The FA Cup quarter-final draw takes place tomorrow — Monday 9 March — live from the London Stadium at approximately 7:05pm GMT, just before West Ham host Brentford in the fifth round. Eight balls, four ties, and potentially the most open FA Cup draw in years. Here is everything you need to know, plus an early look at the quarter-final betting landscape.
Draw Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Draw date | Monday 9 March 2026 |
| Draw time | Approximately 7:05pm GMT |
| Draw venue | London Stadium, London |
| TV | TNT Sports 1 / TNT Sports Ultimate |
| Stream | discovery+ (subscription) |
| Free stream | TNT Sports YouTube channel |
| Quarter-final dates | Saturday 4 – Sunday 5 April 2026 |
Confirmed Ball Numbers
| Ball | Club |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fulham or Southampton |
| 2 | Port Vale or Sunderland |
| 3 | Manchester City |
| 4 | Leeds United or Norwich City |
| 5 | Arsenal |
| 6 | Liverpool |
| 7 | Chelsea |
| 8 | West Ham United or Brentford |
Three of the eight places are still to be confirmed — Fulham/Southampton, Port Vale/Sunderland and Leeds/Norwich all play their fifth-round ties before the draw. West Ham’s ball 8 will be filled by whoever comes through Monday night’s match at the London Stadium.
The draw is unseeded — any ball can be drawn against any other, home or away determined randomly. That means Port Vale or Sunderland could theoretically draw Manchester City, Arsenal or Liverpool.
Reading the Draw: Who Wants What
The three Premier League heavyweights — Manchester City (3), Arsenal (5) and Liverpool (6) — are the ties every remaining team is hoping to avoid. Any of those three as a home draw is a near-certain quarter-final defeat for the lower-ranked sides; as an away draw, it is still a severe test but with home advantage potentially generating a cup atmosphere.
Chelsea (7) are the most interesting ball in the draw. They are a Premier League club with genuine cup ambitions but currently below the top-three standard. Any remaining team would fancy their chances against Chelsea more than against City, Arsenal or Liverpool.
Ball 2 (Port Vale or Sunderland) is the one every remaining side wants. A Championship or League One club in the quarter-finals represents the clearest route to a semi-final for the Premier League clubs. Port Vale reaching the quarter-finals would be the biggest giant-killing run in FA Cup history.
West Ham/Brentford (8) will be a Premier League quarter-finalist regardless — the first time West Ham have reached this stage since 2011 if they come through tonight.
Outright Betting: FA Cup Winner
The quarter-final draw will reshape the outright market significantly — a favourable draw path is worth 1.5–2.0 in odds terms for clubs that get it. Current indicative prices before the draw:
| Club | Odds (pre-draw) |
|---|---|
| Arsenal | 2.80 |
| Liverpool | 3.50 |
| Manchester City | 4.00 |
| Chelsea | 7.00 |
| Leeds / Norwich | 14.00 |
| West Ham / Brentford | 16.00 |
| Fulham / Southampton | 20.00 |
| Port Vale / Sunderland | 50.00+ |
Indicative — verify current prices after tonight’s fifth-round results and before the draw.
The Betting Case for Each Contender
Arsenal (2.80) are the most consistent cup performers among the remaining Premier League clubs in recent seasons. Their squad depth — which allows rotation without significant quality drop-off — suits the cup format. The draw will determine whether 2.80 is value; a path avoiding Liverpool and City until the semi-final makes them extremely strong at those odds.
Liverpool (3.50) have the attacking quality to beat anyone on a given day. Their Slot-era pressing system is particularly effective in one-off knockout ties where opponents have less preparation time to counter it. Against lower-league opposition in a quarter-final, they would be overwhelming favourites.
Manchester City (4.00) remain dangerous despite their inconsistent league form in 2025-26. The FA Cup specifically has been a competition Guardiola takes seriously since their 2023 Treble. At 4.00, the price reflects their quality rather than their current domestic form.
Chelsea (7.00) are the value option in the top tier. They have the squad and European competition experience to navigate a favourable draw, but their inconsistency means they are genuinely beatable on a bad day against Premier League opposition. A kind quarter-final draw makes 7.00 look generous.
The outsiders: Port Vale or Sunderland reaching the quarter-final of the FA Cup deserves its own acknowledgment. At 50.00+, any money on them is entertainment rather than investment — but the FA Cup has produced stranger things.
What to Do Before Betting
Wait for the draw. The outright market will reprice after 7:05pm tomorrow. Arsenal drawing City in the quarter-final and Liverpool drawing Chelsea creates a very different landscape than Arsenal drawing Port Vale. The most efficient time to back an outright is approximately 30–60 minutes after the draw, when initial reaction prices are available but before detailed analysis has fully moved the market.
Check quarter-final scheduling. The ties are played 4–5 April — one week after the final international break. Players returning from international duty with minor niggles or fatigue is a recurring FA Cup quarter-final factor. It is too early to price this in now, but worth noting when teams are announced in late March.
Semi-final implications. The semi-finals are played at Wembley in mid-April. Quarter-final opponents will be on the same side of the bracket — if Arsenal beat Liverpool in a quarter-final, the other semi-final will feature two of the remaining sides. Draw structure matters for outright betting, not just the next round.
Draw takes place Monday 9 March at approximately 7:05pm GMT, live on TNT Sports 1 and free on TNT Sports YouTube. Quarter-finals to be played 4–5 April 2026.