England FA Cup

If you want to learn how to watch the FA Cup in the UK this season, you have certainly come to the right place. Our extensive guide covers everything you need to know about watching the FA Cup in 2025-26.
 

What Channel Has FA Cup TV Rights in the UK? 

FA Cup media rights in the UK are split between free-to-air public broadcaster the BBC and pay-TV giant TNT Sports for the 2025-26 season. BBC has the rights to show two matches from each round up until the quarter finals, as well as one semi-final and the final itself.

Meanwhile, TNT Sports will show selected matches from rounds one and two, as well as every match live from the third round onwards, excluding Saturday 3pm kick-offs.

Both the BBC and TNT Sports will air the FA Cup final simultaneously.

It is also worth noting that additional games featuring Welsh clubs may feature on BBC Wales or S4C, the Welsh-language free-to-air channel.
 

Best TV Packages to Watch the FA Cup in the UK

The BBC is available to all UK residents free of charge. As long as you have a legitimate and up-to-date TV licence, you can watch FA Cup games on the BBC.

A UK TV licence costs £174.50 per year and is required for watching live FA Cup matches on a television, computer, laptop, phone, tablet, games console and similar devices.

Given that annual subscriptions to broadcasting giants such as Sky Sports and TNT Sports are far more expensive than a TV licence, football fans in the UK can enjoy the FA Cup for a relatively low fee. 
 

Best FA Cup Live Streaming Options in the UK 

Both the BBC and TNT Sports have dedicated streaming apps that can be used to watch live FA Cup games. BBC iPlayer and discovery+ can be accessed via your smart TV, computer, laptop, tablet, phone and other portable devices.

The BBC also holds the rights to stream qualifying round matches on their digital services, although this is typically restricted to one match per round. 
 

How to Watch the FA Cup Using a VPN

For those unaware, VPN stands for “virtual private network”. VPNs establish a protected network connection between your device and a remote server, enabling you to access content from other regions. 

Although you can use a virtual private network to stream live FA Cup games, we recommend carrying out your own search before diving into the world of VPNs.

However, in theory, with the right VPN, you could access BBC iPlayer and watch these FA Cup matches for free from anywhere in the world.
 

Best Platforms to Watch FA Cup Highlights in the UK 

Viewers in the UK can watch FA Cup highlights via the BBC. The free-to-air broadcaster has the rights to show highlights from the FA Cup across its various platforms.

You can also find highlights on the FA Cup’s official YouTube channel, which is a great place to catch highlights and other FA Cup content. 
 

FAQ: How to Watch the FA Cup in 2025-26

Q. What channel is showing the FA Cup? 
A. The FA Cup is broadcast by the BBC and TNT Sports, across their linear television channels and live streaming platforms.

Q. How can I watch the FA Cup for free?
A. The FA Cup is on free-to-air television in the UK on the BBC, but you still need a valid TV licence to watch the action. A UK TV licence costs £169.50 per year, which is far cheaper than other sports subscriptions.

Q. Can you watch the FA Cup on BBC iPlayer?
A. Yes, the FA Cup is available on BBC iPlayer. Fans can watch live FA Cup games on BBC iPlayer via their TV, phone, tablet or other portable devices, with replays and highlights shows also available on the same platform.

Q. How can I watch the FA Cup final for free? 
A. UK residents can watch the FA Cup final on for free on the BBC.

Q. When was the first FA Cup final televised?
A. The FA Cup final was first televised back in 1938 when there were fewer than 10,000 TV sets in the UK. Preston North End defeated Huddersfield Town 1-0 at Wembley that year.

Q. Which team has won the most FA Cups? 
A. Arsenal (14) have won more FA Cup titles than any other club. Manchester United (13), Chelsea (8), Liverpool (8) and Tottenham Hotspur (8) round out the top five.