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| English FA Cup | |
|---|---|
| Name | FA Cup |
| Caption | The FA Cup trophy |
| Organiser | The Football Association |
| Founded | 1871 |
| Region | England |
| Number of teams | 736 (2023–24 season) |
| Current champions | Manchester City F.C. |
| Most successful club | Arsenal F.C. (14 titles) |
English FA Cup
The FA Cup is the oldest national association football knockout competition in the world. Founded by The Football Association in 1871, the competition involves clubs from across England, Wales, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands, drawing participants from the Premier League down to levels of the English football league system. The tournament is renowned for its history of giant-killing, historic finals at Wembley Stadium, and iconic clubs and players.
The competition was established after meetings at The Football Association headquarters and the first tournament culminated in the 1872 final between Wanderers F.C. and Royal Engineers A.F.C. at the Kennington Oval. Early dominance came from amateur sides including Old Etonians F.C. and Oxford University A.F.C., before professionalisation allowed clubs such as West Bromwich Albion F.C. and Aston Villa F.C. to prevail. The FA Cup has survived world events including the First World War and Second World War, with wartime regional competitions replacing the national cup during some years. Post-war periods saw the rise of clubs like Manchester United F.C., Liverpool F.C., and Arsenal F.C. while the late 20th and early 21st centuries introduced modern commercial and broadcasting arrangements involving entities such as ITV and BBC Sport and global partners. Landmark rule changes include the abolition of replays for some rounds, the introduction of penalty shoot-outs, and adjustments to eligibility reflecting the English football league system.
The FA Cup follows a single-elimination knockout format managed by The Football Association. Ties were traditionally replayed, but modern schedules and broadcasting demands have reduced replays, with extra time and penalty shoot-outs commonly deciding matches. The competition calendar runs from preliminary rounds in summer to the final in May at Wembley Stadium. Clubs enter at staggered stages according to their position in the English football league system—with teams from the Premier League and English Football League joining in later rounds. Draws are unseeded and typically regionally zoned in early stages, creating cross-regional matchups and occasional high-profile fixtures between clubs from different divisions.
Entry begins with Extra-Preliminary and Preliminary Rounds for clubs from the National League System levels, including teams from the Southern Football League, Northern Premier League, and Isthmian League. Successful clubs progress to the First Round Proper, where English Football League One and Two teams join; the Third Round Proper marks entry for Premier League and EFL Championship clubs. The competition includes provisions for player eligibility, squad submission, and club licensing administered by The Football Association. Cup qualification also historically provided routes into European competitions like the UEFA Europa League when domestic league placement allowed.
The FA Cup has produced celebrated matches and enduring records: Blackburn Rovers F.C. and Bolton Wanderers F.C. featured in early finals; the 1923 "White Horse Final" at Wembley Stadium involved massive crowds and the iconic White Horse incident; Liverpool F.C. and Manchester United F.C. have contested memorable finals. Giant-killing runs by clubs such as Sunderland A.F.C. (1973 win over Leeds United A.F.C.) and Wrexham A.F.C. have become folklore. Individual records include goal-scoring feats by players like Harry Cursham and managerial successes by figures such as Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger. The competition’s longest replays, highest attendances, and record-winning margins feature in the tournament archives alongside historic upsets from non-league sides against Premier League opposition.
The FA Cup trophy, first presented in the 1870s and redesigns since, is a symbol associated with Wembley Stadium finals and victory parades across cities like London and Manchester. Prize money and financial rewards have grown with commercialisation, television rights negotiated with broadcasters including BBC Sport and ITV, and sponsorship deals with corporations that have historically included banking and automotive companies. Winning the FA Cup has carried financial benefits, entry to community events such as the FA Community Shield at the start of the season, and, in certain seasons, qualification to European competition regulated by UEFA.
The FA Cup has shaped English football culture, providing historic moments that resonate in communities from Liverpool to Bristol and Newcastle upon Tyne. The tournament's tradition of lower-league sides hosting top-flight teams has reinforced local identity and football heritage, while media coverage on platforms like BBC Sport and Sky Sports has amplified narratives of underdogs and legends. The FA Cup final has been a national event, attended by figures from the British Royal Family and broadcast internationally, contributing to football's social history and commercial evolution in England.
Parallel to the men's competition, the FA Women's Cup (commonly called the Women's FA Cup) serves a similar knockout role for women's clubs, featuring teams from the FA Women's Super League and lower tiers of the Women's National League. The growth of women's football, highlighted by events such as the FIFA Women's World Cup and increased investment from clubs like Chelsea F.C. Women and Arsenal W.F.C., has elevated the Women's FA Cup's profile. Related domestic competitions include the FA Community Shield, EFL Cup, and regional county cups administered by The Football Association and county FAs.
Category:Football competitions in England