The 2024–25 FA Cup is the 144th season of the Football Association Challenge Cup, the oldest football tournament in the world. It is sponsored by Emirates and known as the Emirates FA Cup for sponsorship reasons. The FA Cup is the main domestic cup competition for men's football teams in England.
Football Association Challenge Cup | |
---|---|
Tournament details | |
Country | England Wales |
Dates | 2 November 2024 – 17 May 2025[2] |
Teams | 745[1] 653 (qualifying competition) 123 (main competition incl. 32 qualifiers) |
Defending champions | Manchester United |
Tournament statistics | |
Matches played | 99 |
Goals scored | 312 (3.15 per match) |
Attendance | 1,044,346 (10,549 per match) |
Top goal scorer(s) | Ricky-Jade Jones Josh Magennis (4 goals each) |
(Note: All statistics do not include qualifying play-offs) |
The qualifying competition began on 3 August 2024, with the proper tournament started on 2 November 2024. The final will be played at Wembley Stadium, London, on 17 May 2025.
Manchester United are the defending champions, having beaten their rivals Manchester City in the 2024 Final to win their 13th FA Cup title.
Teams
editThe FA Cup is a knockout competition with 124 teams taking part from the first round proper, and all trying to reach the final at Wembley Stadium on 17 May 2025.[1] The competition consists of the 92 teams from the Football League system (20 teams from the Premier League and the 72 in total from the EFL Championship, EFL League One and EFL League Two) plus the 32 surviving teams out of 652 teams from the National League System that started the competition in the qualifying rounds. The total 744 entrants was an increase of 12 from the previous season,[1] and the most since 758 entrants were accepted in 2012–13.
All rounds will be drawn randomly, usually at the completion of the previous round (discounting any last games of a round being played), depending on television broadcasting rights.
Round | Main date (Saturdays)[2] |
Number of fixtures | Clubs remaining | New entries this round | Winner prize money | Loser prize money | Divisions entering this round |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First round | 2 November 2024 | 40 | 124 → 84 | 48 | £45,000 | £15,000 | 24 EFL League One teams 24 EFL League Two teams |
Second round | 30 November 2024 | 20 | 84 → 64 | None | £75,000 | £20,000 | None |
Third round | 11 January 2025 | 32 | 64 → 32 | 44 | £115,000 | £25,000 | 20 Premier League teams 24 EFL Championship teams |
Fourth round | 8 February 2025 | 16 | 32 → 16 | None | £120,000 | None | None |
Fifth round | 1 March 2025 | 8 | 16 → 8 | None | £225,000 | None | None |
Quarter-finals | 29 March 2025 | 4 | 8 → 4 | None | £450,000 | None | None |
Semi-finals | 26 April 2025 | 2 | 4 → 2 | None | £1,000,000 | £500,000 | None |
Final | 17 May 2025 | 1 | 2 → 1 | None | £2,000,000 | £1,000,000 | None |
Rule changes
editThis is the first edition of the tournament to be played without replays in the proper rounds since the 2020–21 FA Cup and the first edition of the tournament to have the final played one week before the end of the Premier League season.[3] The changes were made as part of a six-year agreement between The Football Association and the Premier League due to pressure on the domestic calendar from expanded UEFA competitions, but were criticised since replays were cited as an important source of revenue for lower league clubs.[4][5] The agreement saw all round dates return to weekends,[2] with previous editions having had some dates in midweek.
VAR will be used in all matches from the fifth round onwards (and none prior), whereas in previous seasons it was used for all matches held in Premier League grounds and at Wembley Stadium.[6]
Qualifying
editTeams that are not members of either the Premier League or English Football League competed 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 3 August 2024.
