West Ham United will play either Macclesfield or Brentford in the fifth round of the FA Cup.  

Though ensuring Premier League survival is surely Nuno Espirito Santo’s biggest priority during what remains of the season, there’s nothing quite like a cup run.

On Saturday, heavily rotated Hammers side secured progress into this stage of the competition for the first time since 2023 as West Ham United beat Burton 1-0 in the FA Cup fourth-round.

How much is a trophy worth? Would you take relegation if it meant winning the FA Cup? 🏆

Imagine us going full Wigan vibes 👀

The FA Cup is not the pull it used to be.It’s the dream of lower division clubs to knock out the big fish, whilst earning much needed revenue if they get lucky.The prize is name only for Prem clubs, it risks injury for smaller squads.Prem status is more important, the Championship is awful and hard to leave over a season.FA Cup is just money for the FA.(imo)

Premier League status is much more important

No. We must stay up. The cup is nice, but staying up is way more important.

Jarrod Bowen has already highlighted the importance of the FA Cup, with the win over QPR in the third round hailed as a result that helped turn West Ham’s form in general around.

Nuno’s side will play against the winners of Monday night’s game between Macclesfield and Brentford.

The fifth round of the FA Cup will be played on the weekend commencing Saturday, 7 March, 2026.

It will come after West Ham’s Premier League game against Fulham on Wednesday, 4 March and before their trip to Manchester City on Sunday, 14 March.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s record in the FA Cup

The West Ham head coach has been past this stage on four occasions during his time in English football.

Nuno has managed 25 games in the world’s oldest cup competition and has won 14 of them.

That gives him a win percentage of 56%.

Nuno has taken both Wolves and Nottingham Forest to the semi-finals before. His teams have never progressed beyond that stage.

Tottenham are the only English team that Nuno has coached and never taken to at least the FA Cup semi-finals. Nuno did win the Saudi Super Cup with Al-Ittihad Club in 2022.

Harsh but true?

How concerned are you about West Ham’s squad depth?

We are so far off the elite with our squad depth. We will definitely be in trouble if we go down this year, I can see us struggling in the championship.

Yeah if we stay up then perhaps it can be properly addressed! Anyone stand out for you?