Bala Town will discover their Welsh Cup first round opponents this Thursday, August 27, after receiving a bye into the competition. The draw will be broadcast live at 8 pm on the FAW's streaming platform, Cymru Football TV, according to a report from www.google.com.
This news comes as the Lakesiders enjoy a strong start to their FAW Championship campaign, sitting fourth in the table with nine points from three consecutive wins. They have scored seven goals and conceded just two, putting them three points behind leaders Brickfield Rangers. Their next challenge is a home fixture against Newtown AFC on August 31, a match detailed on our fixtures page.
How can fans watch the Welsh Cup draw?
The first round draw will be shown live and for free on Cymru Football TV. This platform, launched in July, is the FAW's dedicated streaming service. It will broadcast every Cymru Premier fixture live during the 2026/27 season and has already shown selected Welsh Cup matches and domestic cup draws. Previous broadcasts included Cardiff Airport against Felinfach and Evans & Williams' clash with Port Talbot Town.
Which clubs are involved in the first round?
The draw is regionalised into Northern and Southern sections. Bala Town are one of four clubs, alongside Newtown, Caerau Ely, and Llanelli Town, to receive a bye into this stage due to their league positions. Cymru Premier clubs do not enter the competition until the second round. The Northern section features 40 teams, including Aberystwyth Town from the Cymru South. The Southern section contains 48 clubs. First round matches are scheduled for the weekend of September 19-20, with the second round set for October 17-18.
Who were the standout teams in qualifying?
Several clubs produced emphatic victories to reach the first round proper. Pwllheli and Trearddur Bay both won 8-0, while Goytre United also won 8-0 against Rhydyfelin. Cwmbran Town secured a 7-0 victory. Lower-ranked sides made history, with Tongwynlais reaching the first round for the first time after eliminating Llanyrafon; Liam Cleaver scored a hat-trick in that win. Rhydyfelin Non Pol, who thrashed Trelewis Welfare 6-1, are now the lowest-ranked side left in the competition.
Other notable results included a dramatic late winner from Mike Chapman for Llysfaen, a fifth-tier side, and Meliden's penalty shootout victory where Richard Hillier-Evans made two saves and Luke Snape struck the decisive spot-kick.
What does this mean for Bala Town's season?
The Welsh Cup offers Bala Town a major opportunity for silverware alongside their league campaign. Their strong early form, with a perfect record and a +5 goal difference, provides a solid foundation. You can track their progress in the standings. The club's focus will now split between maintaining their title challenge in the FAW Championship and navigating a potential cup run, starting with the draw this Thursday. Their squad depth will be tested, and details on available players can be found on our squad page.
