🚨 ROMANCE AT THE KASSAM? THE BLACK CATS’ VALENTINE’S DATE WITH DESTINY REVEALED!
​OXFORD — Put the chocolates away and cancel the candlelit dinner; there is only one date that matters in Sunderland this February.
​The draw for the FA Cup Fourth Round has been concluded, and Regis Le Bris’s high-flying Black Cats are officially heading to Oxfordshire. In a tie that has “classic upset” written all over it, Sunderland will travel to face Championship strugglers Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium on the weekend of Saturday, February 14, 2026.
​It’s a Valentine’s Day massacre in the making, and for Sunderland, it’s a golden ticket to the final 16. But as any seasoned fan knows, the magic of the cup rarely follows the script.
​The Road So Far: Heroes of the Hill Dickinson
​Sunderland didn’t just walk into the Fourth Round; they kicked the door down. Just 48 hours ago, the Black Cats pulled off one of the results of the tournament, traveling to Everton and dumping the Premier League side out of the competition in their own backyard.
​After a grueling 1-1 draw in normal time—featuring a stunning Enzo Le Fée volley—the game went to the ultimate lottery. It was there that Sunderland’s young Dutch goalkeeper, Robin Roefs, became an instant Wearside legend. Roefs performed the unthinkable, saving all three of Everton’s penalties to secure a 3-0 shootout victory.
​”We want to go strong because we respect this competition,” Le Bris said following the Everton scalp. Having already tasted the blood of top-flight opposition, the Black Cats now enter the Fourth Round as the hunted rather than the hunters.
​The Opponent: A New Era at Oxford
​While Sunderland are riding the crest of a wave, Oxford United are a team in transition. The “U’s” have had a turbulent winter, recently sacking Gary Rowett after a dismal run that left them languishing in 22nd place in the Championship.
​However, the FA Cup has provided a much-needed spark. Under the watchful eye of newly appointed head coach Matt Bloomfield, who watched from the stands just hours after his appointment on Friday, Oxford survived a scare of their own. They navigated a tense penalty shootout away at League Two MK Dons to keep their Wembley dreams alive.
​For Bloomfield, a home tie against a Premier League-chasing Sunderland side represents the perfect “free hit” to kickstart his tenure. With new signings like Myles Peart-Harris and Spurs loanee Jamie Donley looking to make their mark, the Yellows will be anything but pushovers.
​The “Hidden” Dangers of the Kassam
​On paper, Sunderland are the heavy favorites. They sit 10th in the table, boast one of the most exciting young squads in the country, and have the momentum of that Everton victory behind them. But the FA Cup Fourth Round is a graveyard for favorites.
- ​The Travel Factor: A 500-mile round trip to the Kassam Stadium is a logistical nightmare for the traveling Red and White Army.
- ​The Prize Money: A win isn’t just about glory; it carries a ÂŁ127,000 prize fund payment—crucial capital for the club’s summer transfer ambitions.
- ​The Injury Tightrope: With a massive league clash against Crystal Palace sandwiched into the schedule, Le Bris will have to balance his “ambition” with the reality of a thinning squad.
​Tactical Battle: Le Bris vs. Bloomfield
​This Fourth Round clash will be a fascinating chess match between Le Bris’s tactical discipline and Bloomfield’s “new manager bounce.”
​Le Bris has shown he isn’t afraid to rotate, but he’s remained firm on his stance of “going strong” in the cup. Expect to see the likes of Granit Xhaka and Luke O’Nien providing the veteran spine required to silence a rowdy Kassam crowd. Meanwhile, Oxford will likely lean on the firepower of Will Lankshear, the Tottenham youngster who has already bagged seven goals this season.
​The Verdict: A Golden Opportunity
​Not since 2015 have Sunderland reached the Fifth Round of the FA Cup. For a club with the history of 1937 and 1973 etched into its soul, this isn’t just another fixture. It’s a chance to remind the country that the sleeping giant of the North East is finally wide awake.
​Regis Le Bris has the momentum. The fans have the belief. Now, they just need to survive a Valentine’s weekend date in Oxford.
​Will the Black Cats find their heart at the Kassam, or will Oxford United play the role of the ultimate heartbreaker?