FA Cup facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
FA Cup

Organising body	The Football Association
Founded	1871; 154 years ago (1871)
Region	England Wales
Number of teams	745 (2024–25)
Qualifier for	UEFA Europa League FA Community Shield
Current champions	Crystal Palace (1st title)
Most successful club(s)	Arsenal (14 titles)
Television broadcasters	Sky Sports BBC Sport

The FA Cup is a famous football competition in England. It's officially called The Football Association Challenge Cup. This tournament is a knockout competition, meaning teams are eliminated if they lose a match. It's the oldest national football competition in the world, first played in 1871. The Football Association (the FA) organizes it. There's also a similar competition for women called the Women's FA Cup, which started in 1970.

Many football clubs can join the FA Cup. This includes teams from the top leagues all the way down to amateur clubs. A record 763 clubs played in the 2011–12 season. The tournament has 12 rounds, followed by semi-finals and a final match. Teams are not "seeded," which means there's no special ranking to decide who plays whom. However, stronger teams join in later rounds. This means a team might play anywhere from six to fourteen games to win the Cup.

The first six rounds are called the Qualifying Competition. These are played by "non-League" teams, which are clubs outside the top professional leagues. Thirty-two of these teams then move on to the "Competition Proper." Here, they meet 48 professional teams from Leagues One and Two. The biggest clubs, from the Premier League and Championship, join in the third round. It's very rare for a non-League team to reach the quarter-finals. No team below the second-highest league has ever reached the final. Because of this, people get very excited when smaller teams win against bigger, more famous clubs. This is often called a "giant-killing."

The winning team gets to lift the FA Cup trophy. There have been two main designs and five actual cups over time. The current trophy is a replica of the second design, made in 2014. Winners also get a spot in the UEFA Europa League and the FA Community Shield next season. Arsenal has won the FA Cup the most times, with 14 titles. Their former manager, Arsène Wenger, won it seven times, more than any other manager. Crystal Palace are the current champions, winning the 2025 final.

History of the FA Cup

Harry Hampton scores for Aston Villa in the 1905 FA Cup final. Aston Villa won against Newcastle United.

In 1863, the Football Association (FA) created the official rules for football. This helped make the game more organized. On July 20, 1871, the FA Secretary, C. W. Alcock, suggested creating a "Challenge Cup" for all clubs to compete in. The very first FA Cup tournament started in November 1871.

After 13 matches, Wanderers became the first champions on March 16, 1872. Wanderers also won the trophy the next year. By the 1888–89 season, qualifying rounds were added, making the competition more like it is today.

The competition was paused during World War I (after the 1914–15 season) and World War II (between 1938–39 and 1945–46). The 1923 FA Cup Final was the first to be played at the new Wembley Stadium. This match is famous as the "White Horse Final" because a policeman on a white horse helped control the huge crowd. In the 1927 final, the song "Abide with Me" was sung for the first time, which is now a tradition before the final.

For many years, if a match ended in a draw, teams would play a "replay" match. If that was also a draw, they would keep replaying until there was a winner. For example, Alvechurch and Oxford City played six matches in 1971–72 to decide a winner! However, multiple replays were stopped in 1991–92. Since the 2024–25 season, replays have been removed entirely from the first round onwards. This means matches are now decided on the day, often with extra time and penalty shootouts.

While Wembley Stadium was being rebuilt, the FA Cup final was held in Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium from 2001 to 2006. The final returned to Wembley in 2007, and the semi-finals have been played there since 2008.

Who Can Play?

Clubs can apply to enter the FA Cup each year. All clubs in the top four leagues (Premier League and the three English Football League divisions) automatically qualify. Clubs from lower leagues (Levels 5–9) can also play if they are part of other FA competitions. All participating clubs must have a suitable stadium for the matches.

The number of teams entering the FA Cup has changed over time. In the 2011–12 season, a record 763 clubs took part. Since 2021–22, the FA has set the number of entries to match the more stable number of teams in Levels 1–9, which is currently around 732.

It's very rare for top clubs to miss the competition. However, Manchester United did not play in the 1999–2000 FA Cup. They were playing in the first-ever FIFA Club World Championship and felt they couldn't play in both. This decision caused some debate at the time.

Welsh teams that play in English leagues can also enter. Cardiff City is the only non-English team to have won the FA Cup, which they did in 1927. In the early years, teams from Ireland and Scotland also played. For example, the Scottish team Queen's Park reached the final twice in the 1880s before they were no longer allowed to enter.

