The full draw for the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup has been set, creating compelling matchups across England’s football pyramid and guaranteeing at least two lower-division sides a historic path to the competition’s final sixteen.
The draw, conducted by former winners Steve McManaman and Joleon Lescott at Anfield ahead of Liverpool’s third-round tie with Barnsley, sets up a weekend of fixtures scheduled for February 14, 2026, where winning clubs will earn £127,000 from the competition’s prize fund.
The headline story continues to be the fairytale run of sixth-tier Macclesfield, who produced what has been described as “arguably the biggest upset in FA Cup history” by knocking out the holders, Crystal Palace. Their reward is another home tie against Premier League opposition, this time welcoming Brentford to Moss Rose Stadium.
Macclesfield manager John Rooney acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating, “We said before that we would have liked to get Liverpool, Chelsea, or Arsenal but another Premier League side is incredible” . Match-winner Isaac Buckley-Ricketts echoed the sentiment of belief, asking, “We have shown already what we can do at home, so why can’t we do it again?”.
Several other Premier League sides face potentially tricky away trips to clubs from lower divisions. These include Chelsea traveling to Hull City, a poignant return for new Blues boss Liam Rosenior to his former club.
Wolverhampton Wanderers will make the journey to face Grimsby Town of League Two, while West Ham United visit Burton Albion of League One. Fulham, Sunderland, Leeds United, and Brentford also face tests away from home against lower-league opposition.
The draw also produced one confirmed all-Premier League clash, with Aston Villa set to host Newcastle United at Villa Park, a fitting reward for Villa after they eliminated Tottenham Hotspur in the previous round. Another could materialize if Liverpool overcome Barnsley, which would see the Reds host Brighton & Hove Albion.
Other notable ties see Manchester City host either Salford City or Swindon Town, and a Championship derby between Southampton and Leicester City.
The fourth round will be played across the weekend of February 14, with exact dates and broadcast schedules to be confirmed following discussions between The FA, clubs, and broadcast partners.
With the elimination of the holders and several other top-flight clubs, the path to Wembley is wide open, embodying the enduring magic and unpredictability of the world’s oldest domestic cup competition.