First round
editA total of 80 teams played in the first round: 32 winners from the fourth qualifying round, 24 from League Two (tier 4), and 24 from League One (tier 3). Eighth tier side Hednesford Town (Northern Premier League Division One West) were the lowest-ranked team in the draw, which was made on 14 October 2024 by Stuart McCall and Danny Webber at Valley Parade.[7]
Premier League[a] | Championship[a] | League One | League Two | Non-League | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
20 / 20
|
24 / 24
|
24 / 24
|
24 / 24
|
32 / 32
|
124 / 124
|
- ^ Jump up to: a b Premier League and Championship teams joined the competition in the third round.
1 November 2024 | Notts County (4) | 5–1 | Alfreton Town (6) | Nottingham |
1 November 2024 | Tamworth (5) | 1–0 | Huddersfield Town (3) | Tamworth |
2 November 2024 | Barrow (4) | 0–1 | Doncaster Rovers (4) | Barrow-in-Furness |
2 November 2024 | Brackley Town (6) | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p) | Braintree Town (5) | Brackley |
2 November 2024 | Bradford City (4) | 3–1 | Aldershot Town (5) | Bradford |
2 November 2024 | Bristol Rovers (3) | 3–1 (a.e.t.) | Weston-super-Mare (6) | Bristol |
2 November 2024 | Burton Albion (3) | 1–0 | Scarborough Athletic (6) | Burton upon Trent |
2 November 2024 | Carlisle United (4) | 0–2 (a.e.t.) | Wigan Athletic (3) | Carlisle |
2 November 2024 | Chesterfield (4) | 3–1 | Horsham (7) | Chesterfield |
2 November 2024 | Crewe Alexandra (4) | 0–1 | Dagenham & Redbridge (5) | Crewe |
2 November 2024 | Exeter City (3) | 5–3 | Barnet (5) | Exeter |
2 November 2024 | Gillingham (4) | 0–2 | Blackpool (3) | Gillingham |
2 November 2024 | Grimsby Town (4) | 0–1 | Wealdstone (5) | Cleethorpes |
2 November 2024 | Hednesford Town (8) | 4–4 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p) | Gainsborough Trinity (7) | Hednesford |
2 November 2024 | Maidenhead United (5) | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Crawley Town (3) | Maidenhead |
2 November 2024 | Newport County (4) | 2–4 | Peterborough United (3) | Newport |
2 November 2024 | Port Vale (4) | 1–3 | Barnsley (3) | Stoke-on-Trent |
2 November 2024 | Reading (3) | 2–0 | Fleetwood Town (4) | Reading |
2 November 2024 | Rotherham United (3) | 1–3 | Cheltenham Town (4) | Rotherham |
2 November 2024 | Rushall Olympic (6) | 0–2 | Accrington Stanley (4) | Walsall |
2 November 2024 | Salford City (4) | 2–1 | Shrewsbury Town (3) | Salford |
2 November 2024 | Solihull Moors (5) | 3–0 | Maidstone United (6) | Solihull |
2 November 2024 | Southend United (5) | 3–4 (a.e.t.) | Charlton Athletic (3) | Southend-on-Sea |
2 November 2024 | Stockport County (3) | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Forest Green Rovers (5) | Stockport |
2 November 2024 | Swindon Town (4) | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Colchester United (4) | Swindon |
2 November 2024 | Tonbridge Angels (6) | 1–4 | Harborough Town (7) | Tonbridge |
2 November 2024 | Tranmere Rovers (4) | 1–2 | Oldham Athletic (5) | Birkenhead |
2 November 2024 | Walsall (4) | 2–1 | Bolton Wanderers (3) | Walsall |
2 November 2024 | Woking (5) | 0–1 | Cambridge United (3) | Woking |
2 November 2024 | Wycombe Wanderers (3) | 3–2 | York City (5) | High Wycombe |
2 November 2024 | Northampton Town (3) | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Kettering Town (7) | Northampton |
3 November 2024 | Milton Keynes Dons (4) | 0–2 | AFC Wimbledon (4) | Milton Keynes |
3 November 2024 | Sutton United (5) | 0–1 | Birmingham City (3) | Sutton |
3 November 2024 | Boreham Wood (6) | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (1–3 p) | Leyton Orient (3) | Borehamwood |
3 November 2024 | Curzon Ashton (6) | 0–4 | Mansfield Town (3) | Ashton-under-Lyne |
3 November 2024 | Harrogate Town (4) | 1–0 | Wrexham (3) | Harrogate |
4 November 2024 | Chesham United (6) | 0–4 | Lincoln City (3) | Chesham |
Second round
editThe 40 winners from the first round played in the second round. Seventh tier sides Gainsborough Trinity (Northern Premier League Premier Division), Harborough Town (Southern League Premier Division Central) and Kettering Town (Southern League Premier Division Central) were the lowest-ranked teams in the draw, which was made on 3 November 2024 by Emile Heskey and Leon Osman.[8]
Premier League[a] | Championship[a] | League One | League Two | Non-League | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
20 / 20
|
24 / 24
|
18 / 24
|
13 / 24
|
9 / 32
|
84 / 124
|
- ^ Jump up to: a b Premier League and Championship teams joined the competition in the third round.
