The historic domestic cup competition, the Emirates FA Cup, is set to remain accessible to all fans thanks to a groundbreaking agreement. Starting from the 2025-2026 season, the BBC will become the free-to-air broadcaster for the FA Cup, ensuring that the magic and drama of this iconic tournament reach every corner of the nation.
Under a fresh partnership with TNT Sports, BBC Sport has secured free-to-air live coverage of 14 games per season, co-exclusively with TNT Sports. Here’s what you need to know:
- Live Matches: The BBC will showcase two live matches from each round, spanning from the early stages to the quarterfinals, semi-final, and the grand finale.
- Highlights and Digital Clips: Beyond live coverage, the deal allows the BBC to provide highlights and digital clips across its platforms, ensuring fans don’t miss a moment of the action.
- Top-Class Analysis and Commentary: Philip Bernie, Interim Director of BBC Sport, promises top-class analysis, commentary, and comprehensive coverage of football’s biggest competitions, all free to air and accessible for everyone.
- TNT Sports: TNT Sports will broadcast every single game outside of 3pm kick-offs, starting from the first round. This means fans can indulge in more Emirates FA Cup excitement than ever before, all in one place.
Mark Bullingham, FA Chief Executive, expresses delight at the BBC’s continued partnership, emphasising their commitment to making this special competition widely available. The BBC’s rich history of telling magical and memorable stories from the Emirates FA Cup will continue, creating even more history together in the years ahead.
BBC Sport’s existing audio rights and commentary deal with The FA, covering the Emirates FA Cup and home England internationals, remains in place until 2026. With this latest agreement, BBC Sport solidifies its position as the go-to destination for football coverage in the UK, alongside Premier League and UEFA Champions League highlights and audio packages.
So, mark your calendars for the 2025-26 season—the Emirates FA Cup is coming to your screens, courtesy of the BBC!
