FA Cup 2025/2026

[Cricket Warrior]

The 2025 FA Cup is officially underway, reigniting the passion and unpredictability of the world’s oldest domestic football competition. From grassroots clubs to Premier League giants, every team has one goal in mind: a date with destiny at Wembley.

Last season, Manchester United lifted the famous trophy after a thrilling campaign, adding another chapter to their rich FA Cup legacy. But can they go back-to-back? Or will a new champion rise from the chaos?

With over 700 clubs participating once again, the FA Cup remains the stage where non-league underdogs can slay giants, where every round writes new stories, and where dreams can become reality.

Teams that are not members of either the Premier League or English Football League will compete in the qualifying rounds to secure one of 32 available places in the first round. The six-round qualifying competition began with the extra preliminary round on 2 August 2025, with the fourth and final qualifying round kicking off on 11 October.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

 

[Cricket Warrior]

FA Cup draw in full as Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea discover opponents​

Holders Crystal Palace will begin the defence of their FA Cup trophy against Macclesfield.

Palace beat Manchester City 1-0 in last season’s FA Cup final at Wembley to secure the first major trophy in the club’s history.

Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson and Arsenal summer signing Eberechi Eze were Palace’s heroes back in May, with the former saving a penalty and making a number of impressive saves and the latter scoring the first-half goal that denied Pep Guardiola yet another trophy.

The 20 winners of the second-round ties were joined by all 20 Premier League clubs and 24 Championship teams in the FA Cup third-round draw.

Replays have been ditched for this year’s FA Cup, meaning the ties will go to extra-time and penalties should they be level after 90 minutes.

There were four non-league clubs in the hat – Boreham Wood, Brackley Town, Macclesfield and Weston-super-Mare.


FA Cup third-round draw in full
Wolves v Shrewsbury Town

Doncaster Rovers v Southampton

Tottenham v Aston Villa

Port Vale v Fleetwood Town

Preston v Wigan

Ipswich Town v Blackpool

Wrexham v Nottingham Forest

Charlton v Chelsea

Manchester City v Exeter City

West Ham v QPR

Sheffield Wednesday v Brentford

Fulham v Middlesbrough

Everton v Sunderland

Liverpool v Barnsley

Burnley v Millwall

Norwich City v Walsall

Portsmouth v Arsenal

Derby County v Leeds United

Swansea City v West Brom

Salford City v Swindon Town

Boreham Wood v Brackley Town or Burton Albion

Grimsby Town v Weston-super-Mare

Hull City v Blackburn Rovers

Newcastle United v Bournemouth

MK Dons v Oxford United

Cheltenham Town v Leicester City

Cambridge United v Birmingham City

Bristol City v Watford

Stoke City v Coventry City

Macclesfield v Crystal Palace

Manchester United v Brighton

Sheffield United v Mansfield


FA Cup prize money
Second round winners – £79,500

Second round losers – £21,200

Third round winners – £121,500

Third round losers – £26,500

Fourth round winners – £127,000

Fifth round winners – £238,500

Quarter-final winners – £477,000

Semi-final winners – £1,060,000

Semi-final losers – £530,000

Final runners-up – £1,060,000

Final winners – £2,120,000

FA Cup draw in full as Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea learn fate

Holders Crystal Palace will begin the defence of their FA Cup trophy against Macclesfield.

metro.co.uk