29 November 2024 | Harrogate Town (4) | 1–0 | Gainsborough Trinity (7) | Harrogate |
30 November 2024 | Wealdstone (5) | 0–2 | Wycombe Wanderers (3) | Ruislip |
30 November 2024 | Accrington Stanley (4) | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (4–1 p) | Swindon Town (4) | Accrington |
30 November 2024 | Barnsley (3) | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (3–4 p) | Bristol Rovers (3) | Barnsley |
30 November 2024 | Cambridge United (3) | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Wigan Athletic (3) | Cambridge |
30 November 2024 | Crawley Town (3) | 3–4 | Lincoln City (3) | Crawley |
30 November 2024 | Exeter City (3) | 2–0 | Chesterfield (4) | Exeter |
30 November 2024 | Leyton Orient (3) | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Oldham Athletic (5) | Leyton |
30 November 2024 | Morecambe (4) | 1–0 | Bradford City (4) | Morecambe |
30 November 2024 | Peterborough United (3) | 4–3 | Notts County (4) | Peterborough |
30 November 2024 | Salford City (4) | 2–0 | Cheltenham Town (4) | Salford |
30 November 2024 | Stevenage (3) | 0–1 | Mansfield Town (3) | Stevenage |
30 November 2024 | Stockport County (3) | 3–1 | Brackley Town (6) | Stockport |
30 November 2024 | Walsall (4) | 0–4 | Charlton Athletic (3) | Walsall |
30 November 2024 | AFC Wimbledon (4) | 1–2 | Dagenham & Redbridge (5) | Wimbledon |
1 December 2024 | Kettering Town (7) | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Doncaster Rovers (4) | Burton Latimer |
1 December 2024 | Blackpool (3) | 1–2 | Birmingham City (3) | Blackpool |
1 December 2024 | Burton Albion (3) | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (3–4 p) | Tamworth (5) | Burton upon Trent |
1 December 2024 | Reading (3) | 5–3 (a.e.t.) | Harborough Town (7) | Reading |
1 December 2024 | Solihull Moors (5) | 1–2 | Bromley (4) | Solihull |
Third round
editA total of 64 clubs played in the third round: 20 winners from the second round, 20 from Premier League (tier 1), and 24 from Championship (tier 2). National League (tier 5) sides Dagenham & Redbridge and Tamworth were the lowest-ranked teams in the draw, which was made on 2 December 2024 by Mark Hughes and Dion Dublin at Old Trafford.[9]
Premier League | Championship | League One | League Two | Non-League | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
20 / 20
|
24 / 24
|
12 / 24
|
6 / 24
|
2 / 32
|
64 / 124
|
9 January 2025 | Sheffield United (2) | 0–1 | Cardiff City (2) | Sheffield |
9 January 2025 | Everton (1) | 2–0 | Peterborough United (3) | Liverpool |
10 January 2025 | Wycombe Wanderers (3) | 2–0 | Portsmouth (2) | High Wycombe |
10 January 2025 | Aston Villa (1) | 2–1 | West Ham United (1) | Birmingham |
11 January 2025 | Birmingham City (3) | 2–1 | Lincoln City (3) | Birmingham |
11 January 2025 | Bristol City (2) | 1–2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (1) | Bristol |
11 January 2025 | Middlesbrough (2) | 0–1 | Blackburn Rovers (2) | Middlesbrough |
11 January 2025 | Liverpool (1) | 4–0 | Accrington Stanley (4) | Liverpool |
11 January 2025 | Leicester City (1) | 6–2 | Queens Park Rangers (2) | Leicester |
11 January 2025 | Bournemouth (1) | 5–1 | West Bromwich Albion (2) | Bournemouth |
11 January 2025 | Brentford (1) | 0–1 | Plymouth Argyle (2) | Brentford |
11 January 2025 | Exeter City (3) | 3–1 | Oxford United (2) | Exeter |
