The first FA Cup final took place in 1872 and the world’s oldest national football competition continues to delight football fans all around the world.
Selected matches from the first round of the FA Cup onwards are available to watch on TNT Sports and live-streaming platforms such as BBC iPlayer in the UK.
The FA Cup final at Wembley is shown on TNT Sports, as well as free-to-air on the BBC, and English football’s showpiece occasion can also be streamed online.
FA Cup Live Stream Fixtures – This Week’s Matches
Use our fixture list below to find out how to watch upcoming FA Cup matches.
This handy tool provides details of the dates and kick-off times of FA Cup fixtures as well as the live-streaming options for each game.
There are two legal streaming options for viewers in the UK wanting to watch FA Cup fixtures throughout the season.
TNT Sports has the rights to broadcast the FA Cup so an active subscription through Discovery+ is required in order to experience the magic of the cup.
However, viewers who do not have a subscription can still get involved on a flexible basis if they create a Discovery+ account. Once you log in and select the ‘TNT Sports plan’ you will be able to stream FA Cup matches immediately.
The other legal streaming service for selected FA Cup matches is BBC iPlayer. A TV licence is needed in order to watch content on the iPlayer and there will be 14 live matches per season, including one semi-final and the final, streamed by the BBC.
Why Aren’t All FA Cup Games Streamed Live in the UK?
As the primary rights-holder, TNT Sports is able to stream every FA Cup match except for those kicking off at 3pm on a Saturday.
The 3pm blackout was introduced in the 1960s, preventing broadcasters from showing live matches on television between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on a Saturday. The blackout was intended to encourage football fans to attend lower-league fixtures.
As part of TNT Sports’ deal with the Football Association, a certain number of FA Cup matches per season have to be available on free-to-air TV.
The BBC will provide live coverage of 14 FA Cup fixtures in 2025-26 and the corporation also has extensive radio commentary and highlights shows to keep FA Cup fans informed and entertained.
Upcoming Changes to FA Cup Broadcasting
The FA and TNT Sports agreed a four-year broadcasting deal in February 2024, beginning with their coverage of the 2025-26 FA Cup.
The deal means that more games than ever before will be available to stream on TNT Sports and the BBC, their chosen free-to-air partners.
