Full History Of FA Cup In Timeline From 1901

1901: Tottenham Hotspur Ribbon Tradition

After Tottenham Hotspur won the 1901 FA Cup Final, the wife of a Spurs director started the tradition of tying ribbons in the team's colors to the handles of the cup.

1909: Manchester United Replica Sparks Trophy Redesign

After Manchester United, the 1909 FA Cup winners, made their own replica of the trophy, the FA decided to change the design because they did not own the copyright.

1910: Replacement of Original Trophy

In 1910, the original FA Cup trophy was replaced by an exact replica after being stolen in 1895.

1911: Introduction of New FA Cup Trophy Design

In 1911, a new, larger design for the FA Cup trophy was introduced, created by Fattorini and Sons.

1911: Replica FA Cup Trophy is Made

In 1911, a replica of the FA cup trophy was made.

1911: Debut of Redesigned Trophy

In 1911, the redesigned, larger FA Cup trophy was first used and won by Bradford City.

1911: Introduction of the Second FA Cup Design

In 1911, the second design of the FA Cup trophy was introduced. This design would later be replicated in 2014 as the latest version of the trophy.

1914: Crystal Palace Hosts Final FA Cup

In 1914, Crystal Palace hosted one of its 21 FA Cup finals before the finals moved to Stamford Bridge.

1914: FA Cup Suspended Due to WWI

In 1914, following the 1914-15 edition, the FA Cup competition was suspended due to the outbreak of the First World War.

1919: FA Cup Resumes After WWI

In 1919, following its suspension due to World War I, the FA Cup competition resumed in 1919-20.

1920: Stamford Bridge Hosting FA Cup

In 1920, Stamford Bridge began hosting the FA Cup finals.

1921: Previous Record Number of Entries in the FA Cup

In the 1921-22 season, the FA Cup saw 656 clubs entered, marking the previous record that would stand until 2004-05.

1922: Last FA Cup Final Before Wembley

In 1922, Stamford Bridge held its last FA Cup final before the move to Empire Stadium.

1923: Kinnaird Dies

In 1923, Lord Kinnaird died and his family kept the replica FA cup out of public view.

1923: "White Horse Final" at Wembley Stadium

In 1923, the FA Cup Final, famously known as the "White Horse Final," was the first final played at the newly opened Wembley Stadium (then known as the Empire Stadium).

1923: Empire Stadium Opens

In 1923, the original Wembley Stadium (then named the Empire Stadium) opened and began hosting the FA Cup final.

1927: Cardiff City Wins FA Cup

In 1927, Cardiff City became the only non-English team to win the FA Cup.

1927: "Abide with Me" Tradition Begins

In 1927, the tradition of singing "Abide with Me" at the FA Cup final began, becoming a pre-match staple.

1938: Portsmouth Wins FA Cup

In 1938, Portsmouth defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–1 in the 1939 FA Cup Final and were awarded the trophy as 1938–39 FA Cup winners. They held the trophy for the longest uninterrupted period – seven years – due to the war.

1938: FA Cup Suspended Due to WWII

In 1938, the FA Cup competition was suspended due to the outbreak of World War II.

September 1939: Cancellation of Football League and FA Cup

In September 1939, with the outbreak of World War II, the regular Football League and FA Cup competitions for the 1939–40 season were cancelled for the duration of the war.

1945: FA Cup Resumes After WWII

In 1945, following its suspension due to World War II, the FA Cup competition resumed in 1945-46.

1946: FA Cup Trophy Returns to Football Association

After the conclusion of World War II, in 1946, the FA Cup trophy was presented back to the Football Association by the Portsmouth football club in time for the 1946 FA Cup Final.

1946: Last Update to Runners-Up Medals

In 1946, the style of the FA cup runners-up medals were last updated.

1957: Burge Imprisoned

In 1957, Henry James Burge was further imprisoned for seven years for theft from cars.

February 1958: Burge Claims FA Cup Theft

In February 1958, Henry James Burge claimed to have stolen the FA Cup, confessing to a newspaper and claiming the cup had been melted down to make counterfeit half-crown coins. The story was published in the Sunday Pictorial newspaper on 23 February 1958.

1960: UEFA Cup Winners' Cup launch

From its launch in 1960 until its final edition in 1998, The FA Cup winners previously entered the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

1961: Burge Released

In 1961, Henry James Burge was released from prison.

1964: Burge Dies

In 1964, Henry James Burge died.

