Editing FA Cup (section)

==Competition format==

===Overview===
Beginning in August, the competition proceeds as a [[knockout tournament]] throughout, consisting of twelve rounds, a semi-final and then a final, in May. A system of byes ensures clubs above level 9 enter the competition at later stages. There is no [[Seed (tennis)|seeding]], the fixtures in each round being determined by a random draw. Fixtures ending in a tie are replayed once only (from the 2024–25 campaign, prior to the first round proper).<ref>{{cite web|title=FA Cup Fifth-Round replays scrapped|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/18/fa-cup-fifth-round-replays-scrapped-this-season|website=www.theguarduan.com|date=18 December 2018 |access-date=18 December 2018|archive-date=18 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218184559/https://amp.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/18/fa-cup-fifth-round-replays-scrapped-this-season|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=FA Cup replays to be scrapped from the first round onwards in 2024-25 |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68844583 |access-date=18 April 2024 |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=18 April 2024}}</ref> The first six rounds are qualifiers, with the draws organised on a regional basis. The next six rounds are the "proper" rounds where all clubs are in one draw.

===Schedule===
All entrants from Level 9 begin the competition in the extra preliminary round, and any Level 10 team filling in for a vacancy.<ref name=":12" /> Teams from Level 8 are ranked on their PPG in the previous season, except newly promoted teams automatically ranked towards the bottom and newly relegated teams ranked to the top; teams are then split between entering at either the Extra-Preliminary or preliminary round so as to ensure the right balance of fixtures throughout the competition.<ref name=":12" /> From there, clubs from higher levels are added in later rounds, as per the table below.

The months in which rounds are played are traditional, with exact dates subject to each calendar. The number of new entries, winners from previous rounds, and division of Level 8 teams in the two preliminary rounds are based on an entry list of 732 modelled on the [[English football league system|English league system]] as of 2022–23. From 2023 to 2024, the entry list could rise to 746 in line with sixteen additional clubs at Level 9, meaning that the extra preliminary round would have 444 teams, with only 50 Level 8 clubs entering at the preliminary round.<ref name=":0" />
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Round<ref name=":12"/>
!Month
!Leagues entering this round<ref name=":12" />
!New entries this round
!Winners from
previous round
!Number of fixtures
|-
|colspan="4"|'''Qualifying Competition'''<ref name=":12"/>
|
|
|-
|Extra preliminary round
|rowspan=2|August
|Any vacancies filled by Level 10
Level 9 clubs

Level 8 clubs (96 lowest ranked)
|416
|
|208
|-
|Preliminary round
|Level 8 clubs (64 highest ranked)
|64
|208
|136
|-
|First round
|rowspan="2"|September
|Level 7 clubs
|88
|136
|112
|-
|Second round
|Level 6 clubs
|48
|112
|80
|-
|Third round
|rowspan="2"|October
|none
|0
|80
|40
|-
|Fourth round
|[[National League (division)|Level 5]] clubs
|24
|40
|32
|-
|colspan="4"|'''Competition Proper'''<ref name=":12"/>
|
|
|-
|First round
|November
|[[EFL League One|Level 3]] and [[EFL League Two|4]] clubs
|48
|32
|40
|-
|Second round
|December
|none
|0
|40
|20
|-
|Third round
|January
|[[Premier League|Level 1]] and [[EFL Championship|2]] clubs
|44
|20
|32
|-
|Fourth round
|February
| rowspan="5" |none
|0
|32
|16
|-
|Fifth round
| rowspan="2" |March
|0
|16
|8
|-
|Quarter-finals
|0
|8
|4
|-
|[[FA Cup semi-finals|Semi-finals]]
|April
|0
|4
|2
|-
|[[FA Cup Final|Final]]
|May
|0
|2
|1
|}
The qualifying rounds are regionalised to reduce the travel costs for smaller non-league sides. The first and second proper rounds were also previously split into Northern and Southern sections, but this practice was ended after the [[1997–98 FA Cup|1997–98 competition]]. {{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