Clubs from places like the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man can also enter. The first Channel Island club, Guernsey F.C., played in 2013–14.

How the Competition Works

Match Schedule

The FA Cup starts in August and finishes with the final in May. It's a knockout tournament, so if a team loses, they are out. Teams from higher leagues join in later rounds. There is no seeding, meaning matches are decided by a random draw. Since the 2024–25 season, if a match is a draw, it goes straight to extra time and then penalties if needed. There are no replays from the first round onwards.

The first six rounds are qualifying rounds, and their draws are organized by region to reduce travel costs for smaller teams. The next six rounds are the "proper" rounds, where all clubs are in one big draw.

Here's a simple look at when teams join:

The final match is usually played in May, shortly after the Premier League season ends.

How Draws Work

The draws for the early qualifying rounds happen at the same time. For later rounds, the draw is made after the previous round's matches are mostly finished. This means teams often know who they might play next.

The draws for the main competition rounds are shown live on TV. Many people watch the third-round draw because that's when the biggest teams join the competition.

Deciding Tied Matches

Before the 2024–25 season, if a match ended in a draw, teams would play a replay match at the other team's stadium. If the replay was also a draw, it would go to extra time and then a penalty shootout. Since the 2024–25 competition, replays have been removed from the first round onwards. This means all matches are now decided on the day, using extra time and penalties if needed. This change was made to help with the busy schedule of other European competitions.

In the past, there could be many replays. For example, in 1971–72, a game between Alvechurch and Oxford City was played six times! Fulham played 12 games in their 1975 Cup run, which is still a record for a team reaching the final.

What Winners Get

Playing in Europe

The FA Cup winners get to play in the UEFA Europa League the next season. This is a big European competition. This spot is given even if the team is not in the top English league. If the FA Cup winner has already qualified for a European competition through their league position, then the Europa League spot goes to the next highest-placed team in the Premier League that hasn't qualified yet.

FA Community Shield

The FA Cup winners also get to play in the FA Community Shield. This is a single match played at the start of the next season. It's usually against the previous season's Premier League champions.

Where Matches Are Played

The FA Cup final has been held at Wembley Stadium since 2007.

Matches in the 12 rounds are usually played at one of the two teams' home stadiums. The team that plays at home is decided by the random draw. Sometimes, games might be moved to other stadiums for safety reasons or if a stadium isn't suitable. However, clubs cannot move games just to get more money or a bigger crowd.

The semi-finals and final are played at a neutral stadium. This means it's not the home ground of either team playing.

Semi-finals

Since 2008, the semi-finals have been played at the rebuilt Wembley Stadium in London. Before that, semi-finals were played at large stadiums around England, chosen to be fair for both teams' travel. The decision to play semi-finals at Wembley has been debated. Some fans feel it takes away from the special feeling of reaching the final at Wembley.

Final

The FA Cup final has been played at the new Wembley Stadium since it opened in 2007. Before that, from 2001 to 2006, it was held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The original Wembley Stadium hosted the final from 1923 to 2000. In the early years of the competition, the final was played at various locations, mostly in London, like The Oval and Crystal Palace.

Artificial Pitches

Since the 2014–15 season, the FA has allowed matches to be played on artificial turf (3G) pitches. These pitches must meet certain quality standards. The first FA Cup match on a 3G pitch in the main competition rounds was at Maidstone United's stadium in November 2014.

The FA Cup Trophy

King George V presents the FA Cup trophy to Tommy Boyle of Burnley in 1914.

The winners of the FA Cup are given the trophy, but they don't own it forever. It's loaned to the club by the FA and must be returned by March 1st of the next year. The trophy is often taken on tours by the FA between finals.

The trophy has three parts: the cup, a lid, and a base. There have been two main designs and five actual trophies. The first trophy, made in 1871, was stolen in 1895 and never found. It was replaced by an exact copy. In 1911, a new, larger design was introduced. To protect this original, a replica was made in 1992. This replica was replaced in 2014 by a third replica, which was made heavier to be more durable.

The current trophy was made by hand from silver. It took over 250 hours to create. The names of the winning team are engraved on the base of the trophy right after the final match. This is done quickly so it's ready for the presentation ceremony. During the final, the trophy is decorated with ribbons in the colors of both teams playing. The losing team's ribbons are removed after the game.