1970: Leeds United vs Chelsea Replay at Old Trafford

In 1970, the FA Cup final replay between Leeds United and Chelsea was held at Old Trafford in Manchester, marking an exception to the Empire Stadium's long-standing hosting of the final.

1970: Women's FA Cup Held

In 1970, the concurrent Women's FA Cup was established, expanding the Football Association's competition to include women's football.

1971: Alvechurch and Oxford City's Replay Record

In 1971, Alvechurch and Oxford City contested a record-breaking six matches in a single FA Cup qualification tie, highlighting the original replay rules.

1975: Fulham's Record Games

In their 1975 FA Cup campaign, Fulham played 12 games over six rounds, which remains the most games played by a team to reach a final.

1980: Semi-finals extra time rule

From 1980–81, the FA Cup semi-finals went to extra time on the day if the score after 90 minutes was a draw. If the score was still level after extra time, the match would go to a replay.

1980: Hundredth FA Cup Tournament

In 1980, the hundredth FA Cup tournament took place, delayed due to wartime breaks in the competition.

1988: Last time BBC and ITV were joint FA Cup broadcasters

In 2021, a deal saw the BBC and ITV become joint broadcasters of the FA Cup for the first time since 1988.

Loading Video...

1990: Further Replays Rule

Until 1990–91, further replays would be played until one team was victorious in the FA Cup.

November 1991: Penalty Shoot-outs Introduced

On 26 November 1991, penalty shoot-outs were introduced to the FA Cup, with Rotherham United eliminating Scunthorpe United in the first penalty shoot-out.

1991: Multiple Replays Scrapped for Competition Proper

In 1991, the FA Cup scrapped multiple replays for matches in the competition proper, reducing the number of potential replays in later rounds.

1991: Semi-finals at Wembley

The original Wembley Stadium was used seven times for semi-finals, between 1991 and 2000 (the last held there), but not always for fixtures featuring London teams.

1992: Production of 1992 Replica

In 1992, the replica of the FA Cup trophy was made by Toye, Kenning and Spencer. Additionally, a copy of this trophy was produced as a backup.

1992: Introduction of First Replica of Fattorini Trophy

In 1992, to preserve the original Fattorini trophy, it was replaced by an exact replica.

1993: Last Replayed FA Cup Final

The last replayed FA Cup Final was the 1993 FA Cup Final, when Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday fought a 1–1 draw. The replay saw Arsenal win the FA Cup, 2–1 after extra time.

1994: Start of FA Cup Sponsorship

From the start of the 1994–95 season, the FA Cup has been sponsored, with sponsored names including 'The FA Cup' to protect the competition's identity.

1997: End of Northern and Southern Sections Split

After the 1997 FA Cup competition, the practice of splitting the first and second proper rounds into Northern and Southern sections was ended.

1997: Multiple Replays Removed from Qualifying Rounds

In 1997, the FA Cup removed multiple replays from the qualifying rounds, further streamlining the early stages of the competition.

1997: World Cup Trophy Record

In 1997, £254,000 was paid for the Jules Rimet World Cup Trophy.

1998: UEFA Cup Winners' Cup end

From its launch in 1960 until its final edition in 1998, The FA Cup winners previously entered the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

1998: Last Semi-Final Replay

In 1998–99, the last FA Cup semi-final to go into a replay occurred, with Manchester United beating Arsenal 2–1 after extra time, following a 0–0 draw in the original match.

1999: Manchester United Forgoes FA Cup Defense

In 1999, Manchester United chose not to defend their FA Cup title in the 1999-2000 season to participate in the inaugural Club World Championship.

1999: FA Cup Final Experiment

In 1999, most rounds of the FA Cup were played a few weeks earlier than normal as an experiment.

1999: Semi-Final Replays Scrapped

Replays for the FA Cup semi-finals were scrapped for 1999–2000.

2000: Manchester United Wins Premier League After FA Cup Decision

In 2000, after opting out of the FA Cup, Manchester United won the 1999-2000 Premier League title by an 18-point margin, though their performance in the Club World Championship was less successful.

2000: FA Cup Final Experiment Follow-up

In 2000, most rounds of the FA Cup were played a few weeks earlier than normal as an experiment.

2000: Replays Removed from Semi-Final and Final Matches

In 2000, the FA Cup removed replays altogether from the semi-final and final matches, meaning drawn matches would be decided another way.

