History of FA Cup in Timeline

The FA Cup is an annual knockout football competition in England, first held in the 1871-72 season. Organized by the Football Association, it's the oldest national football competition globally. A Women's FA Cup has been held since 1970.

1901: Ribbons tied on FA Cup trophy

After Tottenham Hotspur won the 1901 FA Cup Final, the wife of a Spurs director decided to tie blue and white ribbons to the handles of the cup, starting the tradition of tying ribbons.

1909: Manchester United made their own replica

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

1910: Original FA Cup trophy replaced

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

1911: Redesign of FA Cup trophy in 1911

After the theft, a replica of the trophy was made, which was used until a redesign of the trophy in 1911.

1911: Larger redesigned trophy introduced

In 1911, a larger FA Cup trophy was introduced, designed and manufactured by Fattorini & Sons of Bradford, with Bradford City winning the trophy in its first outing.

1911: Introduction of the Second FA Cup Design

In 1911, the second design of the FA Cup trophy was introduced. The latest FA Cup trophy is a 2014 replica of this 1911 second design.

1914: FA Cup Suspended Due to World War I

Following the 1914-15 edition, the FA Cup competition was suspended due to the First World War and did not resume until 1919-20.

1914: Crystal Palace hosted 21st FA Cup final

In 1914, Crystal Palace hosted its 21st FA Cup final. From 1895 to 1914, Crystal Palace hosted 21 finals, broken up by four replays elsewhere.

1919: FA Cup Resumes After World War I

In 1919-20, the FA Cup resumed after being suspended due to the First World War. The competition had been on hold since the 1914-15 edition.

1920: FA Cup Final at Stamford Bridge

In 1920, Stamford Bridge hosted FA Cup Final from 1920 to 1922 (the last three finals before the move to Empire Stadium).

1921: Record Number of Entries in FA Cup

In the 1921-22 season, the FA Cup saw a record 656 clubs entering the competition, a record that stood for many years.

1922: Last FA Cup Final at Stamford Bridge

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

1923: Lord Kinnaird died in 1923

After the theft, a replica of the trophy was made, which was used until a redesign of the trophy in 1911. The 1895 replica was then presented to the FA's long-serving president Lord Kinnaird. Kinnaird died in 1923, and his family kept it in their possession, out of view, until putting it up for auction in 2005.

1923: FA Cup Final hosted by Empire Stadium

In 1923, the FA Cup Final was hosted by the original Wembley Stadium, which was originally named the Empire Stadium.

1923: "White Horse Final" at Wembley Stadium

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

1927: Cardiff City Wins the FA Cup

In 1927, Cardiff City became one of two non-English teams to win the FA Cup. This was a significant milestone for the Welsh side.

1927: "Abide with Me" sung at the FA Cup Final for the first time

In 1927, the hymn "Abide with Me" was sung for the first time at the FA Cup final, establishing a pre-match tradition that continues to this day.

1938: FA Cup Suspended Due to World War II

Due to the outbreak of World War II, the FA Cup competition was not played between the 1938-39 and 1945-46 editions.

1938: Portsmouth awarded the FA Cup trophy

Portsmouth had defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–1 in the 1939 FA Cup Final and were awarded the trophy as 1938–39 FA Cup winners.

September 1939: Football League and FA Cup competitions cancelled

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 Suspended Due to World War II

Due to the outbreak of World War II, the FA Cup competition was not played between the 1938-39 and 1945-46 editions.

1946: FA Cup trophy presented back to Football Association

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

1946: Runners-up medals were last updated

The traditional styles of gold-cased medals – the winners' medal, which had remained largely unchanged since the 1890s, and runners-up medals, which were last updated in 1946

1957: Henry James Burge imprisoned for theft

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

February 1958: Henry James Burge confessed to the FA Cup theft

On 23 February 1958, Henry (Harry) James Burge claimed to have committed the theft, confessing to a newspaper, with the story being published in the Sunday Pictorial newspaper.

1960: UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Launch

From its launch in 1960, the FA Cup winners previously entered the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

1961: Henry James Burge released from prison

In 1961, Henry James Burge was released from prison.

1964: Henry James Burge died

In 1964, Henry James Burge died.

1970: FA Cup Final replay held at Old Trafford

In 1970, an exception to the 78-year series of Empire Stadium finals (including five replays) was the replay between Leeds United and Chelsea, held at Old Trafford in Manchester.

1970: Women's FA Cup Held

In 1970, the first Women's FA Cup competition was held, marking a significant development in women's football alongside the men's FA Cup.

