FA Cup

England · Domestic cup

First season: 1871–72
Format: Single-leg knockout
Final: Wembley Stadium
Record winners: Arsenal (14)

The Football Association Challenge Cup, first played in 1871–72, is the oldest national football competition in the world. It is open to hundreds of clubs from across the English pyramid: the season begins in August with the extra preliminary round for non-league sides, and the 92 professional clubs enter in the first and third rounds proper. Every tie is a single match, with the draw made openly, so a village club can be paired with a Premier League side.

That openness is the point. The magic of the cup lives in giant-killings, and the third round in early January, when the top-flight clubs enter, remains one of the busiest weekends in English football. Replays were removed from the competition proper from 2024–25, so a drawn tie now goes to extra time and penalties on the day.

The semi-finals and final are staged at Wembley, with the final traditionally closing the domestic season in May. Arsenal are the most successful club with 14 wins. The winner qualifies for the Europa League and faces the league champion in the Community Shield in August.

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