FA Cup 2026-27: Second Qualifying Round Preview

Overview of the 2nd Qualifying Round FA Cup

Name of Event: FA Cup 2026-27 – 2nd Qualifying Round

Date of Event: 18-20 September 2026

Place of Event: Multiple grassroots venues across England

Broadcast Options: ESPN+, BBC Sport, Sony Liv

Event Overview

The journey to Wembley Stadium goes on in the Second Round Qualifying of the 2026-27 Emirates FA Cup tournament. In this round, amateur, semi-pro, and professional teams battle each other in the struggle. They fight for their survival, victories, and success in the tournament.

With local rivalries, dedicated fans, and all the excitement of the cup. It is no surprise that the pressure to win and earn the needed money. It is incredibly high for each team. All teams want to pass to the next round.

Key Dates and Tournament Schedule

• Friday Night Under the Lights (18th of September): Some local matches will start earlier on the weekend days.

• Key Matchday (Saturday, 19th of September): Most of the matches will take place in the afternoon of this day.

FA Cup: Key Match Schedules

Date & Day	Fixtures	ET	PT	IST	Venue	League position / points
Saturday, 19 September 2026	Redcar Athletic vs Macclesfield	10:00 AM	7:00 AM	7:30 PM	Green Lane	Redcar Athletic 3rd, 21 pts (NPL Premier); Macclesfield 3rd, 18 pts (National League North)
Saturday, 19 September 2026	Hebburn Town vs Guiseley	10:00 AM	7:00 AM	7:30 PM	The Trustmark Group Stadium	Hebburn Town 5th, 17 pts (National League North); Guiseley 4th, 19 pts (NPL Premier)
Saturday, 19 September 2026	Spalding United vs Hanley Town	10:00 AM	7:00 AM	7:30 PM	Sir Halley Stewart Field	Spalding United 4th, 17 pts (National League North); Hanley Town 5th, 13 pts (NPL West)
Saturday, 19 September 2026	Stafford Rangers vs Hereford	10:00 AM	7:00 AM	7:30 PM	The Stan Robinson Stadium	Stafford Rangers 2nd, 15 pts (NPL West); Hereford 1st, 22 pts (National League North)
Saturday, 19 September 2026	South Shields vs Witton Albion	10:00 AM	7:00 AM	7:30 PM	1st Cloud Arena	South Shields 6th, 17 pts (National League North); Witton Albion 6th, 13 pts (NPL West)
Saturday, 19 September 2026	Buxton vs Ashton United	10:00 AM	7:00 AM	7:30 PM	The Silverlands	Buxton 7th, 16 pts (National League North); Ashton United 13th, 11 pts (NPL Premier)
Saturday, 19 September 2026	Bedford Town vs King’s Lynn Town	10:00 AM	7:00 AM	7:30 PM	The New Eyrie	Bedford Town 8th, 15 pts (National League North); King’s Lynn 12th, 13 pts (National League North)
Saturday, 19 September 2026	Dorchester Town vs Oxford City	10:00 AM	7:00 AM	7:30 PM	Clayson Stadium	Dorchester Town 4th (Southern Premier South); Oxford City 2nd, 19 pts (National League North)

