The 1945–46 FA Cup was the 65th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition; the Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short. The large number of clubs entering the tournament from lower down the English football league system meant that the competition started with a number of preliminary and qualifying rounds. The 25 victorious teams from the fourth round qualifying progressed to the first round proper.
The teams entering the competition in this round are: Ilford, Lovells Athletic, Shorts Sports, Chelmsford City, Cheltenham Town, Dulwich Hamlet, Gillingham, Guildford City, Leytonstone, Lancaster City, Gainsborough Trinity, Scarborough, North Shields, Shrewsbury Town, Stalybridge Celtic, Runcorn, Walthamstow Avenue, Clapton, Wellington Town, Kidderminster Harriers, Willington, Colchester United, Marine and Workington.