it the hard way to reach the last 16. The fourth round penalty shootout victory over Birmingham — 4-2 from the spot after a tense 1-1 draw — showed real character and composure when it mattered most.
With a place among the final 16 secured, and the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham already eliminated, the path to Wembley looks as open as it has done in years. Whatever Monday's draw throws up, Leeds will be ready.
The FA Cup fifth round draw takes place at approximately 6:35pm on Monday 16 February 2026 on TNT Sports.
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