History of FA Cup in Timeline

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

1901: Tradition of tying ribbons started after Tottenham Hotspur won the FA Cup

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

1909: Manchester United makes a replica of the FA Cup

In 1909, Manchester United, the FA Cup winner, made their own replica of the FA Cup. This led the FA to realise they did not own the copyright, prompting a redesign of the trophy.

1910: Replacement of the original FA Cup design

The FA decided to change the FA Cup design after the 1909 winners, Manchester United, made their own replica, leading the FA to realise they did not own the copyright and the original trophy was replaced in 1910.

1911: Redesign of the FA Cup trophy

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

1911: New FA Cup design by Fattorini and Sons

In 1911, a new, larger FA Cup design by Fattorini and Sons was introduced to replace the original design.

1911: First outing of the redesigned FA Cup trophy

In 1911, the redesigned FA Cup trophy, manufactured by Fattorini & Sons of Bradford, was first used and coincidentally won by Bradford City.

1911: Introduction of Second FA Cup Design

In 1911, the second FA Cup design was introduced.

1914: FA Cup Suspended Due to World War I

Following the 1914-15 edition, the FA Cup competition was suspended due to the onset of World War I.

1914: Crystal Palace hosts 21st FA Cup Final

In 1914, Crystal Palace hosted its 21st FA Cup Final, from 1895 to 1914. Before the Empire Stadium opened, the final was held in a variety of locations, predominantly in London.

1919: FA Cup Resumes After World War I

In 1919, the FA Cup competition resumed after being suspended due to World War I. The competition restarted with the 1919-20 edition.

1920: FA Cup Final held at Stamford Bridge

In 1920, Stamford Bridge became one of the London venues to host the FA Cup Final.

1921: Previous Record of 656 Entries in the FA Cup

In the 1921-22 season, the FA Cup recorded 656 entries, which was the record until surpassed in 2004-05.

1922: Last FA Cup Final held at Stamford Bridge

In 1922, Stamford Bridge held its last FA Cup Final, before the move to Empire Stadium in 1923.

1923: Death of Lord Kinnaird

In 1923, Lord Kinnaird, the FA's long-serving president, died and his family kept the 1895 replica of the FA Cup in their possession until putting it up for auction in 2005.

1923: "White Horse Final" at Wembley Stadium

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

1923: FA Cup final hosted by the original Wembley Stadium

Since its opening in 1923, the original Wembley Stadium (originally named the Empire Stadium) hosted 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, marking a historic moment in the competition.

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 ritual.

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 wins the 1938-39 FA Cup

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

September 1939: Cancellation of FA Cup due to World War II

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, in 1946, the FA Cup trophy was presented back to the Football Association by Portsmouth, in time for the 1946 FA Cup Final.

1946: Previous design of runners-up medals updated

Before the changes in 2021, the runners-up medals, which were last updated in 1946, were gold-cased medals.

1957: Harry James Burge imprisoned for theft from cars

In 1957, Harry James Burge was imprisoned for seven years for theft from cars, prior to confessing to the FA Cup theft.

February 1958: Harry James Burge confesses to stealing the FA Cup

In February 1958, career criminal Henry (Harry) James Burge claimed to have committed the theft of the FA Cup, confessing to a newspaper and with the story published in the Sunday Pictorial newspaper.

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: Harry James Burge released from prison

In 1961, Harry James Burge was released from prison after serving time for theft from cars.

1964: Death of Harry James Burge

In 1964, Harry James Burge, who claimed to have stolen the FA Cup, died.

1970: Women's FA Cup

In 1970, the first Women's FA Cup competition was held, running concurrently with the men's FA Cup.

1970: 1970 FA Cup replay between Leeds United and Chelsea held at Old Trafford

The 1970 FA Cup replay between Leeds United and Chelsea was an exception to the Empire Stadium series of finals, being held at Old Trafford in Manchester.

1971: Alvechurch and Oxford City's Replayed Tie

During the 1971-72 FA Cup qualification, Alvechurch and Oxford City contested a tie that went to a record 6 matches due to multiple replays.

1971: Alvechurch vs Oxford City

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's Record

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: Semi-Final Extra Time Introduced

From 1980–81, 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, the hundredth FA Cup tournament finally took place, delayed due to the wartime breaks in the competition's history. The hundredth tournament was the 1980-81 edition.

