Get ready for some thrilling FA Cup action as we dive into the fifth-round draw! Sunderland, with their eyes on the prize, are eagerly awaiting their fate in tonight's draw.
The Black Cats, led by Régis Le Bris, have already made significant progress, securing a win at the Kassam Stadium and inching closer to the quarter-finals. With a rich history in the competition, having lifted the trophy in 1937 and 1973, Sunderland hopes for a favorable draw to propel them further.
But here's where it gets exciting! The fifth-round draw will take place on Monday, February 16th, just before Macclesfield's clash with Brentford. Get ready for the draw to commence around 6:35 pm, with coverage starting at 6:30 pm. You can catch all the action live on TNT Sports 1, discovery+, and the TNT Sports YouTube channel. The draw will be conducted by Joe Cole and Karen Carney, with Darren Fletcher and former Sunderland player Ally McCoist hosting the event.
And this is the part most people miss... The fifth-round ties are scheduled for the weekend of March 7th, 2026, with fixtures potentially spanning from Friday to Monday, depending on TV selections. So, mark your calendars and get ready for some intense football action!
Now, let's take a look at the ball numbers for the fifth-round draw:
- Liverpool
- Fulham
- Sunderland
- Southampton
- Wrexham
- Arsenal
- Chelsea
- West Ham United
- Mansfield Town
- Norwich City
- Port Vale or Bristol City
- Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Newcastle United
- Manchester City
- Macclesfield or Brentford
- Leeds United
But what's at stake financially for Sunderland? Well, the Black Cats have already pocketed an additional £127,000 for reaching the fifth round. And the rewards only get bigger from here. A victory in the fifth round would be worth a whopping £238,500, while winning a quarter-final tie would bring in £477,000. The semi-finals represent a significant milestone, with clubs receiving £1,060,000 for reaching and winning at this stage, and even those who lose still take home a substantial £530,000.
The financial incentives peak at Wembley, where the runners-up in this season's FA Cup will earn £1,060,000, and the winners will walk away with a staggering £2,120,000 in prize money alone. Should Sunderland make it all the way, the total prize pot could reach a massive £4,144,000. But that's not all; there's additional revenue to be earned through television selections. Clubs whose matches are broadcast live on linear TV receive £80,000, while those streamed exclusively on discovery+ are awarded £40,000. Sunderland's third-round win over Everton was broadcast live, adding to their overall earnings, and the Oxford United game was also shown on television.
Here's a breakdown of the FA Cup prize money by round this season:
- Third-round winners: £121,500
- Third-round losers: £26,500
- Fourth-round winners: £127,000
- Fifth-round winners: £238,500
- Quarter-final winners: £477,000
- Semi-final winners: £1,060,000
- Semi-final losers: £530,000
- Final runners-up: £1,060,000
- Final winners: £2,120,000
So, if Sunderland were to win the FA Cup, the total prize money could reach a staggering £4,144,000!
Are you excited for the fifth-round draw? Who do you think Sunderland will face? And what are your predictions for their financial gains? Let's discuss in the comments and share our thoughts on this exciting journey!