FA Cup: Full Schedule

Date & Day	Time	Fixture
Friday, 18 September 2026	7:45 PM	Yate Town vs Chippenham Town
Friday, 18 September 2026	7:45 PM	Worcester City vs Stratford Town
Saturday, 19 September 2026	12:30 PM	Redcar Town vs Darlington
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Frome Town vs Plymouth Parkway
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Dorchester Town vs Oxford City
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Hitchin Town vs Leiston
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Waltham Abbey vs Dagenham & Redbridge
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Bishop’s Cleeve vs Tadley Calleva
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	AFC Totton vs Gloucester City
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Chertsey Town vs AFC Greenwich Borough
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Berkhamsted vs Hendon
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Cray Wanderers vs Maidstone United
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Walton & Hersham vs Horsham
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Lower Breck vs Chester
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Witham Town vs St Albans City
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Dover Athletic vs Folkestone Invicta
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Brackley Town vs AFC Portchester
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Kettering Town vs Quorn
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Tiverton Town vs Sholing
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Dunston vs Scarborough Athletic
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Stafford Rangers vs Hereford
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Harborough Town vs Rushall Olympic
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	South Shields vs Witton Albion
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Dulwich Hamlet vs Welling United
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Hampton & Richmond Borough vs Crowborough Athletic
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Pagham vs Hanworth Villa
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Harleston Town vs Real Bedford
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Needham Market vs Braintree Town
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Woodford Town vs Mulbarton Wanderers
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Hebburn Town vs Guiseley
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Marine vs Radcliffe
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Uxbridge vs Farnborough
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Heaton Stannington vs Trafford
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Merthyr Town vs Truro City
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Canvey Island vs Chelmsford City
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Buxton vs Ashton United
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Redditch United vs Evesham United
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Gorleston vs Bury Town
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Atherton Collieries vs Prescot Cables
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Alvechurch vs Racing Club Warwick
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Slimbridge vs Hungerford Town
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Leamington vs Gainsborough Trinity
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Warrington Town vs South Liverpool
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Thame United vs Exmouth Town
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Kingstonian vs Leatherhead
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Hednesford Town vs Coventry United
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Eastbourne Borough vs Windsor & Eton
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Salisbury vs Taunton Town
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Emley AFC vs Spennymoor Town
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	AFC Telford United vs Worksop Town
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Swindon Supermarine vs Weymouth
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	AFC Rushden & Diamonds vs Peterborough Sports
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Tonbridge Angels vs Ramsgate
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Chichester City vs SE Dons
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Bromsgrove Sporting vs Leek Town
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Halesowen Town vs Mickleover
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Billericay Town vs Enfield Town
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Cirencester Town vs Farnham Town
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Bradford Park Avenue vs Lancaster City
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Snodland Town vs Sheppey United
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Warrington Rylands vs Chorley
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Aveley vs Brentwood Town
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Barton Town vs Boldmere St Michaels
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Cambridge City vs Buckhurst Hill
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	FC United of Manchester vs Ossett United
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Weston-super-Mare vs Wimborne Town
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Torquay United vs AFC Stoneham
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Anstey Nomads vs Newcastle Town
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Dartford vs Hayes & Yeading United
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Chesham United vs Ware
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Hemel Hempstead Town vs Wingate & Finchley
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Maidenhead United vs Ebbsfleet United
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Bury vs Workington
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Spalding United vs Hanley Town
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Morecambe vs Southport
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Slough Town vs Chatham Town
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Redcar Athletic vs Macclesfield
Saturday, 19 September 2026	3:00 PM	Bedford Town vs King’s Lynn Town
Sunday, 20 September 2026	3:00 PM	Southall vs Dorking Wanderers

FA Cup: Match Previews

Redcar Athletic vs Macclesfield

Date: 19 September 2026 (Saturday)

Time: 10:00 AM ET | 07:00 AM PT | 07:30 PM IST

Venue: Green Lane

FA Cup Expected Lineups

Redcar Athletic

Position	Players
Goalkeeper	Josh Mazfari
Defenders	Oscar Fletcher, Danny Rowe, Dale Hopson, Kevin Burgess
Midfielders	Andrei Ardeleanu, Curtis Round, Adam Boyes, Jack Walker
Forwards	Nathan Guru, Mason McNeill

Macclesfield

Position	Players
Goalkeeper	Christian Dibble
Defenders	Sam Heathcote, Tom Wilson, Ammar Dyer, Brandon Lee
Midfielders	Elliot Osborne, Paul Dawson, Fin Shrimpton, George Wilson, Luke Duffy
Forwards	Jon Ustabaşı, Adan George

Match Analysis

Macclesfield is one level above Redcar Athletic, which gives them a distinct advantage both physically and tactically. Yet Redcar has a formidable record at home in the NPL Premier Division and is very sturdy defensively. Macclesfield should just about get the better of a tough game.

