FA Cup

Lore & Background

In 1863, the newly founded Football Association published the Laws of the Game. On 20 July 1871, FA Secretary C. W. Alcock proposed a Challenge Cup. The inaugural tournament kicked off in November 1871, and Wanderers won the final on 16 March 1872. The competition was suspended during the First World War and World War II.

The 1923 final, known as the 'White Horse Final', was the first at Wembley Stadium. 'Abide with Me' was first sung at the 1927 final. Multiple replays were scrapped for the competition proper in 1991–92, and for qualifying rounds in 1997–98. Replays were removed from the semi-final starting with the 1999–2000 season (the last semi-final replay was in 1999) and from the final starting with the 1998–99 season (the last final replay was in 1993), from the quarter-finals in 2016–17, the fifth round in 2019–20, and the first round onwards from 2024–2025. The final was played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff from 2001 to 2006, returning to Wembley in 2007.

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. A record 763 clubs competed in 2011–12. The tournament consists of 12 randomly drawn rounds followed by the semi-finals and the final. The first six rounds are the Qualifying Competition for clubs at levels 5 to 10. 32 of these teams progress to the first round proper, meeting 48 professional teams from Leagues One and Two. The last entrants are the 20 Premier League and 24 Championship clubs, entering in the third round proper. Winners receive the FA Cup trophy and qualify for the UEFA Europa League and a place in the FA Community Shield. Arsenal are the most successful club with fourteen titles. Manchester City are the current holders, having defeated Chelsea 1–0 in the 2026 final.