English FA Cup 2025 Draw: How to Watch with Becky Ives, Michail Antonio and Joel Ward on Discovery+ UK and TNT Sports

The highly anticipated draw for the 2025–26 English FA Cup First Round Proper will take place on October 13, 2025, kicking off at 18:40 UK time. Fans across the UK can watch this eagerly awaited event live on Discovery+ UK and TNT Sports 1 HD. Additionally, the draw will be streamed on the TNT Sports UK YouTube channel, offering multiple viewing options.

Presenting the draw is Becky Ives, a rising star in sports broadcasting noted for her insightful and engaging style. Supporting her are pundits Michail Antonio and Joel Ward, both former professional footballers with extensive Premier League experience. Their expert analysis will add depth to the proceedings, particularly given their recent involvement in the FA Cup and their connection to English football.

Known for his robust playing style, Michail Antonio has been a prominent figure in the Premier League, primarily with West Ham United. Since transitioning into media, Antonio has built a reputation for clear, passionate punditry rooted in a player’s perspective. Meanwhile, Joel Ward, with a career spanning clubs like Crystal Palace, offers tactical insights drawn from his defensive acumen and experience in English football's top tiers.

The 2025–26 FA Cup has already captured attention as it features the lowest-ranked club ever to reach this stage, eighth tier side Maldon & Tiptree. This exemplifies the competition’s famous tradition of 'giant-killing' where amateur and semi-professional teams can take on full-time professional clubs.

As background, the FA Cup's early qualifying rounds started in August 2025, culminating now in the draw that will set the pairings for the First Round Proper scheduled for November 1, 2025. The First Round will feature 80 teams: 32 non-league club qualifiers, joined by all 48 clubs from League One and League Two. The draw ceremony itself is a significant event broadcast to football fans keen to discover the next exciting matchups.

For viewers in the UK, Discovery+ and TNT Sports 1 HD provide comprehensive coverage of the FA Cup, having secured the broadcast rights to many high-profile English football events. Discovery+ offers streaming services that bring live sports and expert football analysis to subscribers, while TNT Sports remains a primary destination for live top-flight football, including England’s premier cup competitions.

The draw will be conducted live by Michail Antonio and Joel Ward themselves, adding a thrilling player-led element to the event as they reveal who will face off in the next significant phase of England's oldest knockout football tournament.

For more information on the competition dates and detailed schedules, fans can visit the official FA Cup round dates page provided by the Football Association. Additionally, ESPN's detailed schedule of FA Cup fixtures and TV listings is invaluable for planning ahead.

Becky Ives, Michail Antonio and Joel Ward's involvement exemplifies how broadcasters are bridging the gap between expert analysis and live sports entertainment, making the English FA Cup draw a must-watch live event on October 13, 2025.