2000: Semi-Final Replays Scrapped

Replays for the FA Cup semi-finals were scrapped for 1999–2000.

2000: Semi-finals at Wembley

The original Wembley Stadium was used seven times for semi-finals, between 1991 and 2000 (the last held there), but not always for fixtures featuring London teams.

2001: FA Cup Finals Move to Millennium Stadium

In 2001, due to the rebuilding of Wembley Stadium, FA Cup finals were moved to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

2001: FA Cup Final Played Outside England

In 2001, due to the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium, the FA Cup final was played outside of England for the first time, at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

2003: FA's Decision on Wembley Semi-Finals

In 2003, the FA decided to permanently host FA Cup semi-finals at the new Wembley Stadium to recoup debts from financing the stadium. The decision was controversial due to the location being inconvenient for fans located far from London, and also potentially diminishing the prestige of the Wembley final.

2003: Ground Move Restrictions

Since 2003, FA Cup clubs cannot move grounds to the away side's for capacity or financial reasons.

2004: Record Number of Entries in the FA Cup

In the 2004-05 season, 660 clubs entered the competition, breaking the previous long-standing record of 656 from the 1921-22 season.

May 2005: 1895 FA Cup Replica Sold at Auction

On 19 May 2005, the 1895 FA Cup replica was sold at Christie's auction house for £420,000 (£478,400 including fees and taxes) to David Gold, setting a world record for football memorabilia.

2005: Semi-finals at the Millennium Stadium

In 2005, both FA Cup semi-finals were held at the Millennium Stadium.

2005: FA Cup Entries Increased

In the 2005-06 season, the number of entrants in the FA Cup increased to 674.

April 2006: Gold Presents Trophy to National Football Museum

On 20 April 2006, David Gold presented the 1895 FA Cup replica to the National Football Museum in Preston, where it went on public display.

2006: Umbro Supplies Match Balls

From 2006, Umbro supplied match balls for all FA Cup matches.

2006: Final Year at Millennium Stadium

In 2006, the FA Cup final was played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff for the last year during the Wembley redevelopment period.

2006: FA Cup Finals held at Millennium Stadium Conclude

In 2006, the FA Cup finals held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, ended as Wembley Stadium finished its rebuilding process.

2006: FA Cup Entries Increased Again

In the 2006-07 season, the number of entrants in the FA Cup increased to 687.

2007: Final Returns to Wembley

In 2007, the FA Cup final returned to Wembley Stadium after being held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff during the stadium's redevelopment.

2007: Wembley Hosts a Final

In 2007, the rebuilt Wembley Stadium hosted an FA Cup final.

2007: Wembley Stadium Reopens

In 2007, the rebuilt Wembley Stadium reopened and began hosting the FA Cup final.

2007: FA Cup Entries Increase to 731

In the 2007-08 season, the number of entrants in the FA Cup increased to 731 clubs.

2008: ITV and Setanta Sports win broadcast rights

From the 2008–09 season, ITV secured the rights to broadcast FA Cup matches across England and Wales, while Setanta Sports was also awarded a contract to show some games. STV in Scotland opted out of broadcasting these matches.

Loading Video...

2008: STV replaces content from the FA Cup with regular network programmes

In 2008, STV replaced content from the FA Cup with regular network programmes (and local content made in Scotland, plus films and specials) during the 2008 to 2014 period that ITV last held the rights.

Loading Video...

2008: Semi-Finals Return to Wembley

In 2008, the FA Cup semi-finals were held at Wembley Stadium for the first time since its redevelopment.

2008: ITV Local provides online coverage

In 2008, the early rounds of the FA Cup competition were covered for the first time by ITV's online service, ITV Local, which broadcast the match between Wantage Town and Brading Town live online.

2008: FA Cup Entries Increase to 762

In the 2008-09 season, the number of entrants in the FA Cup reached 762 clubs, a new record.

2008: Wembley Exclusively Hosts Semi-Finals

Since 2008, the rebuilt Wembley Stadium has been used exclusively as the FA Cup semi-final venue.

2008: BBC and Sky Sports shared television coverage

Until the 2008–09 season, the BBC and Sky Sports shared television coverage, with the BBC showing three matches in the earlier rounds.

Loading Video...

June 2009: Setanta Sports enters administration

In June 2009, Setanta Sports entered administration, leading the FA to terminate their deal to broadcast FA-sanctioned competitions and England international matches.

