Ghana MTN FA Cup and England FA Cup kickoff with opening rounds

Two national cup competitions will begin their knockout programmes in early October, with the Ghanaian MTN FA Cup holding its preliminary draw on Thursday, October 9 in Accra and the English FA Cup first round draw set for Monday, October 13 ahead of a qualifying replay at Worthing. Both draws will determine early matchups that could pit lower‑tier clubs against elite opposition later in the season.

In Ghana, the Football Association will conduct the draw at its Accra headquarters for the preliminary stage of the 2025-26 MTN FA Cup, officials said. Ninety‑two clubs from the Division One and Division Two leagues have been entered and will be grouped by geographic zones to produce regionally balanced fixtures. Preliminary round ties are scheduled for the weekend of October 24 to 27, with winners progressing to join the 18 Premier League clubs in the competition’s Round of 64. Asante Kotoko enter the campaign as defending champions after defeating Division One side Golden Kick FC in last season’s final.

Organizers said the zonal approach is intended to limit travel and create competitive early ties across the country. The MTN FA Cup has long served as a showcase for local talent,...