1971: Alvechurch and Oxford City Played Six Times

In 1971–72, a fourth qualifying round game between Alvechurch and Oxford City was played six times until Alvechurch won in the fifth replay.

1975: Fulham Played 12 Games

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

1980: Extra Time for Semi-Finals

From 1980–81 to 1998–99, the FA Cup semi-finals went to extra time on the day if the score after 90 minutes was a draw.

1980: Hundredth FA Cup Tournament

In 1980-81, the hundredth FA Cup tournament finally took place, delayed due to the wartime breaks during the First and Second World Wars.

1988: Last time BBC and ITV were joint broadcasters of the tournament

In 1988, it was the last time the BBC and ITV were joint broadcasters of the FA Cup tournament before the agreement in 2021.

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1990: Further Replays Until Victorious

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

November 1991: First Penalty Shoot-Out

On 26 November 1991, the first penalty shoot-out occurred in the FA Cup, when Rotherham United eliminated Scunthorpe United.

1991: Semi-final at Wembley Stadium

In 1991, the original Wembley Stadium was used for semi-final.

1991: Multiple Replays Scrapped for Competition Proper

In 1991-92, multiple replays were scrapped for the competition proper in the FA Cup, reducing the number of potential replays needed to decide a winner.

1992: Second FA Cup replica

In 1992, the replica was made by Toye, Kenning and Spencer. A copy of this trophy was also produced, in case anything happened to the primary trophy.

1992: Second FA Cup trophy replica introduced

In 1992, to preserve the original, the FA Cup trophy was replaced by an exact replica.

1993: Last Replayed Final

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

1994: FA Cup sponsorship started

Since the start of the 1994–95 season, the FA Cup has been sponsored, with the sponsored name always including 'The FA Cup' in addition to the sponsor's name.

1997: End of Northern and Southern Sections

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

1997: Jules Rimet World Cup Trophy sold for £254,000

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

1997: Multiple Replays Scrapped for Qualifying Rounds

In 1997-98, multiple replays were scrapped for the qualifying rounds of the FA Cup, reducing the number of potential replays needed to decide a winner.

1998: Extra Time for Semi-Finals

From 1980–81 to 1998–99, the FA Cup semi-finals went to extra time on the day if the score after 90 minutes was a draw.

1998: Final Edition of UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

In 1998, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup had its final edition.

1999: Last Semi-Final Replay

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

1999: Manchester United Forgoes FA Cup Entry

In 1999-2000, Manchester United opted not to defend their FA Cup title due to their participation in the inaugural Club World Championship, citing concerns about fixture congestion.

1999: Experiment with Earlier Rounds

In 1999-2000, most FA Cup rounds were played a few weeks earlier than normal as an experiment.

2000: Experiment with Earlier Rounds

In 1999-2000, most FA Cup rounds were played a few weeks earlier than normal as an experiment.

2000: Manchester United's Decision to Not Participate in FA Cup

In 2000, Manchester United did not participate in the FA Cup after not defending the title in 1999-2000. Sir Alex Ferguson later admitted regret regarding their handling of the situation.

2000: Replays Removed from Semi-Final and Final Matches

In 2000, the FA Cup removed replays altogether from the semi-final and final matches, ensuring a winner was decided on the day.

2000: Semi-final at Wembley Stadium

In 2000, the last FA Cup semi-final was held at the original Wembley Stadium.

2000: Replays Scrapped for Semi-Finals

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

2001: FA Cup Finals moved to Millennium Stadium

Due to the rebuilding of Wembley Stadium, the FA Cup finals were hosted at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, from 2001 to 2006.

2001: FA Cup Final Played Outside of England

In 2001, due to the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium, the FA Cup final was played outside of England for the first time, with the 2001-2006 finals being held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

2003: FA decides to use new Wembley for semi-finals

In 2003, the FA decided to permanently use the new Wembley Stadium for FA Cup semi-finals. The decision was aimed to recoup debts incurred in financing the stadium. This move was controversial, with critics arguing it was unfair to fans far from London and diminished the prestige of the Wembley final.

2003: Rules against moving grounds for capacity reasons

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

2004: Record Number of Entries Broken in FA Cup

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

May 2005: FA Cup replica sold at auction for record price

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

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 to 674

In 2005-06, the total number of FA Cup entrants increased to 674 clubs, which built on a previous increase from the 2004-05 season.