October 2009: Additional FA Cup coverage

In October 2009, The FA announced that ITV would show an additional FA Cup match in the first and second rounds on ITV, with one replay match shown on ITV4.

Loading Video...

2009: ITV gains exclusive rights

In 2009–10 season, ITV exclusively showed the competition with between three and four matches per round, all quarter finals, semi-finals and final live as the FA could not find a pay TV broadcaster in time after Setanta going out of business.

Loading Video...

2009: FA Cup Entries Remain at 762

In the 2009-10 season, the number of entrants in the FA Cup remained at 762.

2010: ESPN takes over Setanta's FA Cup Package

From the 2010–11 season, ESPN took over the FA Cup package that was previously held by Setanta.

2010: ESPN buys FA Cup rights

In 2010, ESPN bought the rights to the FA Cup for the 2010–11 to 2012–13 season.

2010: FA Cup match streamed online live

In 2010, one match and one replay match from the first two rounds were broadcast on the FA's website for free. The 2009–10 first-round match between Oldham Athletic and Leeds United was the first FA Cup match to be streamed online live.

2010: FA Cup Final Played Early

In 2010, the FA Cup Final was played before the Premier League season had finished, to allow Wembley Stadium to be ready for the UEFA Champions League final.

2010: 759 Teams Entered

In the 2010-11 season, 759 teams entered, down from the previous year.

2011: Record Number of Clubs Compete

In 2011, a record 763 clubs competed in the FA Cup, showcasing the broad participation from across the English football league system.

2011: FA Cup Final Played Early

In 2011, the FA Cup Final was played before the Premier League season had finished, to allow Wembley Stadium to be ready for the UEFA Champions League final, and to allow England time to prepare for that summer's European Championships.

2011: Record 763 teams entered

In the 2011-12 season, a record 763 teams entered, beating the previous record.

2011: FA Cup Final shown live on Sky 3D

The 2011 FA Cup Final was also shown live on Sky 3D in addition to ESPN (who provided the 3D coverage for Sky 3D) and ITV.

Loading Video...

November 2012: FA Cup Replica Presented to Royal Engineers

In November 2012, the 1895 FA Cup replica was ceremonially presented to Royal Engineers after they won a charity replay of the first FA Cup final.

2012: Rebecca Lowe hosts FA Cup Final

During the time ESPN had the FA Cup rights, in 2012, Rebecca Lowe became the first woman to host the FA Cup Final in the UK.

2012: FA Cup Final Played Early

In 2012, the FA Cup Final was played before the Premier League season had finished to allow England time to prepare for that summer's European Championships.

2012: 758 Teams Entered

In the 2012-13 season, 758 teams entered, down from the previous year.

2013: BT Sport acquires ESPN's rights package

Following the sale of ESPN's UK and Ireland channels to BT, ESPN's rights package transferred to BT Sport from the 2013–14 season.

2013: ITV broadcasted FA Cup matches across England and Wales

From 2008-09 to 2013-14, FA Cup matches were shown live by ITV across England and Wales, with UTV broadcasting to Northern Ireland.

Loading Video...

2013: Nike Replaces Umbro as Match Ball Supplier

In 2013, Nike replaced Umbro as the supplier of match balls for the FA Cup.

2013: Unprecedented Ticket Sales for Millwall vs Wigan Athletic

In 2013, during the FA Cup fixture between Millwall and Wigan Athletic, the FA took the unusual step of placing 6,000 tickets on sale to neutral fans after the game failed to sell out. Also in 2013, a poll by The Guardian found that 86% of fans opposed Wembley semi-finals.

2013: Commissioning of Current FA Cup Trophy

In 2013, the current FA Cup trophy was commissioned using traditional techniques and incorporating original features. It replaced the 22-year-old predecessor because it was fragile and too delicate to continue to repair.

2013: 737 Teams Entered

In the 2013-14 season, 737 teams entered, down from the previous year.

2013: Guernsey F.C. Enters FA Cup

In the 2013-14 season, Guernsey F.C. became the first Channel Island club to enter the FA Cup competition.

November 2014: First Proper Round Match on 3G Pitch

On 20 November 2014, the first match in the proper rounds of the FA Cup to be played on a 3G surface was a televised first-round replay at Maidstone United's Gallagher Stadium.