11 January 2025 | Norwich City (2) | 0–4 | Brighton & Hove Albion (1) | Norwich |
11 January 2025 | Nottingham Forest (1) | 2–0 | Luton Town (2) | West Bridgford |
11 January 2025 | Sunderland (2) | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Stoke City (2) | Sunderland |
11 January 2025 | Leeds United (2) | 1–0 | Harrogate Town (4) | Leeds |
11 January 2025 | Manchester City (1) | 8–0 | Salford City (4) | Manchester |
11 January 2025 | Coventry City (2) | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p) | Sheffield Wednesday (2) | Coventry |
12 January 2025 | Hull City (2) | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p) | Doncaster Rovers (4) | Kingston upon Hull |
12 January 2025 | Tamworth (5) | 0–3 (a.e.t.) | Tottenham Hotspur (1) | Tamworth |
12 January 2025 | Arsenal (1) | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (3–5 p) | Manchester United (1) | Holloway |
12 January 2025 | Crystal Palace (1) | 1–0 | Stockport County (3) | Selhurst |
12 January 2025 | Ipswich Town (1) | 3–0 | Bristol Rovers (3) | Ipswich |
12 January 2025 | Newcastle United (1) | 3–1 | Bromley (4) | Newcastle upon Tyne |
12 January 2025 | Southampton (1) | 3–0 | Swansea City (2) | Southampton |
13 January 2025 | Millwall (2) | 3–0 | Dagenham & Redbridge (5) | Bermondsey |
14 January 2025 | Leyton Orient (3) | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (6–5 p) | Derby County (2) | Leyton |
14 January 2025 | Mansfield Town (3) | 0–2 | Wigan Athletic (3) | Mansfield |
14 January 2025 | Preston North End (2) | 2–1 | Charlton Athletic (3) | Preston |
Fourth round
editThe 32 winners from the third round played in the fourth round. League Two side Doncaster Rovers were the lowest-ranked team in the draw, which was made on 12 January 2025 by Martin Keown and Mark Schwarzer at Emirates Stadium.[11]
Premier League | Championship | League One | League Two | Non-League | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
17 / 20
|
9 / 24
|
5 / 24
|
1 / 24
|
0 / 32
|
32 / 124
|
7 February 2025 | Manchester United (1) | 2–1 | Leicester City (1) | Trafford |
8 February 2025 | Leeds United (2) | 0–2 | Millwall (2) | Leeds |
8 February 2025 | Leyton Orient (3) | 1–2 | Manchester City (1) | Leyton |
8 February 2025 | Coventry City (2) | 1–4 | Ipswich Town (1) | Coventry |
8 February 2025 | Everton (1) | 0–2 | Bournemouth (1) | Liverpool |
8 February 2025 | Preston North End (2) | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p) | Wycombe Wanderers (3) | Preston |
8 February 2025 | Southampton (1) | 0–1 | Burnley (2) | Southampton |
8 February 2025 | Stoke City (2) | 3–3 (a.e.t.) (2–4 p) | Cardiff City (2) | Stoke-on-Trent |
8 February 2025 | Wigan Athletic (3) | 1–2 | Fulham (1) | Wigan |
8 February 2025 | Birmingham City (3) | 2–3 | Newcastle United (1) | Birmingham |
8 February 2025 | Brighton & Hove Albion (1) | 2–1 | Chelsea (1) | Brighton and Hove |
9 February 2025 | Blackburn Rovers (2) | 0–2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (1) | Blackburn |
9 February 2025 | Plymouth Argyle (2) | 1–0 | Liverpool (1) | Plymouth |
9 February 2025 | Aston Villa (1) | 2–1 | Tottenham Hotspur (1) | Birmingham |
10 February 2025 | Doncaster Rovers (4) | 0–2 | Crystal Palace (1) | Doncaster |
11 February 2025 | Exeter City (3) | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (2–4 p) | Nottingham Forest (1) | Exeter |
Fifth round