1988: BBC and ITV last joint broadcasters of the FA Cup

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

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1990: Further Replays Abolished

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

November 1991: First Penalty Shoot-out

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

1991: Wembley Hosts Semi-Finals

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

1991: Multiple Replays Scrapped for Competition Proper

In 1991, multiple replays were scrapped for the competition proper, reducing the likelihood of extended tie scenarios.

1992: 1992 FA Cup Replica Created

In 1992, Toye, Kenning and Spencer created the FA Cup replica.

1992: Original FA Cup replaced by exact replica

To preserve the original FA Cup, it was replaced by an exact replica in 1992.

1993: Last Replayed 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: Sponsorship of the FA Cup begins

Since the start of the 1994–95 season, the FA Cup has been sponsored.

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 discontinued.

1997: Previous world record for football memorabilia set

Before the sale of the 1895 FA Cup replica in 2005, the previous world record for a piece of football memorabilia was the £254,000 paid for the Jules Rimet World Cup Trophy in 1997.

1997: Multiple Replays Scrapped for Qualifying Rounds

In 1997, multiple replays were scrapped for the qualifying rounds of the FA Cup.

1998: End of UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

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, when Manchester United beat rivals Arsenal 2–1 after extra time, following a 0–0 draw in the original match.

1999: Manchester United's FA Cup Withdrawal

In 1999, Manchester United withdrew from the FA Cup to participate in the inaugural Club World Championship, citing fixture overload concerns.

1999: FA Cup Schedule Experiment

In 1999–2000 season, most rounds 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: Wembley Hosts Semi-Finals

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

2000: FA Cup Schedule Experiment

In 1999–2000, the FA Cup rounds were played earlier than normal as an experiment.

2000: Manchester United Forgoes FA Cup Defense

In 2000, Manchester United, having withdrawn from the 1999 FA Cup, did not defend their title, prioritizing the Club World Championship, Champions League, and Premier League. They won the 1999-2000 league title by an 18-point margin.

2000: Replays Removed from Semi-Final and Final Matches

In 2000, replays were removed altogether from the semi-final and final matches of the FA Cup, ensuring a definite result on the day.

2000: Semi-Final Replays Scrapped

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

2001: FA Cup final hosted at the Millennium Stadium

Due to the Wembley Stadium rebuilding process, the FA Cup final was hosted at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, between 2001 and 2006.

2001: FA Cup Finals Moved to Cardiff

In 2001, due to the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium, the FA Cup finals were played 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 semi-finals to recoup debts, a controversial move seen as unfair to fans far from London and diminishing the prestige of the Wembley final. The FA cited Wembley's extra capacity as a defense.

2003: Ground Move Restrictions

Since 2003, clubs cannot move grounds to the away side's for capacity or financial reasons in FA Cup. If any move has to be made, it has to be to a neutral venue and any additional monies earned by the move goes into the central pot.

2004: Record Entries in the FA Cup

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

May 2005: Sale of FA Cup replica at Christie's auction house

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).

2005: Semi-Finals at Millennium Stadium

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

2005: Increased Number of Entrants in FA Cup

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

April 2006: FA Cup replica presented to the 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: Last FA Cup final hosted at the Millennium Stadium

2006 marks the last year the FA Cup final was hosted at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, due to the Wembley Stadium rebuilding process.

2006: Umbro supplies match balls for FA Cup matches

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

2006: FA Cup Finals Played in Cardiff

In 2006, the FA Cup finals continued to be played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff due to the ongoing redevelopment of Wembley Stadium.

2006: Further Increase in FA Cup Entrants

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

2007: Final at Wembley

In 2007, Wembley Stadium had already hosted an FA Cup final.

2007: FA Cup Final Returns to Wembley

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

2007: Significant Increase in FA Cup Entrants

In the 2007-08 season, a significant increase in entrants brought the total number of clubs in the FA Cup to 731.

2007: FA Cup final played at the rebuilt Wembley Stadium

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

2008: ITV broadcasts FA Cup matches

From 2008-09, FA Cup matches were shown live by ITV across England and Wales, with UTV broadcasting to Northern Ireland. Scottish member STV refused to show them.