2014: Welsh Language Channel S4C broadcasts matches

From 2014 to 2015, matches involving Welsh clubs are sometimes exclusively broadcast on Welsh language channel S4C, which is also available to view across the rest of the United Kingdom on satellite and cable television, and through the channel's website.

2014: BBC regains FA Cup Terrestrial Rights

ITV lost the rights to the FA Cup beginning with the 2014–15 FA Cup. Terrestrial rights returned to BBC Sport, with the final being shown on BBC One while BT Sport hold the pay TV rights. Under this deal, the BBC would show around the same number of games as ITV and still have the first pick for each round.

Loading Video...

2014: STV replaces content from the FA Cup with regular network programmes

In 2008, STV replaced content from the FA Cup with regular network programmes (and local content made in Scotland, plus films and specials) during the 2008 to 2014 period that ITV last held the rights.

Loading Video...

2014: STV broadcasts the FA Cup final live.

In 2014, STV broadcasted the FA Cup final live after a period of broadcasting regular programming in place of FA Cup games.

2014: Introduction of the Latest FA Cup Replica

In 2014, a replica of the second FA Cup design, which was originally introduced in 1911, became the latest trophy awarded to the winners of the competition.

2014: Introduction of new FA Cup Trophy

In 2014, a third replica of the FA Cup trophy was introduced. This third replica was built heavier than the previous ones to withstand increased handling.

2014: The 2014 Replica

In 2014, the FA Cup replica was made by Thomas Lyte, handcrafted in sterling 925 silver over 250 hours. A weight increase for greater durability has taken it to 6.3 kilograms.

2014: 736 Teams Entered

In the 2014-15 season, 736 teams entered, down from the previous year.

2015: Welsh Language Channel S4C broadcasts matches

From 2014 to 2015, matches involving Welsh clubs are sometimes exclusively broadcast on Welsh language channel S4C, which is also available to view across the rest of the United Kingdom on satellite and cable television, and through the channel's website.

2015: Artificial Turf Permitted in All FA Cup Rounds

From the 2014–15 edition onwards, the FA permitted artificial turf (3G) pitches in all rounds of the FA Cup competition. The new rules required that the pitch must be of FIFA One Star quality, or Two Star for ties involving one of the 92 professional clubs.

2015: UEFA Europa League rule change

From the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League season, UEFA does not allow the FA Cup runners-up to qualify for the Europa League through the competition.

2015: Emirates Sponsorship Begins

In 2015, Emirates became the FA Cup sponsor, renaming the competition as 'The Emirates FA Cup'.

2015: Last Quarter-Final Replay

The last FA Cup quarter-final to go to a replay was Manchester United vs West Ham United in the 2015–16 FA Cup. The original game at Old Trafford ended in a 1–1 draw.

2015: FA Cup Trophy Loan Rules

Under the current (2015–16) rules, the FA Cup trophy is only loaned to the winning club and must be returned by 1 March of the following year, or earlier if given seven days' notice by the FA.

March 2016: FA Cup Trophy Valued on Antiques Roadshow

On 27 March 2016, the FA Cup trophy was valued at £1 million on the BBC television programme "Antiques Roadshow" by expert Alastair Dickenson.

Loading Video...

October 2016: Fattorini Clarifies Trophy's Origins

On 23 October 2016, Thomas Fattorini appeared on the "Antiques Roadshow" to confirm that the FA Cup trophy was specifically designed by Fattorini & Sons, disproving the earlier suggestion that it was an off-the-shelf wine cooler.

Loading Video...

2016: Replays Removed from Quarter-Finals

In 2016, the FA Cup removed replays from the quarter-finals of the competition.

2016: Ties Settled On The Day

Since 2016, FA Cup ties from the quarter-finals onwards have been settled on the day, using extra time and penalties.

2017: Last Fifth Round Replay

The last FA Cup fifth round replay saw Tottenham Hotspur defeat Rochdale 6–1 at Wembley in the 2017–18 FA Cup after the first match at Spotland Stadium ended in a 2–2 draw.

2018: Fifth Round Ties Settled On The Day

From 2018, Fifth round ties in the FA Cup have also been settled by extra time and penalties.

2018: Mitre Becomes Official Match Ball Supplier

In 2018, Mitre took over from Nike as the official match ball supplier for the FA Cup, beginning a three-year partnership with the FA.

2018: Emirates Sponsorship Extension

In 2018, the Emirates sponsorship deal, was extended until 2021.

