Leeds United host Norwich City on Sunday, March 8, 2026, with kick-off at 16:30. The Whites carry a dominant cup record into this fifth-round tie, having beaten the Canaries in their last two cup meetings by a combined score of 10-2.
Head-to-Head Cup Record: Leeds vs Norwich
Leeds United hold a commanding record over Norwich City in cup football. Their first clash came in 1934-35, when Norwich advanced via a fourth-round replay. That stands as the only time the Canaries have knocked Leeds out of the cup. It happened more than nine decades ago.
After that defeat, Leeds responded emphatically. The Whites beat Norwich 5-0 in a third-round second replay during 1972-73, then followed up with a 5-2 victory in the same round four years later, in 1976-77. Ten goals scored, two conceded, across back-to-back cup ties against the same club. That is a record that speaks for itself.
Leeds also defeated Norwich 4-0 on May 16, 2024, in their most recent competitive fixture. That result came outside the cup, yet it adds further evidence of the gap between these two clubs in recent years. Three of the four competitive meetings since 1977 have ended with Leeds winning by at least four goals.
Norwich’s Damaging Streak Against Top-Flight Clubs
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Norwich City have been knocked out in each of their last 14 cup ties against top-flight clubs while playing outside the top division. The Canaries last beat a top-flight side in this competition during the third round of 1981-82, when they edged Stoke City 1-0. That run now stretches across more than four decades.
Fourteen straight exits against higher-division opponents is not a minor detail. It covers a long stretch of Norwich squads, managers, and eras. The Canaries have not cleared that barrier since the early 1980s.
For Leeds, that streak acts as a form guide. Home advantage and divisional quality are two of the strongest factors at the fifth-round stage. Leeds hold both. Set against Norwich’s 14-tie losing run against Premier League and First Division clubs, those two factors frame this fixture sharply in the Whites’ favour.
Cup football does carry an element of chance. A set piece, a red card, or a moment of individual skill can shift a match inside 90 minutes. Norwich will not simply accept the weight of that record. Their squad does contain one player whose numbers demand close attention from the Leeds backline.
Anis Ben Slimane: Norwich’s Cup Threat
Norwich City midfielder Anis Ben Slimane leads the 2025-26 FA Cup in assists from the first round onwards, with four to his name. He created two goals against Walsall in the third round, then added two more against West Brom in the fourth round. No other player in the competition has matched that output across those early stages.
Both assists against West Brom came from dead-ball delivery. That detail matters. Leeds will face a player who can hurt them from set pieces, not just open play. Ben Slimane’s four assists across two fixtures show a player who builds within a game and finds teammates inside the box with regularity.
His ability to deliver from range and pick out runners in tight spaces makes him the one Norwich player capable of unsettling a higher-division side. Leeds will need a clear plan to limit his influence, particularly from dead-ball situations where his delivery has already proved dangerous twice this campaign.
Key Facts Before the Fifth-Round Tie
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- Kick-off is at 16:30 on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Elland Road.
- Leeds have won their last two cup meetings with Norwich by an aggregate of 10-2, scoring five goals in each tie.
- Norwich’s sole cup victory over Leeds came via a fourth-round replay in 1934-35.
- The Canaries have lost 14 straight cup ties against top-flight clubs while outside the top division, a run dating to 1981-82.
- Anis Ben Slimane leads the 2025-26 FA Cup in assists with four, two against Walsall and two against West Brom.
- Leeds beat Norwich 4-0 on May 16, 2024, in their most recent competitive clash.
What This Tie Means for Leeds United’s Cup Run
A home draw against a lower-division club, backed by a dominant head-to-head record and a statistical backdrop that favours the higher-division side, is about as clear a path as a club can ask for at this stage. Leeds enter with three factors stacked in their favour: divisional quality, home ground, and cup history against this exact opponent.
Norwich’s best chance rests on Ben Slimane producing something exceptional early, and the Canaries keeping the tie tight long enough to breed doubt inside Elland Road. But their squad has been unable to beat top-flight opposition across 14 straight cup attempts. That is a long run of exits to overturn in a single afternoon.
For the Elland Road crowd, cup progress carries weight beyond this one fixture. A run deep into the competition gives a squad rhythm and hands younger players minutes under real pressure. Leeds’ record against Norwich, combined with the wider context of this tie, points toward the Whites advancing on Sunday. The Canaries face a steep climb to extend their cup run past this stage.
When do Leeds United play Norwich City in the FA Cup?
Leeds United host Norwich City in the fifth round on Sunday, March 8, 2026. Kick-off at Elland Road is at 16:30, with Leeds as the higher-division club in the tie.
What is the cup head-to-head record between Leeds United and Norwich City?
Leeds and Norwich have met three times previously in the cup. Norwich advanced via a fourth-round replay in 1934-35, but Leeds won the next two ties 5-0 in 1972-73 and 5-2 in 1976-77, giving the Whites a dominant overall record.
How many assists does Anis Ben Slimane have in the 2025-26 FA Cup?
Anis Ben Slimane of Norwich City leads all players in the 2025-26 FA Cup with four assists from the first round onwards. He created two goals against Walsall in the third round and two more against West Brom in the fourth round.
What is Norwich City’s record against top-flight clubs from outside the top division?
Norwich City have lost each of their last 14 cup ties against top-flight opponents while playing at a lower level. Their last victory in such a tie came in the third round of 1981-82, when they beat Stoke City 1-0.
