2025–26 FA Trophy

FA Trophy
Football Association Trophy
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Wales
DatesQualifying rounds: 23 August 2025 – 4 October 2025
Competition Proper: 25 October 2025 – 17 May 2026
Teams336
Defending championsAldershot Town
2026–27 →

The 2025–26 FA Trophy (known for sponsorship reasons as the 2024–25 Isuzu FA Trophy) is the 57th edition of the FA Trophy, an annual football competition for teams at levels 5–8 of the English football league system.

Aldershot Town are the defending champions, having won the 2024–25 edition.

Format and eligibility

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The calendar and entries were announced by The Football Association on 26 June 2025.[1]

Aldershot Town are the reigning champions for the 2024–25 season, having defeated Spennymoor Town 3-0 in the 2025 FA Trophy final at Wembley Stadium.[2]

Round Main Date Number of Fixtures Clubs Remaining New Entries This Round Losing Club Winning Club
Preliminary round 23 August 2025 16 336 → 320 32 £400 £1,500
First round qualifying 6 September 2025 80 320 → 240 144 £400 £1,500
Second round qualifying 20 September 2025 40 240 → 200 none £575 £2,250
Third round qualifying 4 October 2025 64 200 → 136 88 £625 £2,450
First round proper 25 October 2025 32 136 → 104 none £775 £3,000
Second round proper 15 November 2025 40 104 → 64 48 £1,000 £3,750
Third round proper 13 December 2025 32 64 → 32 24 £1,250 £4,500
Fourth round proper 10 January 2026 16 32 → 16 none £1,500 £5,250
Fifth round proper 31 January 2026 8 16 → 8 none £1,750 £6,000
Quarter-finals 28 February 2026 4 8 → 4 none £2,000 £7,500
Semi-finals 28 March 2026 2 4 → 2 none £5,000 £15,000
Final 17 May 2026 1 2 → 1 none £30,000 £60,000

Preliminary round

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The draw for the preliminary round was made on 4 July 2025.[3]

First qualifying round

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The draw for the preliminary round was made on 4 July 2025.[3]

Second qualifying round

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The draw for the second qualifying round was made on 8 September 2025.[4]

Third qualifying round

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The draw for the third qualifying round was made on 22 September 2025.[5]

Notes

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  1. ^ Bamber Bridge awarded a walkover due to Widnes withdrawing from the competition.

First round proper

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The draw for the first round proper was made on 6 October 2025.[6]

Number of teams per tier still in competition
Tier 5 Tier 6 Tier 7 Tier 8 Total
24 / 24
48 / 48
47 / 47
17 / 17
136 / 136

Second round proper

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The draw for the second round proper was made on 27 October 2025.[7]

Number of teams per tier still in competition
Tier 5 Tier 6 Tier 7 Tier 8 Total
24 / 24
48 / 48
25 / 47
9 / 17
104 / 136

Upsets

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Giantkiller (tier) Opponent (tier)
Upset of two leagues above
Anstey Nomads (level 8) 1–0 away vs Bedford Town (level 6)
Clitheroe (level 8) 1–0 away vs Chester (level 6)
Harrow Borough (level 8) 2–2 (3-2 on penalties) away vs King's Lynn Town (level 6)
Leatherhead (level 8) 2–0 home vs Hampton & Richmond Borough (level 6)

Third round proper

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The draw for the third round proper was made on 17 November 2025.[8] There are four teams from the eighth tier still in the competition, with at least one going through into the fourth round due to Leatherhead and Harrow Borough playing each other.

Number of teams per tier still in competition
Tier 5 Tier 6 Tier 7 Tier 8 Total
24 / 24
26 / 48
10 / 47
4 / 17
64 / 136

Fourth round proper

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Number of teams per tier still in competition
Tier 5 Tier 6 Tier 7 Tier 8 Total
19 / 24
19 / 48
9 / 47
3 / 17
50 / 136

References

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  1. ^ "Clubs confirmed for the 2025-26 Emirates FA Cup, Youth Cup, Isuzu FA Trophy and Vase". www.thefa.com. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Second-half goals seal Aldershot Town's first FA Trophy title with 3-0 win at Wembley". The FA. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Early round draws released for Emirates FA Cup, Youth Cup, Isuzu FA Trophy and Vase". www.thefa.com. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  4. ^ "The draw for the Isuzu FA Trophy second round qualifying has been made". The Football Association. 8 September 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  5. ^ "The draw for the Isuzu FA Trophy third round qualifying has been made". The Football Association. 22 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  6. ^ "Draw confirmed for Isuzu FA Trophy first round proper". The Football Association. 6 October 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  7. ^ "The Isuzu FA Trophy second round proper draw has been made". The Football Association. 27 October 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  8. ^ "The Isuzu FA Trophy third round proper draw has been made". The Football Association. 17 November 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.