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2008: STV replace content from the FA Cup

In 2008, STV in Scotland replaced content from the FA Cup with regular network programmes.

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2008: FA Cup Semi-Finals Return to Wembley

In 2008, the FA Cup semi-finals also returned to Wembley Stadium, following the return of the final in 2007.

2008: ITV Local covers early rounds of competition

In 2008-09, the early rounds of the competition were covered for the first time by ITV's online service, ITV Local, including the first match between Wantage Town and Brading Town broadcast live online.

2008: FA Cup Entrants Increase

In the 2008-09 season, the FA Cup featured 762 clubs.

2008: Semi-Finals at Wembley

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

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. Some analysts argued the decision to move away from Sky and, in particular, the BBC undermined the FA Cup in the eyes of the public.

June 2009: Setanta Sports entered administration

In June 2009, Setanta Sports entered administration, which resulted in the FA terminating their deal to broadcast FA-sanctioned competitions and England internationals.

October 2009: ITV to show additional match in 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 shows competition exclusively

As a result of Setanta going out of business, ITV exclusively showed the competition in the 2009–10 season.

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2009: FA Cup Entrants Increase

In the 2009-10 season, the FA Cup featured 762 clubs.

2010: ESPN buys the competition

In 2010, ESPN bought the competition for the 2010–11 to 2012–13 season.

2010: ESPN takes over Setanta's package

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

2010: First 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, and 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 Date Change

In 2010–11, the FA Cup Final was played before the Premier League season finished to prepare Wembley Stadium for the UEFA Champions League final.

2010: FA Cup Entrants Decrease

In the 2010-11 season, there were 759 teams entered in the FA Cup.

2011: FA Cup Final Date Change

In 2010-11, the FA Cup Final was played before the Premier League season finished to prepare Wembley Stadium for the UEFA Champions League final.

2011: FA Cup final shown on Sky 3D

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

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2011: Record Number of Clubs Competing

In 2011, the FA Cup saw a record 763 clubs competing in the tournament, showcasing the widespread interest in the competition.

2011: Record Number of FA Cup Entrants

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

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: FA Cup Final Date Change

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.

2012: Rebecca Lowe hosts the FA Cup Final

In 2012, Rebecca Lowe became the first woman to host the FA Cup Final in the UK.

2012: FA Cup Entrants Decrease

In the 2012-13 season, there were 758 teams entered in the FA Cup.

2013: Nike replaces Umbro as match ball supplier

At the start of the 2013–14 season, Nike replaced Umbro as the supplier of match balls for all FA Cup matches for five seasons.

2013: ITV broadcasts FA Cup matches

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

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2013: ESPN's rights package transferred to BT Sport

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

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 showed 86% opposition to Wembley semi-finals.

2013: Commissioning of the current FA Cup trophy

In 2013, the current FA Cup trophy was commissioned, handcrafted using age-old techniques and incorporating original features.

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: FA Cup Entrants Decrease

In the 2013-14 season, there were 737 teams entered in the FA Cup.

November 2014: First FA Cup match on a 3G surface

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 broadcast matches

From 2014, matches involving Welsh clubs are sometimes exclusively broadcast on Welsh language channel S4C.

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2014: BBC Sport regain terrestrial rights to the FA Cup

In 2014, ITV lost the rights to the FA Cup and terrestrial rights returned to BBC Sport, with the final being shown on BBC One, while BT Sport hold the pay TV rights.

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2014: STV broadcasts the final live

In 2014, STV broadcast the final live.

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2014: Third replica of the FA Cup introduced

In 2014, a third replica of the FA Cup was introduced, built heavier to withstand increased handling.

2014: STV broadcasts full coverage of the tournament

In 2014, full coverage of the tournament returned to STV in Scotland.

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2014: 2014 FA Cup replica made by Thomas Lyte

In 2014, the FA Cup replica was made by Thomas Lyte, handcrafted in sterling 925 silver over 250 hours, with a weight increase to 6.3 kilograms (14 lb) for greater durability.

2014: Introduction of Latest FA Cup Replica

In 2014, the latest replica of the second FA Cup design, which was originally introduced in 1911, was created.

2014: FA Cup Entrants Decrease

In the 2014-15 season, there were 736 teams entered in the FA Cup.

