2026–27 Welsh Cup

2026–27 Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup
Tournament details
CountryWales

The 2026–27 FAW Welsh Cup is the 139th season of the annual knockout tournament for competitive football teams in Wales. The winners qualify for the 2027–28 UEFA Conference League first qualifying round. Caernarfon Town are the defending cup holders.

Calendar

The dates for the 2026–27 Welsh Cup were announced on 1 June 2026.[1]

RoundOriginal dateNumber of fixturesClubsNew EntriesLeagues entering at this round
First qualifying round24-26 July 2026116284 → 168232232 Tier 3 and Below clubs
Second qualifying round21-23 August 202660168 → 10844 Tier 3 clubs
First round19-20 September 202644108 → 642828 Tier 2 clubs
Second round17-18 October 20263264 → 32204 Tier 2 clubs
16 Cymru Premier clubs
Third round13 November 20261632 → 16None
Fourth round12-13 December 2026816 → 8None
Quarter-finals29-31 January 202748 → 4None
Semi-finals5-7 March 202724 → 2None
Final18 April 202712 → 1None

First qualifying round

Teams from the third tier of Welsh football and below entered the competition in the first qualifying round. The draw was made on 10 July 2026 and was split geographically, with 100 teams placed in the northern section, and 132 teams in the southern section.[2] All matches were scheduled to be played on the weekend of 25 July 2026.

Teams in bold advanced to the second qualifying round.

Tier 3 clubs:

Ardal League North East Ardal League North West Ardal League South East Ardal League South West

Tier 4-7 clubs:

North Wales Coast East North East Wales League North Wales Coast West Central Wales League Gwent County South Wales League West Wales League

Premier Division

Division One

Division One

Division Two

Division Three

Premier League

Division One

North Division

South Division

Premier Division

Division One

Division Two

  • Trinant

Premier Division

Championship Division

Division One

Taff Ely

  • Rhydyfelin
  • Rhydyfelin Non-Political
  • Talbot Green

Neath

  • Bryncoch
  • Cwrt Herbert Colts

Swansea

Notes
  1. ↑ Bethesda Rovers used six substitutes in the match, one more than the allowed five. Bethesda Rovers claimed it was a concussion substitution, which was disputed by Lex. The tie was due to be replayed on 15 August 2026, but Lex reportedly refused to play. Bethesda Rovers were awarded the win, and Lex have appealed the decision.[3][4]

Second qualifying round

120 teams entered the second qualifying round, the 116 winners from the first qualifying round and the four teams that received a bye, Cwmbran Celtic, Cwmbran Town, Knighton Town and Llannefydd.[5] The draw was made on 30 July 2026 and was split geographically, with 52 teams placed in the northern section, and 68 teams in the southern section. All matches were scheduled to be played on the weekend of 21–23 August 2026.

Teams in bold advanced to the first round.

Tier 3 clubs:

Ardal League North East Ardal League North West Ardal League South East Ardal League South West

Tier 4-7 clubs:

North Wales Coast East North East Wales League North Wales Coast West Central Wales League Gwent County South Wales League West Wales League

Premier Division

Division One

Division One

Division Two

Premier League

Division One

North Division

South Division

Premier Division

Division One

Premier Division

Championship Division

Division One

Taff Ely

  • Rhydyfelin
  • Rhydyfelin Non-Political

Neath

  • Bryncoch
Notes
  1. ↑ Pill were originally drawn at home, but the fixture was reversed and played at Goytre.[6]

First round

88 teams entered the first round, the 60 winners from the second qualifying round and 28 clubs from Cymru North and Cymru South. Four second tier clubs received a bye to the second round: Newtown, Bala Town, Caerau Ely, and Llanelli Town.[7] The draw will be made on 27 August 2026 and split geographically, with 40 teams placed in the northern section, and 48 teams in the southern section. All matches are scheduled to be played on the weekend of 19–20 September 2026.

Tier 2-3 clubs:

Cymru North Cymru South Ardal League North East Ardal League North West Ardal League South East Ardal League South West

Tier 4 and below clubs:

North Wales Coast East North East Wales League North Wales Coast West Central Wales League Gwent County South Wales League West Wales League

Premier Division

Division One

Division One

Premier League

North Division

Premier Division

Division One

Premier Division

Championship Division

Division One

  • Tongwynlais

Taff Ely

  • Rhydyfelin Non-Political

Swansea Senior League

References

  1. ↑ "FAW Cup Conference Dates: 2026/27". Football Association of Wales. 1 June 2026. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  2. ↑ "FAW Welsh Cup: First Qualifying Round draw". 10 July 2026. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  3. ↑ "Mystery of Welsh Cup replay which never happened is solved". 18 August 2026. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "Lex XI appeal against FAW Welsh Cup decision". 18 August 2026. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "FAW Welsh Cup: Second Qualifying Round draw". 30 July 2026. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  6. ↑ Our Welsh Cup qualifying round fixture has been reversed... from Goytre Football Club on Facebook
  7. ↑ "FAW Welsh Cup: Second Qualifying Round draw". 26 August 2026. Retrieved 27 August 2026.