Editing FAI Cup (section)

== Eligibility ==
44 clubs compete in the FAI Cup – 20 [[League of Ireland]] teams and 24 non-league teams.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Fixtures confirmed for 2025 Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup First Round |url=https://www.fai.ie/latest/fixtures-confirmed-2025-sports-direct-mens-fai-cup-first-round/ |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=www.fai.ie |language=en}}</ref> All clubs in the League of Ireland are automatically eligible. Clubs from [[Non-League football|non-league football]] (levels 3–12 on the [[Republic of Ireland football league system|Republic of Ireland league system]]) are also eligible provided they qualify from either the [[FAI Intermediate Cup]] or [[FAI Junior Cup]] competitions in the current season. All participating clubs must also have a stadium suitable for the competition.

The total number of entries in the FAI Cup has changed as [[Non-League football]] has gradually been expanded and reorganised over time. In the [[2022 FAI Cup|2022]] season, 39 clubs entered the competition. It is very rare for top clubs to miss the competition, although it can happen in exceptional circumstances. For the [[2024 FAI Cup|2024 season]], 40 clubs competed in the competition. The format was also altered slightly, with the preliminary rounds being merged into the first round and the League of Ireland teams entering the competition in the second round.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=11 April 2024 |title=FAI Cup sees format change with updated first round |url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/33331/fai-cup-sees-format-change-updated-first-round/ |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=extratime.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Preliminary Round of Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup now to be held as competition's First Round |url=https://www.fai.ie/latest/preliminary-round-sports-direct-mens-fai-cup-now-be-held-competitions-first-round/ |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=www.fai.ie |language=en}}</ref> The number of clubs increased ahead of the [[2025 FAI Cup|2025 season]], with all 8 quarter-finalists from the FAI Junior Cup now eligible, increasing the total number of entries to 44 clubs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 April 2025 |title=2025 FAI Cup {{!}} #6 |url=https://foot.ie/threads/298018-2025-FAI-Cup |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=foot.ie}}</ref>

Northern Irish sides that play in Republic of Ireland leagues are eligible. There is only one club currently competing: [[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]].

===Eligibility for the FAI Cup===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Lvl
!Competition
!Entering cup at
!No. of clubs
|-
|1
|[[League of Ireland Premier Division]]
|Second Round
|All 10 teams qualify automatically
|-
|2
|[[League of Ireland First Division]]
|Second Round
|All 10 teams qualify automatically
|-
|3–6
|[[FAI Intermediate Cup]]
|First Round
|All 4th Round/Last 16 teams
|-
|7–12
|[[FAI Junior Cup]]
|First Round
|All 8 quarter-finalists qualify
|}

'''Source:'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=FAI Men’s Cup – Soccer |url=https://www.finalwhistle.ie/soccer/fai-cup/ |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=www.finalwhistle.ie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=FAI Men’s Intermediate Cup – Soccer |url=https://www.finalwhistle.ie/soccer/fai-intermediate-cup/ |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=www.finalwhistle.ie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=FAI Men’s Junior Cup – Soccer |url=https://www.finalwhistle.ie/soccer/fai-junior-cup/ |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=www.finalwhistle.ie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=FAI Cup {{!}} Results |url=https://www.fai.ie/competitions/sports-direct-mens-fai-cup/results/ |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=www.fai.ie |language=en}}</ref>