Defending Women’s FA Cup champions Chelsea have been drawn at home against second-tier Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the 2026 Women’s FA Cup.

Chelsea, six-time winners of the competition, secured a domestic treble last season, defeating Manchester United 3-0 in the FA Cup final. The Blues enter the tournament as favorites, while Palace, who were recently relegated from the Women’s Super League (WSL), will be looking for an upset at Stamford Bridge.

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Key Fourth-Round Fixtures

The fourth round will see a mix of WSL teams, second-tier sides, and ambitious lower-league clubs, with matches scheduled for the weekend of Saturday, 17 January 2026. Exact dates are yet to be confirmed.

Other notable fixtures include:

• Arsenal Women vs Aston Villa Women – 14-time FA Cup winners Arsenal host fellow WSL opposition.
• Manchester City Women vs AFC Bournemouth Women – League leaders City face third-tier leaders Bournemouth.
• Tottenham Hotspur Women vs Leicester City Women – An all-WSL north London clash.
• Manchester United Women vs Burnley Women – WSL side United meet third-tier opposition.
• Brighton & Hove Albion Women vs Nottingham Forest Women – Second-tier Nottingham Forest travel to face WSL opposition.

Other fourth-round matches feature Sunderland, London City Lionesses, West Ham, Everton, and Newcastle United, highlighting the depth and growing competitiveness of women’s football in England.

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Full Women’s FA Cup Fourth-Round Draw

1. Charlton Athletic v Swindon Town
2. AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City
3. Ipswich Town v Sheffield United
4. Oxford United v Middlesbrough
5. Chatham Town v York City
6. Arsenal v Aston Villa
7. Manchester United v Burnley
8. Southampton v Bristol City
9. London Bees v Liverpool
10. Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City
11. Brighton & Hove Albion v Nottingham Forest
12. Chelsea v Crystal Palace
13. Newcastle United v West Ham United
14. Sunderland v London City Lionesses
15. West Bromwich Albion v Everton
16. Hull City v Birmingham City

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Chelsea Aim to Defend Title

Chelsea’s Women’s team, underlining their dominance in English football, will be seeking to add a seventh FA Cup title while continuing their run of success in the WSL and other domestic competitions. Their experience and squad depth make them strong favorites against Crystal Palace, though lower-league teams have historically caused upsets in the FA Cup.

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Women’s Football Weekly Podcast

Fans can keep up with all Women’s FA Cup news, WSL updates, and exclusive interviews through the Women’s Football Weekly podcast hosted by Ellen White, Jen Beattie, and Ben Haines. New episodes are released every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, offering analysis, interviews, and extra content from across women’s football.