April 2006: FA Cup replica put on public display

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

2006: Last FA Cup Finals at Millennium Stadium

Due to the rebuilding of Wembley Stadium, the FA Cup finals were hosted at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, from 2001 to 2006. 2006 marks the last year the FA cup finals took place in Millennium Stadium before being played at rebuilt Wembley Stadium in 2007.

2006: Umbro supplied match balls for FA Cup

From 2006 to 2013, Umbro supplied match balls for all FA Cup matches.

2006: FA Cup Final Played Outside of England

In 2006, due to the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium, the FA Cup final was played outside of England for the last time. The 2001-2006 finals were held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

2006: FA Cup entries increased to 687

In 2006-07, the number of entrants to the FA Cup increased to 687 clubs. This continued an increasing trend since the 2004-05 season.

2007: Final at Wembley Stadium

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

2007: FA Cup Final Returns to Wembley

In 2007, the FA Cup final returned to Wembley Stadium after being played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff for several years due to Wembley's redevelopment.

2007: FA Cup entries increased to 731

In 2007-08, the FA Cup competition included 731 clubs, which showed a significant increase in participating clubs compared to previous years.

2007: FA Cup Final played at rebuilt Wembley Stadium

Since its opening in 2007, the FA Cup final has been played at the rebuilt Wembley Stadium.

2008: ITV and Setanta Sports broadcast FA Cup matches

From 2008, FA Cup matches were shown live by ITV across England and Wales, while Setanta Sports showed additional games. STV refused to broadcast FA Cup games.

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2008: STV replaced content from the competition

From 2008, STV in Scotland replaced FA Cup competition content with regular network programmes.

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2008: BBC and Sky Sports shared television coverage

In 2008, the BBC and Sky Sports shared television coverage of the FA Cup, with the BBC showing three matches in the earlier rounds. Some analysts argued that the decision to move away from Sky and the BBC undermined the FA Cup in the eyes of the public.

2008: FA Cup Semi-Finals Return to Wembley

In 2008, the FA Cup semi-finals returned to Wembley Stadium, marking a full return of the competition's key matches to the iconic venue after its redevelopment.

2008: ITV Local covered early rounds of competition

In 2008, the early rounds of the FA Cup competition were covered for the first time by ITV's online service, ITV Local. The first match was broadcast live online, with highlights of eight games per round available as catch-up.

2008: FA Cup entries increased to 762

In 2008-09, the FA Cup competition entries increased to 762 clubs, showcasing the increasing popularity of the tournament.

2008: Semi-finals at Wembley Stadium

Since 2008, the FA Cup semi-finals have been played exclusively at the rebuilt Wembley Stadium.

June 2009: Setanta Sports entered 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: ITV to show additional match in the first and second rounds

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

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2009: ITV showed the competition exclusively

In 2009, as a result of Setanta going out of business, ITV showed the FA Cup competition exclusively. The FA could not find a pay TV broadcaster in time.

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2009: FA Cup entries increased to 762

In 2009-10, the total number of FA Cup entrants increased to 762, matching the previous year's record.

2010: ESPN bought the competition

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

2010: ESPN took over package Setanta held for the FA Cup

In 2010, ESPN took over the package Setanta held for the FA Cup from the 2010–11 season.

2010: FA Cup match to be 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 Before Premier League Season Finished

In 2010-11 and 2012-13, 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: FA Cup Entries at 759

In 2010-11, the FA Cup had 759 teams enter the competition.

2011: Record 763 Teams Entered FA Cup

In 2011-12, a record 763 teams entered the FA Cup competition.

2011: FA Cup Final Before Premier League Season Finished

In 2011-12, 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.

2011: Record Number of Clubs Competed

In the 2011-12 FA Cup season, a record 763 clubs competed, showcasing the extensive reach and popularity of the tournament within the English football league system.

2011: Sky 3D showed the 2011 final live

The 2011 FA Cup final was shown live on Sky 3D in addition to ESPN and ITV.

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November 2012: FA Cup replica ceremonially presented to Royal Engineers

In November 2012, the 1895 FA Cup replica was ceremonially presented to Royal Engineers, after they beat Wanderers 7–1 in a charity replay of the first FA Cup final.

2012: FA Cup Final Before Premier League Season Finished

In 2010-11 and 2012-13, 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.

2012: Rebecca Lowe became the first woman to host the FA Cup Final in the UK

In 2012, during ESPN's ownership of the rights, Rebecca Lowe became the first woman to host the FA Cup Final in the UK.

2012: FA Cup Entries at 758

In 2012-13, 758 teams participated in the FA Cup.