2015: FA Cup trophy loaned to the winning club

As of the 2015-16 rules, the FA Cup trophy is only loaned to the winning club by the FA and must be returned by 1 March, or earlier if given seven days' notice.

2015: BBC Cymru Wales broadcast matches

From 2015, a similar arrangement is shared with BBC Cymru Wales when the corporation obtained the rights, potentially giving the BBC an extra match per round.

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2015: FA permits artificial turf pitches in all rounds of the competition

From the 2014-15 edition and beyond, the FA permitted artificial turf (3G) pitches in all rounds of the FA Cup competition, following prior approval for use only in the qualifying rounds. This started in 2015.

2015: Europa League Qualification Changes

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 becomes the FA Cup sponsor

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

2015: Last Quarter-Final Replay

The last 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, while Manchester United won the replay at the Boleyn Ground, 2–1.

March 2016: Valuation of the FA Cup trophy on Antiques Roadshow

On 27 March 2016, on an 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

On 23 October 2016, on an episode of BBC "Antiques Roadshow", Thomas Fattorini disproved the claim that the FA Cup design may not have been specifically produced for the FA, but was instead an off-the-shelf design originally meant to be a wine or champagne cooler.

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2016: Replays Removed from Quarter-Finals

In 2016, replays were removed from the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, continuing the trend of reducing the number of replays.

2016: Extra Time and Penalties Introduced

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

The last fifth round replay in FA Cup 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 Changes

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

2018: Remodelling of the National League System Begins

In 2018, the gradual remodelling of the National League System began with a first phase, moving towards a 'perfect' structure.

2018: Mitre becomes the match ball supplier

Mitre took over as the supplier of match balls for the FA Cup in the 2018–19 season, beginning a three-year partnership with the FA.

2018: Original end date for the Emirates sponsorship deal

The Emirates sponsorship deal, originally scheduled to terminate in 2018, was later extended.

May 2019: ITV replace BT Sport

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: Replays Removed from Fifth Round

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

2019: FA Cup Final Delayed

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

September 2020: David Gold sells the 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 secured their fourteenth FA Cup title, further cementing 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 return it on loan to the National Football Museum.

August 2021: First FA Cup Game in Channel Islands

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

2021: New medal designs introduced for FA Cup final

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

2021: ITV becomes joint broadcaster of the FA Cup

In 2021, This deal saw the BBC and ITV become joint broadcasters of the tournament for the first time since 1988.

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2021: Final Phase of National League System Remodelling

In 2021, the final phase of remodelling the National League System was implemented, including the promotion of 107 clubs.

2021: FA Cup Eligibility Cutoff

In the 2021-22 season, the FA cut off automatic eligibility to the 10th tier for FA Cup entries, using them subject to availability.

2021: Extension of the Emirates sponsorship deal

The Emirates sponsorship deal, originally scheduled to terminate in 2018, was extended until 2021.

2022: FA Cup Final Date Change

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 modeled on the English league system, featuring 732 teams.

2022: National League System Remodelling Completed

In 2022, the remodelling of the National League System was played to a full quota, affecting FA Cup entries for Level 10 clubs.

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

In the 2022-23 season, F.C. Isle of Man was eligible to play in the FA Cup.

2023: FA Cup Entry List Increase

In 2023, the FA Cup entry list was projected to potentially rise to 746 teams due to the addition of sixteen clubs at Level 9, impacting the number of teams in the extra preliminary round.

2023: Potential Increase in FA Cup Entries

In 2023, there were plans for a new SWPL 9th tier division which had the potential to raise the number of entries in the FA Cup to 748 for the 2023-24 season.

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 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: Replays Limited in FA Cup

Beginning with the 2024-25 campaign, FA Cup fixtures ending in a tie are replayed only once (prior to the first round proper).

2024: Replays Scrapped

Beginning with the 2024–25 competition, replays have been scrapped from the first round onwards to accommodate the expanded schedule of UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. The decision received criticism.

2024: Replays Removed from First Round Onwards

In 2024, replays were removed altogether from the first round onwards of the FA Cup competition, to be applied from 2024 to 2025.

2024: FA Cup Entry List Changes

In 2024, the FA Cup entry list was projected to potentially rise to 746 teams due to the addition of sixteen clubs at Level 9, impacting the number of teams in the extra preliminary round.