This will be only the third meeting between Reading and Carlisle United this century, with the Royals doing the league double over the Cumbrians in League One in 2023-24 (5-1 home, 3-1 away).

This will be the first ever meeting between Reading and Carlisle United in the FA Cup proper (first round onwards).

Reading have progressed from each of their last five first round ties in the FA Cup, since a 1-0 loss to Stoke City in November 1998 – this will be their eighth consecutive home match at this stage of the competition.

This will be Carlisle United’s first FA Cup tie as a non-league side since they lost in the 2004-05 second round to Bournemouth – they have been eliminated from the competition in the first round in both of the last two seasons.