The tradition of presenting the trophy right after the game started in 1882. Before that, the first winners, Wanderers, received it weeks later at a special event.

The Stolen Trophy

The first FA Cup trophy, nicknamed the "little tin idol," was stolen from a shoe shop window in Birmingham in 1895. It was never found. In 1958, a criminal named Henry James Burge claimed he stole it. He said the cup was melted down to make fake coins.

The 1895 Replica

After the theft, a copy of the trophy was made. This replica was used until 1911. It was later given to Lord Kinnaird, a long-serving FA president. His family kept it until 2005, when it was sold at an auction for a lot of money. David Gold, who was chairman of Birmingham City at the time, bought it to keep it in the country. He then loaned it to the National Football Museum. In 2020, it was sold again and bought by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the owner of Manchester City. He also loaned it back to the National Football Museum.

The Current Design (from 1911)

The original design from 1911.

The current FA Cup trophy (a 1992 replica is shown here).

The new trophy design from 1911 was much larger. It was made by Fattorini & Sons. It was first won by Bradford City. Experts have valued this trophy at over £1 million.

The 1992 replica was made by Toye, Kenning and Spencer. The 2014 replica, made by Thomas Lyte, is even heavier (6.3 kg) to make it more durable.

Medals

Each team in the final receives 40 medals. These are given to players, staff, and officials. There are gold medals for the winners and silver medals for the runners-up. New medal designs were introduced for the 2021 final.

Sponsorship

Since 1994–95, the FA Cup has had sponsors. The sponsor's name is always included with "The FA Cup" to keep the competition's identity. For example, it's called 'The Emirates FA Cup' because Emirates Airline has been the sponsor since 2015.

Records and Fun Facts

Final Match Records

Team Records

• Most wins: 14, by Arsenal.
• Most consecutive wins: 3, shared by Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers.
• Most times in a final: 22, by Manchester United.
• Biggest win in a final: 6 goals, shared by Bury (6–0 vs Derby County in 1903) and Manchester City (6–0 vs Watford in 2019).
• Most goals in a final: 7 goals, for example, Blackpool 4–3 Bolton Wanderers in 1953.
• Longest time between wins: 69 years, for Portsmouth (1939–2008).

Player and Manager Records

Ian Rush scored 5 goals in FA Cup finals, a record.

Ashley Cole won the FA Cup 7 times, more than any other player.

• Most wins by a player: 7, by Ashley Cole (for Arsenal and Chelsea).
• Most wins by a manager: 7, by Arsène Wenger (for Arsenal).
• Most goals in one final: 3 goals, achieved by three players, including Stan Mortensen in 1953.
• Most goals in all finals: 5 goals, by Ian Rush (for Liverpool).
• Youngest player in a final: Curtis Weston (Millwall), 17 years and 119 days in 2004.
• Youngest goalscorer in a final: Norman Whiteside (Manchester United), 18 years and 19 days in 1983.

Overall Competition Records

• Biggest win ever: Preston North End 26–0 Hyde in 1887.
• Highest attendance at Wembley: Over 126,000 people at the "White Horse Final" in 1923.
• Most clubs in a season: 763 in 2011–12.
• Longest match tie: 660 minutes (6 matches), between Oxford City and Alvechurch in 1971.
• Fastest goal: 4 seconds, by Gareth Morris for Ashton United in 2001.
• Fastest hat-trick: 2 minutes 20 seconds, by Andy Locke for Nantwich Town in 1995.
• Most career goals: 49, by Harry Cursham for Notts County.
• Youngest player: Andy Awford, 15 years and 88 days for Worcester City in 1987.

Exciting Upsets and "Giant Killings"

One of the most exciting parts of the FA Cup is when a smaller, lower-ranked team beats a much bigger, higher-ranked team. This is called a "giant killing." These upsets are a big part of the FA Cup's tradition and make the competition so special. When a non-League team (from outside the top professional leagues) beats a Premier League team, it's huge news!

Famous Non-League Upsets

Since 1921, the best performance by a non-League team was Lincoln City reaching the quarter-finals in 2016–17. They beat a Championship team and even a Premier League team (Burnley) before losing to Arsenal. Lincoln's win over Burnley was only the third time a non-League team beat a top-flight side since 1989.