The Pick: Macclesfield

Spalding United vs Hanley Town

Date: 19 September 2026 (Saturday)

Time: 10:00 AM ET | 07:00 AM PT | 07:30 PM IST

Venue: Sir Halley Stewart Field

FA Cup Expected Lineups

Spalding United

Position	Players
Goalkeeper	P. Crook
Defenders	Liam Moore, C. Johnson, M. Kelly, Nathan Fox
Midfielders	D. Sembie-Ferris, S. Byrne, T. Pugh, S. Straughan-Brown
Forwards	B. Fowkes, Bartosz Cybulski, Jack Roberts

Hanley Town

Position	Players
Goalkeeper	Lucas Knight
Defenders	Lucas Sant, Joel Stair, Tommy Van Der Laan, Reece Jones, Kyle Stubbs, Kieran Brown, James Askey, Keiran Lazenby, Corey Muirhead, Joe Edwards, Joe Minshall
Midfielders	Jack Van Der Laan, Jack Sherratt, Jake Moult, Jacob Twyford, Connor Bentley, Fin Pattison, Max Van Der Laan, Hartley Barrett
Forwards	Jordan Hodkin, Devante Ramsey, Eden Bailey, Lewis Porter, Ethan Morgan, Callum Middleton, Jack Stevens, Kieron Cliff

Match Analysis

Spalding United boasts an obvious hierarchical structure, having two more divisions up the football ladder than Hanley Town. Spalding United has the support of their home-field advantage at the Sir Halley Stewart Field. They have vastly better quality of players in their midfield. They will dominate the pace of the match.

The Pick: Spalding United

Stafford Rangers vs Hereford

Date: 19 September 2026 (Saturday)

Time: 10:00 AM ET | 07:00 AM PT | 07:30 PM IST

Venue: The Stan Robinson Stadium

FA Cup Expected Lineups

Stafford Rangers

Position	Players
Goalkeeper	Leon Phillips
Defenders	Andy Burns, Joe Thompson, Harry Flowers, Mitch Clarke
Midfielders	Tom Tonks, Jack Birch, Ashley Fallon, Joe Dunne
Forwards	Scott Bakkor, Wealth Da Silva

Hereford

Position	Players
Goalkeeper	Theo Richardson
Defenders	Aaron Skinner, Kam Kandola, Kyle Howkins, Lewis Hudson
Midfielders	Joe Willis, Keziah Martin, Luke Spokes, Fin Holmes
Forwards	Cawley Cox, Danny Waldron

Match Analysis

In that regard, Hereford boasts an enormous physical edge as the current pacesetters of the National League North. The Stafford Rangers have a solid base from which to play at the Stan Robinson Stadium. Hereford’s formidable forwards and professionally timed pace will easily overcome them. They will safely neutralize the underdogs over 90 minutes.

The Pick: Hereford

Dorchester Town vs Oxford City

Date: 19 September 2026 (Saturday)

Time: 10:00 AM ET | 07:00 AM PT | 07:30 PM IST

Venue: Clayson Stadium

FA Cup Expected Lineups

Dorchester Town

Position	Players
Goalkeeper	Josey Casa-Grande
Defenders	Harvey-Joe Bertrand, Jay Williams, Ollie Haste, Marcel McIntosh, Will Spetch
Midfielders	Tom Purrington, Lee Hodson, Matt Buse, Corby Moore, Henry Spalding
Forwards	Matty Burrows, Joe Parker, Ethan Taylor

Oxford City

Position	Players
Goalkeeper	Jonathan Maxted
Defenders	Ludwig Francillette, Darnell Johnson, Evan Humphries, Deago Nelson, Canice Carroll
Midfielders	Scott Pollock, Dillon De Silva, Dejan Tetek, Zac McEachran, Josh Ashby
Forwards	Matty Taylor, Tyrone Marsh

Match Analysis

The Oxford City team poses a very difficult challenge for Dorchester Town. Oxford City is a member of the National League North. It competes against teams that play one level higher than Dorchester Town in the football league system. They have much more experience in their teams.

The Pick: Oxford City

Conclusion

It is time for the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round, which will provide another week of football action all over England. Some chosen fixtures will feature teams with good standing in the league and plenty of points. Each game offers an opportunity to advance one step forward towards the First Round Proper. Following this round, the winners will proceed to the next round. The one who loses will finish their participation in the FA Cup. The upcoming matches will show us new matchups and fresh challenges.