2018: First Phase of National League System Remodelling

In 2018, the first phase of remodelling the National League System to a 'perfect' 1–2–4–8–16 system began.

May 2019: ITV to replace BT Sport in broadcasting the FA Cup

On 23 May 2019, it was announced that ITV would replace BT Sport in broadcasting the FA Cup from the 2021–22 season.

Loading Video...

2019: FA Cup Final Delayed

In 2019, the FA Cup Final was delayed until August due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.

2019: Replays Removed from Fifth Round

In 2019, the FA Cup removed replays from the fifth round of the competition.

September 2020: Gold Sells the 1895 FA Cup Replica

In September 2020, David Gold sold the 1895 FA Cup replica for £760,000 through the Bonhams auction house.

2020: Arsenal's Fourteenth FA Cup Title

In 2020, Arsenal won their fourteenth FA Cup title, further solidifying their status as the most successful club in the competition's history.

January 2021: Sheikh Mansour Purchases FA Cup Replica

In January 2021, it was revealed that Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the owner of Manchester City, had purchased the 1895 FA Cup replica and would loan it to the National Football Museum.

August 2021: First FA Cup Tie in the Channel Islands

On August 7, 2021, the first FA Cup game in the Channel Islands, and the southernmost FA Cup tie ever played, took place between Jersey Bulls and Horsham YMCA.

2021: New Medal Designs for FA Cup Final

For the 2021 FA Cup final, the traditional gold-cased winners' and runners-up medals were replaced by new designs of gold winners' medals and silver runners-up medals suspended on a ribbon.

2021: BBC and ITV become joint FA Cup broadcasters

In 2021, a deal saw the BBC and ITV become joint broadcasters of the FA Cup for the first time since 1988, which meant that, for the first time, all FA Cup matches would be exclusively broadcast on free-to-air television.

Loading Video...

2021: Emirates Sponsorship Extended Until 2024

In 2021, the Emirates sponsorship deal was extended three times until 2021, 2024, 2028.

2021: Final Phase of National League System Remodelling

In 2021, the final phase of remodelling the National League System to a 'perfect' 1–2–4–8–16 system was implemented.

2021: FA Cup eligibility cut off

Since the 2021-22 season, the FA has cut off automatic eligibility to the 10th tier, with teams from that level now only able to participate subject to availability.

2022: F.C. Isle of Man Eligible to Play

In 2022, F.C. Isle of Man was eligible to play in the FA Cup, but ultimately did not appear on the entry list or withdrew.

2022: FA Cup Final Held Early

In 2022, the FA Cup Final was held a week before the end of the league.

2022: FA Cup Entry List

In 2022, the FA Cup entry list was modelled on the English league system, comprising 732 teams.

2022: National League System Remodelling Completed

In 2022, the National League System remodelling was completed to a full quota, which included the promotion of 107 clubs.

2023: Potential Increase in FA Cup Entries

For the 2023-24 season, there are plans for a new SWPL 9th tier division to share the South West with the existing Western League, potentially increasing the number of FA Cup entries to 748.

2023: FA Cup Entry List Increase

In 2023, the FA Cup's entry list was expected to rise to 746, due to the addition of sixteen clubs at Level 9, which would increase the number of teams in the extra preliminary round to 444, with only 50 Level 8 clubs entering at the preliminary round.

February 2024: TNT Sports obtains full broadcasting rights

On 15 February 2024, it was announced that TNT Sports obtained full broadcasting rights of the FA Cup from the 2025–26 season.

Loading Video...

May 2024: BBC and TNT Sports agree to sublicensing deal

On 14 May 2024, the BBC confirmed a sublicensing deal with TNT Sports to allow the competition to remain free-to-air, showing two games from the first round to the quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final, which will all be broadcast on TNT Sports also.

Loading Video...

2024: FA Cup Replays Scrapped

Beginning with the 2024 competition, replays have been scrapped from the first round onwards in the FA Cup to accommodate the expanded schedule of UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, a decision that received criticism.

2024: Emirates Sponsorship Extended

In 2024, the Emirates sponsorship deal was extended.

2024: Replays Removed From First Round Onwards

In 2024, the FA Cup removed replays from the first round onwards, prior to the first round proper.

2024: FA Cup Entry List Potential

In 2024, the FA Cup's entry list could rise to 746 in line with sixteen additional clubs at Level 9, meaning that the extra preliminary round would have 444 teams, with only 50 Level 8 clubs entering at the preliminary round.