The FA Cup operates at an unprecedented level as far as sports fixtures are concerned. Let's compare within the wonderful world of soccer. The FIFA Club World Cup has 32 teams in it, which sounds like a lot. And the FIFA World Cup has 48 teams. Clearly, soccer isn't messing around with its team counts.
But the Football Association Challenge Cup (or the "FA Cup" for short) has hundreds of teams competing each year. At its peak, there were 763 teams competing in the 2011–2012 season. That's… a lot. From 2015 to 2028, it's known as the Emirates FA Cup, and here's how to watch the current season to see if Arsenal nets a fifteenth win or Manchester United makes it to another FA Cup final without nabbing the win (though 13 wins from 22 appearances is certainly impressive).
Where is the FA Cup streaming in Australia?
It used to be that Optus Sport was the place to watch the FA Cup (and English Premier League football). But Stan Sport is the new home of English football (soccer) streaming in Australia, including the FA Cup. However, Stan Sport only kicks off its coverage of the FA Cup from the beginning of the Third Round Proper, which begins January 10 at 6:25am.
You will need to pay $20 per month for the Stan Sport add-on as part of one of the base Stan subscriptions. Stan Basic costs $12 a month for a single SD stream, while Stan Standard is $17 per month for three HD streams. For up to 4K streaming and four streams, you'll need to pay $22 for Stan Premium. Practically speaking, to watch the FA Cup on Stan Sport in 2026, you'll be paying either $32, $37, or $42 per month for a Stan Basic, Standard, or Premium subscription, respectively.
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If you want to watch a selection of FA Cup matches in Australia for free, you'll need a virtual private network (VPN) that works well with streaming when connected to a United Kingdom server. Consider Windscribe, ExpressVPN, NordVPN, IPVanish, Privado VPN, Hola VPN, or CyberGhost for ones that work well with streaming in the UK. With the VPN sorted, connect to a UK server, then sign up for a BBC iPlayer or ITVX account. You'll then be able to either stream some of the season alongside the semifinal, and FA Cup final live on BBC iPlayer. Alternatively, ITVX has live matches, including the FA Community Shield and FA Cup final. There are also live Adobe Women's FA Cup and full match replays on the official YouTube channel.
FA Cup schedule and fixtures in Australia
At the time of writing, the FA Cup is about to enter the Third Round Proper. Stan Sport coverage officially begins with the Third Round Proper, which starts on Saturday January 10. After that, Stan Sport will be streaming the rest of the FA Cup, all the way up to the FA Cup Final on Saturday, May 16.
Stan Sport will have coverage for the following dates:
- FA Cup Third Round Proper: Saturday January 10 2026
- FA Cup Fourth Round Proper: Saturday February 14 2026
- FA Cup Fifth Round Proper: Saturday March 7 2026
- FA Cup Quarter Final: Saturday April 4 2026
- FA Cup Semifinal: Saturday April 25 2026
- FA Cup Final: Saturday May 16 2026
By our estimates, fans should be able to see 60+ FA Cup matches with a Stan Sport subscription from the Third Round Proper onwards for the 2025–2026 FA Cup season.
What is the FA Cup?
The FA Cup is an annual English soccer domestic tournament, which has been kicking around since 1871. That makes it the oldest football competition in the world. The Women's FA Cup has been played concurrently since 1970. In terms of the tournament, eligible clubs down to level nine in the English football league system can participate. The 12 rounds are drawn up randomly between teams, which then break off into quarter finals, semifinals, and the FA Cup final.
What is Stan Sport?
Stan Sport is a premium add-on for a Stan subscription, which adds a selection of sports to stream alongside Stan TV shows and movies. A Stan Sport subscription comes with live matches, replays, and highlights for the following sports:
- Football (soccer)
- Rugby union
- Tennis
- Motorsport
- Combat
- Cycling
Stan Sport is a $20 monthly add-on for either a Stan Basic ($12), Stan Standard ($17), or Stan Premium ($22) monthly subscription. Live matches are broadcast in up to 4K quality, depending on your base Stan subscription tier. Here's how the major sports streaming services in Australia compare.
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Prime Video
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Disney+
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Stan
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Binge
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DAZN
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Apple TV
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Kayo Sports 
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Foxtel Now
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Nathan Lawrence
Freelance Contributor
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