editThe 16 winners from the fourth round will play in the fifth round. Championship sides Burnley, Cardiff City, Millwall, Plymouth Argyle and Preston North End were the lowest-ranked teams in the draw, which was made on 10 February 2025 by Theo Walcott and Alex Scott.[12]
Premier League | Championship | League One | League Two | Non-League | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
11 / 20
|
5 / 24
|
0 / 24
|
0 / 24
|
0 / 32
|
16 / 124
|
1 March 2025 | Aston Villa (1) | v | Cardiff City (2) | Birmingham |
1 March 2025 | Bournemouth (1) | v | Wolverhampton Wanderers (1) | Bournemouth |
1 March 2025 | Crystal Palace (1) | v | Millwall (2) | Selhurst |
1 March 2025 | Manchester City (1) | v | Plymouth Argyle (2) | Manchester |
1 March 2025 | Manchester United (1) | v | Fulham (1) | Trafford |
1 March 2025 | Newcastle United (1) | v | Brighton & Hove Albion (1) | Newcastle upon Tyne |
1 March 2025 | Nottingham Forest (1) | v | Ipswich Town (1) | West Bridgford |
1 March 2025 | Preston North End (2) | v | Burnley (2) | Preston |
Top goalscorers
edit- As of 11 February 2025
Television rights
editBoth BBC Sport and ITV Sport air FA Cup matches until the end of this season.
Broadcaster | Summary |
---|---|
BBC Sport | 18 live matches per season, with highlights of the FA Community Shield.[14] BBC Sport has second and third picks of matches in the second round, fourth round and the quarter-finals, as well as first and fourth pick of matches in the first, third and fifth rounds, and first pick of the semi-finals. |
ITV Sport | At least 20 live matches per season, plus live coverage of the FA Community Shield.[15] ITV has first pick and fourth pick of matches in the second round, fourth round and the quarter-finals, as well as second and third picks for the first, third and fifth rounds and second pick of the semi-finals. |
Round | Date | Teams | Kick-off | Channels | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Digital | TV | ||||
First round[16] | 1 November 2024 | Tamworth v Huddersfield Town | 19:45 | BBC iPlayer | BBC Two |
2 November 2024 | Northampton Town v Kettering Town | 17:30 | BBC iPlayer | BBC Two | |
3 November 2024 | Sutton United v Birmingham City | 12:30 | ITVX | ITV1, STV | |
Harrogate Town v Wrexham | 15:30 | ITVX | — | ||
4 November 2024 | Chesham United v Lincoln City | 19:15 | ITVX | ITV4 | |
Second round[17] | 29 November 2024 | Harrogate Town v Gainsborough Trinity | 19:45 | BBC iPlayer | BBC Two |
30 November 2024 | Wealdstone v Wycombe Wanderers | 11:30 | ITVX | ITV1, STV | |
AFC Wimbledon v Dagenham & Redbridge | 19:15 | ITVX | — | ||
1 December 2024 | Kettering Town v Doncaster Rovers | 12:00 | BBC iPlayer | BBC Two | |
Solihull Moors v Bromley | 15:15 | ITVX | ITV1, STV | ||
Third round[18] | 9 January 2025 | Sheffield United v Cardiff City | 19:00 | BBC iPlayer | BBC One Wales |
Everton v Peterborough United | 19:45 | BBC iPlayer | — | ||
10 January 2025 | Aston Villa v West Ham United | 20:00 | ITVX | ITV1, STV | |
11 January 2025 | Liverpool v Accrington Stanley | 12:15 | ITVX | ITV1, STV | |
Manchester City v Salford City | 17:45 | BBC iPlayer | BBC One | ||
Leeds United v Harrogate Town | 17:45 | BBC iPlayer | — | ||
12 January 2025 | Tamworth v Tottenham Hotspur | 12:30 | ITVX | ITV1, STV | |
Arsenal v Manchester United | 15:00 | BBC iPlayer | BBC One | ||
Newcastle United v Bromley | 15:00 | BBC iPlayer | — | ||