2012: Swansea City Wins the FA Cup

Swansea City, a Welsh side playing in the English leagues, were the FA Cup champions in the 2012-2013 season.

2013: BT Sport took over ESPN's rights package

From the 2013–14 season, BT Sport took over ESPN's rights package for the FA Cup, following the sale of ESPN's UK and Ireland channels to BT.

2013: Nike replaced Umbro as FA Cup match ball supplier

In 2013, Nike replaced Umbro as the official match ball supplier for the FA Cup, producing the balls for five seasons.

2013: Neutral fans offered tickets for Millwall vs Wigan Athletic

In 2013, the FA Cup fixture between Millwall and Wigan Athletic led to the unprecedented step of placing 6,000 tickets on sale to neutral fans after the game failed to sell out. A fan poll by The Guardian in 2013 found 86% opposition to Wembley semi-finals.

2013: FA commissioned handcrafted FA Cup trophy

In 2013, the FA commissioned the current FA Cup trophy to be handcrafted using age-old techniques, including casting, hand-chasing, hand-engraving and polishing.

2013: FA Cup Entries at 737

In 2013-14, the FA Cup had 737 participating teams.

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.

2013: Swansea City Wins the FA Cup

Swansea City, a Welsh side playing in the English leagues, were the FA Cup champions in the 2012-2013 season.

2013: FA Cup matches shown live by ITV

Up until 2013, FA Cup matches were shown live by ITV across England and Wales.

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November 2014: First FA Cup match on 3G surface

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

2014: BBC Cymru Wales obtained the rights

From 2014, BBC Cymru Wales shared a similar arrangement with S4C, potentially giving the BBC an extra match per round.

2014: ITV lost the rights to the FA Cup

In 2014, ITV lost the rights to the FA Cup, and terrestrial rights returned to BBC Sport. BT Sport hold the pay TV rights.

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2014: STV broadcast the 2014 final live

In 2014, STV broadcast the FA Cup final live.

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2014: Replica of Second FA Cup Design Introduced

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

2014: Full coverage of the tournament returned to STV

In 2014, full coverage of the FA Cup tournament returned to STV in Scotland after a period of replacing content from the competition with regular programming.

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2014: Third FA Cup trophy replica

In 2014, the 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 (14 lb).

2014: FA Cup Entries at 736

In 2014-15, the FA Cup included 736 participating teams.

2015: FA Cup trophy loaned to winning club

As of 2015, the FA Cup is loaned to the winning club by the FA, and under the 2015–16 rules, it must be returned by 1 March, or earlier if given seven days' notice. Traditionally, the holders had the Cup until the following year's presentation.

2015: FA permits artificial turf in all rounds

From the 2014–15 edition, the FA permitted artificial turf (3G) pitches in all rounds of the competition and beyond. Under the 2015–16 rules, the pitch must be of FIFA One Star quality, or Two Star for ties if they involve one of the 92 professional clubs.

2015: UEFA Europa League qualification rules

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

2015: Matches involving Welsh clubs are sometimes exclusively broadcast on Welsh language channel S4C

In 2015, matches involving Welsh clubs were sometimes exclusively broadcast on Welsh language channel S4C.

2015: Last Quarter-Final to Go to a Replay

In 2015–16, Manchester United vs West Ham United marked the last quarter-final to go to a replay in the FA Cup. The original game ended in a 1–1 draw.

2015: Emirates sponsors FA Cup

Since 2015, the airline Emirates has been the sponsor of the FA Cup, renaming the competition as 'The Emirates FA Cup'.

March 2016: FA Cup trophy valued on Antiques Roadshow

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

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October 2016: Thomas Fattorini on Antiques Roadshow

The show was filmed at Baddesley Clinton and subsequently aired on 23 October 2016.

2016: Replays Removed from Quarter-Final Matches

In 2016-17, the FA Cup removed replays from the quarter-final matches, continuing the trend of reducing the number of replays in the competition.

2016: Ties Settled on the Day From Quarter-Finals Onwards

Since 2016–17, FA Cup ties have been settled on the day from the quarter-finals onwards, using extra time and penalties.

2017: Last Fifth Round Replay

In 2017–18, Tottenham Hotspur defeated Rochdale 6–1 at Wembley in the last fifth round replay in FA Cup.

2018: Fifth Round Ties Settled by Extra Time and Penalties

From 2018–19, FA Cup Fifth round ties have also been settled by extra time and penalties.

