FA Cup 2026-27 2nd Qualifying Round Preview

By Phil Annets (@FACupFactfile)

The 48 National League North and South clubs enter the FA Cup at this 2nd Qualifying Round stage and at least 8 of them will be exiting at this stage, too.

One such all Step 2 tie sees Southport FC travel to north west coast rivals Morecambe FC. Surprisingly, despite almost 230 FA Cup campaigns between them, this is the 1st time the two will have met in the competition.

Conversely, Weston-super-Mare and Wimborne Town have been drawn together in the FA Cup for the 6th time which may not be great news for fans of Wimborne Town. Weston-super-Mare has won all 5 previous times they’ve been drawn together with a goal aggregate of 17 to 7.

32 of the 80 ties have actually happened in the FA Cup before. FA Cup top scorers, Kettering Town, have an immediate opportunity to avenge a 2-1 defeat by Quorn FC at this same stage just a year ago.

On the other hand, Ware FC has had to wait a massive 94 years for the opportunity to avenge a big 6-0 defeat by Chesham United in the competition.

Chesham United are one of 4 clubs involved in this round who are participating in the FA Cup for the 100th time. The others are Workington AFC (away at Bury FC), Halesowen Town who host Mickleover FC 11 years after beating them 2-1 in the competition, and Cambridge City who entertain Buckhurst Hill.

That Cambridge City versus Buckhurst Hill tie is one of 3 ties that guarantee a club that started this season’s campaign in the Extra Preliminary Round will still be standing 4 rounds later in the 3rd Qualifying Round. Snodland Town versus Sheppey United is another such tie.

As is Woodford Town versus Mulbarton Wanderers, but that tie also guarantees the winner will be celebrating achieving a club best FA Cup run. For Mulbarton Wanderers it would be for the 1st time.

4 ties in total guarantee the winner will have a record Cup run. For the winners of Barton Town versus Boldmere St Michaels and of Harleston Town versus Real Bedford it would be for their 1st ever time, whereas for Trafford FC it would mean a 1st appearance in the 3rd Qualifying Round for 13 years.

Trafford FC travel to Heaton Stannington who are appearing in this 2nd Qualifying Round for only the 2nd time in the club’s history, the last occasion being 77 years ago. The Stan lost that time to Blyth Spartans so will be looking to make the 3rd Qualifying Round for the 1st time.

Also looking to make it to the 3rd Qualifying Round for the 1st time are the last 3 remaining debut clubs. AFC Greenwich Borough travel to Chertsey Town from2 levels above whilst South East Dons visit Chichester City also from 2 levels above.

Redcar Town, though, have to face Darlington FC from 3 levels above, and this match is being shown live on BBC iPlayer at Saturday lunchtime. Neighbours Redcar Athletic also host Step 2 opposition in the shape of Macclesfield FC whose last FA Cup game was against Premier League Brentford FC.

That Redcar Town versus Darlington FC tie is one of only 2 this round that pits a Step 5 club against Step 2 opposition. Step 5 Cirencester Town versus Step 2 Farnham Town is the other. 10 years ago that would have been a Step 3 versus Step 5 tie.

Other yet to be mentioned Step 5 clubs still involved in the FA Cup this season include South Liverpool who travel to Warrington Town, Pagham FC who host Hanworth Villa and Tadley Calleva who travel to Bishop’s Cleeve. All 3 would set a new club best Cup run with a Cupset victory.

Also looking to make the 3rd Qualifying Round for the 1st time with a Cupset win are Lower Breck at home to Chester FC, Coventry United who travel to Hednesford Town, Windsor and Eton who visit Eastbourne Borough, AFC Stoneham who go to Torquay United, AFC Portchester at Brackley Town and Exmouth Town who visit Thame United.

Ossett United is another such club and they travel to FC United of Manchester looking to avenge a heavy 7-1 defeat by their opponents over one of their predecessor clubs in the competition, Ossett Town.