One of the most famous giant killings happened in 1971–72. Non-League team Hereford United beat Newcastle United, a top-division team. Hereford was losing 1–0 with only minutes left when Ronnie Radford scored an amazing equalizer. Hereford then went on to win 2–1. This goal is still shown often when FA Cup matches are broadcast.

Some small clubs become known as "cup specialists" because they often cause upsets. Yeovil Town holds the record for the most wins against league teams as a non-League club, with 20 victories.

Non-League Teams Going Far

For non-League teams, reaching the third round (where all the top-tier teams join) is a huge achievement. In the 2008–09 FA Cup, a record eight non-League teams made it to this stage. As of the 2023–24 season, only eleven non-League teams have reached the fifth round (the last 16) since 1925. Only Lincoln City has made it to the quarter-finals (the last 8).

Chasetown, a Level 8 team, was the lowest-ranked team to reach the third round in 2007–08. They earned over £60,000 in prize money from their success. Marine matched this in 2020–21, playing against Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur.

In the 2023–24 season, Maidstone United, a Level 6 team, had an amazing run. They reached the fifth round, beating a Level 2 team (Ipswich Town). Their journey ended in the fifth round, but their success earned the club around £700,000!

Upsets Between League Clubs

Giant killings can also happen between teams in different professional leagues. A famous example is when Wrexham, a team at the bottom of the fourth division, beat reigning champions Arsenal 2–1 in 1992. Another big shock was when Shrewsbury Town beat Everton 2–1 in 2003. Everton was a top-flight team, while Shrewsbury Town was relegated to a lower league that same season.

Winners and Finalists

Teams That Have Won

Since it started, 45 different clubs have won the FA Cup. Teams shown in italics no longer exist. Queen's Park (a Scottish team) stopped being able to enter the FA Cup after 1887.

Winning Multiple Times in a Row

Four clubs have won the FA Cup two or more times in a row:

• Wanderers (1872, 1873 and 1876, 1877, 1878)
• Blackburn Rovers (1884, 1885, 1886 and 1890, 1891)
• Tottenham Hotspur (1961, 1962 and 1981, 1982)
• Arsenal (2002, 2003 and 2014, 2015)

Winning Manager Records

Arsène Wenger holds the record for most FA Cup wins as a manager, with seven titles for Arsenal. He is also the only manager to win the Cup at the old Wembley Stadium, the Millennium Stadium, and the new Wembley Stadium.

Winning Other Trophies Too

• Manchester City (2019) is the only club to win the league, FA Cup, and League Cup in the same season. This is called a domestic treble.
• Manchester United (1999) and Manchester City (2023) are the only English teams to win the league, FA Cup, and Champions League (a continental treble).
• Eight clubs have won the FA Cup and their league title in the same season (a "double").
• Arsenal (1993) was the first team to win both the FA Cup and the League Cup in the same season. Liverpool (2001, 2022), Chelsea (2007), and Manchester City (2019) have also done this.

Winners from Outside England

The FA Cup has only been won by a non-English team once. Cardiff City from Wales won it in 1927. The Scottish team Queen's Park reached the final twice in the 1880s but lost both times.

Winners from Lower Divisions

Since the Football League started in 1888, only eight winners were not in the top division. These teams were all in the second tier, except for Tottenham Hotspur (1901), who were a non-League team at the time. Tottenham is the only non-League winner since the League's creation.

Sunderland's win in 1973 was a big surprise because they beat Leeds United, a top-flight team. Similarly, West Ham United's victory over Arsenal in 1980 was a shock, as West Ham was in the second division. West Ham's win was the last time a team from outside the top division won the FA Cup.

Watching the FA Cup

TV in the UK

The FA Cup Final is one of the special events that must be shown live on free-to-air TV in the UK.

In the early days, the BBC had exclusive radio coverage. The first FA Cup Final on radio was in 1926. The first final shown on BBC Television was in 1937. For many years, the BBC and ITV shared coverage of the final.

Since the 2021–22 season, the BBC and ITV have been joint broadcasters of the tournament. This means all FA Cup matches are shown on free-to-air television. This was the first time since 1988 that both channels shared the coverage.

Welsh language channel S4C sometimes shows matches involving Welsh clubs.

BBC Radio 5 Live and Talksport provide radio coverage of the matches.

It was announced in February 2024 that TNT Sports will also broadcast the FA Cup from the 2025–26 season, alongside the BBC.

See also

In Spanish: FA Cup para niños