2018: Mitre became FA Cup match ball supplier

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

2018: First Phase of National League System Remodelling

In 2018-19, the first phase of remodelling the National League System to a 'perfect' 1-2-4-8-16 system began, affecting club entries in the FA Cup.

2018: Emirates sponsorship extended

The Emirates sponsorship deal, originally scheduled to terminate in 2018, was later extended three times until 2021, 2024, 2028.

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.

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2019: Final Delayed Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

In 2019-20, the FA Cup Final was delayed until August due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.

2019: Replays Removed from Fifth Round Matches

In 2019-20, the FA Cup removed replays from the fifth-round matches, as the organization continued to streamline the competition.

September 2020: FA Cup replica sold for £760,000 at auction

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 secured their fourteenth FA Cup title, solidifying their position as the most successful club in the competition's history. Arsène Wenger won seven finals with the team.

January 2021: FA Cup replica purchased by Sheikh Mansour

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

August 2021: First FA Cup Tie Played in the Channel Islands

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

2021: New designs of FA Cup medals introduced

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

2021: BBC and ITV became joint broadcasters of the tournament

In 2021, the BBC and ITV became joint broadcasters of the FA Cup tournament for the first time since 1988, ensuring all matches would be exclusively broadcast on free-to-air television.

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2021: Final Held a Week Before End of League

In 2021-22, the FA Cup Final was held a week before the end of the league.

2021: Final Phase of National League System Remodelling

In 2021-22, the final phase of remodelling the National League System to a 'perfect' 1-2-4-8-16 system occurred, which included the promotion of 107 clubs and impacted FA Cup entries.

2021: FA Cuts off Eligibility to the 10th Tier

Since 2021-22, the FA has cut off automatic eligibility to the 10th tier for the FA Cup.

2021: Emirates sponsorship extended

The Emirates sponsorship deal, originally scheduled to terminate in 2018, was later extended three times until 2021, 2024, 2028.

2022: Entry list of 732 modelled on the English league system

In 2022, the FA Cup's entry list was based on 732 teams, modeled after the English league system, influencing the number of new entries and the division of Level 8 teams in the preliminary rounds.

2022: F.C. Isle of Man Eligible for FA Cup

In 2022-23, F.C. Isle of Man was eligible to play in the FA Cup. Ultimately, all Crown Dependency teams either did not appear on the entry list or later withdrew from the tournament.

2022: National League System Remodelling Played to Full Quota

In 2022-23, the remodelling of the National League System was played to a full quota, resulting in a larger number of teams playing in Level 7-9 and impacting eligibility for the FA Cup.

2023: Potential Increase in FA Cup Entries

For 2023-24, the FA Cup could potentially see a standardized number of 748 entries, which could rise to 748 due to a new SWPL 9th tier division.

2023: Entry list could rise to 746

In 2023, the entry list for the FA Cup was expected to increase to 746 teams, due to the addition of sixteen clubs at Level 9, affecting the structure of the preliminary rounds.

February 2024: TNT Sports obtained full broadcasting rights of the FA Cup

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

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May 2024: BBC confirmed a sublicensing deal with TNT Sports

On 14 May 2024, the BBC confirmed a sublicensing deal with TNT Sports to allow the FA Cup competition to remain free-to-air, showing two games from the first round to the quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final.

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2024: FA Cup Fixtures Ending in Tie

Beginning in the 2024-25 campaign, FA Cup fixtures ending in a tie will be replayed once only before the first round proper.

2024: Replays Scrapped From First Round Onwards

Beginning with the 2024-25 FA Cup competition, replays were scrapped from the first round onwards to accommodate the expanded schedule of UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.

2024: Extra preliminary round would have 444 teams

In 2024, with an expected 746 teams, the FA Cup's extra preliminary round was set to include 444 teams, and only 50 Level 8 clubs would enter at the preliminary round.

2024: Emirates sponsorship extended

The Emirates sponsorship deal, originally scheduled to terminate in 2018, was later extended three times until 2021, 2024, 2028.

2025: Replays Removed from First Round Onwards

From 2024-2025, the FA Cup removed replays altogether from the first round proper, streamlining the competition and ensuring matches are decided quicker.

2025: TNT Sports obtained full broadcasting rights of the FA Cup

In 2025, TNT Sports will obtain full broadcasting rights of the FA Cup.

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2025: Crystal Palace Defeated Manchester City in the Final

In the 2025 FA Cup final, Crystal Palace defeated Manchester City 1-0 to win the title but could not retain the cup the following season, being knocked out in the third round by Macclesfield.