Leeds United FC are preparing for their next FA Cup challenge after a dramatic night of football saw them secure a place in the competition’s fifth round, setting up anticipation ahead of the upcoming draw.
The Whites battled through a tense encounter against Birmingham City FC at St Andrew’s, where late drama and a nerve-shredding penalty shootout ultimately decided the outcome.
Shootout Drama Sends Leeds Through
The match finished 1–1 after a fiercely contested 90 minutes. Leeds looked set for victory when Lukas Nmecha broke the deadlock with a powerful strike that energized the travelling supporters and gave Daniel Farke’s team control of the tie.
However, Birmingham responded at the death. With just minutes remaining, Patrick Roberts saw his effort take a decisive deflection, wrong-footing the goalkeeper and forcing the contest into a penalty shootout.
Despite the late setback, Leeds maintained their composure from the spot. The visitors converted their chances confidently, and it was Sean Longstaff who calmly scored the decisive penalty to seal a 4–2 shootout victory and spark jubilant celebrations among the away fans.
Focus Shifts to the Fifth-Round Draw
With progression secured, attention now turns to discovering who stands between Leeds and a coveted place in the quarter-finals. The fifth-round draw will take place live at the Leasing.com Stadium ahead of the final fourth-round fixture between Macclesfield and Brentford.
Fans can follow the draw via TNT Sports 1, discovery+, and the TNT Sports YouTube channel, with coverage scheduled to begin at approximately 6:35pm (GMT).
Leeds’ Ball Number Confirmed
Following their advancement, Leeds United will enter the draw as ball number 16. The fifth round operates as an open draw, meaning teams can be paired against any remaining opponent regardless of league status, leaving the possibility of either a high-profile clash or a favourable tie.
When Will the Fifth Round Be Played?
The next stage of the Emirates FA Cup is set to take place across the weekend of March 7 and March 8, 2026. With momentum building and confidence boosted by their dramatic victory, Leeds will now hope the draw delivers another opportunity to continue their impressive cup run.
After surviving a tense test at St Andrew’s, Daniel Farke’s side will believe they have the resilience and belief required to push even further in England’s most historic domestic competition.
