FA Cup

Lore & Background

Arsenal are the most successful club with fourteen titles, most recently in 2020. Their former manager Arsène Wenger holds the record for most tournament wins, having secured seven titles. Manchester City are the current holders, having defeated Chelsea 1–0 in the 2026 final.

In Their Own Story

Rain lashed against the Wembley turf, a familiar backdrop to decades of drama. In the dying minutes of extra time, with legs heavy and the score deadlocked, the stadium held its breath. A long clearance drifted toward the halfway line; a midfielder looked up, spotted the gap, and unleashed a driven pass forward. The striker controlled it on his chest, spun away from his marker, and fired a low shot into the far corner of the net. The roar that erupted wasn't just for a goal—it was history repeating itself. As the players collapsed in celebration, the silver trophy gleamed under the floodlights, adding another indelible chapter to the Gunners' unparalleled FA Cup legacy.

Reader's Guide

The competition is open to all eligible clubs down to level 9 of the English football league system, with level 10 clubs acting as stand-ins. The first six rounds are the Qualifying Competition, contested by non-League clubs. The 20 Premier League and 24 Championship clubs enter in the third round proper.

Did You Know?

• Only one non-League team has ever reached the quarter-finals in the modern era.
• Teams below Level 2 have never reached the final.
• The most replayed tie was between Alvechurch and Oxford City in 1971–72, going to 6 matches.