Southampton v Swansea City | 16:30 | BBC iPlayer | BBC Two Wales | ||
13 January 2025 | Millwall v Dagenham & Redbridge | 19:30 | ITVX | ITV4 | |
Fourth round[19] | 7 February 2025 | Manchester United v Leicester City | 20:00 | ITVX | ITV1, STV, UTV |
8 February 2025 | Leyton Orient v Manchester City | 12:15 | BBC iPlayer | BBC One | |
Birmingham City v Newcastle United | 17:45 | BBC iPlayer | BBC One | ||
Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea | 20:00 | ITVX | ITV4 | ||
9 February 2025 | Blackburn Rovers v Wolverhampton Wanderers | 12:30 | BBC iPlayer | — | |
Plymouth Argyle v Liverpool | 15:00 | ITVX | ITV1, STV, UTV | ||
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur | 17:35 | BBC iPlayer | BBC One | ||
10 February 2025 | Doncaster Rovers v Crystal Palace | 19:45 | BBC iPlayer | — | |
11 February 2025 | Exeter City v Nottingham Forest | 20:00 | ITVX | ITV1 | |
Fifth round |
References
edit- ^ Jump up to: a b c "The Clubs Entered in Four FA Competitions in 2024-25". The FA. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "The Emirates FA Cup round dates for the 2024-25 season". The FA. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ MacInnes, Paul (18 April 2024). "FA Cup replays and Premier League winter break scrapped from next season". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "FA Cup replays to be scrapped from the first round onwards in 2024–25". BBC Sport. London. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "FA Cup replay changes 'a total lack of respect for football pyramid'". BBC Sport. London. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ "VAR confirmed for Emirates FA Cup from fifth round onwards". The FA. London. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ "Clubs from the EFL join the Emirates FA Cup, following Monday's first round draw". The FA. 14 October 2024.
- ^ "The draw for the Emirates FA Cup second round proper has been made". The FA. 3 November 2024.
- ^ "Premier League and Championship clubs entered the Emirates FA Cup in third round draw". The FA. 2 December 2024.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "FA Cup and Challenge Cup games among fixtures postponed due to freezing conditions". BBC Sport. 10 January 2025.
- ^ "The Emirates FA Cup fourth round proper draw has been confirmed". The FA. 12 January 2025.
- ^ "The draw for the Emirates FA Cup fifth round proper has been made". The FA. 10 February 2025.
- ^ "FA Cup 2024/2025: Top Scorer". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ "BBC and FA agree new four-year FA Cup deal" (Press release). London: BBC Sport. 19 March 2019. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023.
- ^ "ITV signs four-year deal to make FA Cup games free-to-air from 2021". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
- ^ "We can now confirm the full schedule for the Emirates FA Cup first round proper". The FA. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ "Emirates FA Cup second round schedule confirmed". The FA. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ "The full schedule for the Emirates FA Cup third round proper has been confirmed". The FA. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ "Find out when our Emirates FA Cup fourth round ties take place and which will be live". The FA. 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.