The final is normally held the Saturday after the [[Premier League]] season finishes in May. The only seasons in recent times when this pattern was not followed were: [[1999–2000 in English football|1999–2000]], when most rounds were played a few weeks earlier than normal as an experiment; [[2010–11 in English football|2010–11]] and [[2012–13 in English football|2012–13]] when the FA Cup Final was played before the Premier League season had finished, to allow [[Wembley Stadium]] to be ready for the [[UEFA Champions League]] final,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2011/mar/06/fa-cup-final-manchester-derby |title=Tarnished FA Cup needs a Manchester derby's drama |work=The Guardian |date=6 March 2011 |location=London |first=Paul |last=Wilson |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-date=5 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305042325/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2011/mar/06/fa-cup-final-manchester-derby |url-status=live }}</ref> and in [[2011–12 in English football|2011–12]] to allow [[England national football team|England]] time to prepare for that summer's [[UEFA Euro 2012|European Championships]];<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/12/2012-fa-cup-final-premier-league |title=No escape for 2012 FA Cup final from date clash with Premier League |work=The Guardian |date=12 May 2011 |location=London |first=Owen |last=Gibson |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-date=5 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305041039/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/12/2012-fa-cup-final-premier-league |url-status=live }}</ref> [[2019–20 in English football|2019–20]] when the final was delayed until August due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/may/29/fa-cup-final-to-be-held-on-1-august-with-quarter-finals-resuming-on-27-june-football |title=FA Cup final to be held on 1 August with quarter-finals resuming on 27 June |work=The Guardian |date=29 May 2020 |access-date=17 July 2020 |archive-date=17 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717075139/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/may/29/fa-cup-final-to-be-held-on-1-august-with-quarter-finals-resuming-on-27-june-football |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/52726943 |title=Watch: 2006 FA Cup Final Rewind – Liverpool win FA Cup on penalties |website=BBC Sport |quote=Today should have been FA Cup final day |date=23 May 2020 |access-date=9 September 2020 |archive-date=13 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613143834/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/52726943 |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[2021–22 in English football|2021-22]] when the final was held a week before the end of the league. The [[2024-25 in English football|2025 Final]] is also scheduled to take place the week before the end of the league.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68844583 |title=FA Cup replays to be scrapped from the first round onwards in 2024-25 |website=BBC Sport |date=18 April 2024| access-date=27 September 2024 }}</ref>

===Draws===
The draws for the Extra Preliminary, Preliminary, and first qualifying rounds used to all occur at the same time. Thereafter, the draw for each subsequent round is not made until after the scheduled dates for the previous round, meaning that in the case of replays, clubs will often know their future opponents in advance.

The draw for each of the proper rounds is broadcast live on television, usually taking place at the conclusion of live coverage of one of the games of the previous round. Public interest is particularly high during the draw for the third round, which is where the top-ranked teams are added to the draw.

===Tiebreaking===
Until 2024-25, rounds up to and including the fourth round proper, fixtures resulting in a draw (after normal time) went to a [[replay (sports)|replay]], played at the venue of the away team, at a later date; if that replay was still tied, the winner was settled by a period of [[overtime (sports)|extra time]], and if still necessary, a [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shootout]]. Since [[2016–17 FA Cup|2016–17]], ties have been settled on the day from the quarter-finals onwards, using extra time and penalties. From [[2018–19 FA Cup|2018–19]], Fifth round ties have also been settled by extra time and penalties. Beginning with the [[2024–25 FA Cup|2024–25]] competition, replays have been scrapped from the first round onwards.<ref>{{cite web |last=MacInnes |first=Paul |date=18 April 2024 |title=FA Cup replays and Premier League winter break scrapped from next season |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/apr/18/fa-cup-replays-and-premier-league-winter-break-scrapped-from-next-season |website=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |access-date=18 April 2024}}</ref> The decision to scrap replays received criticism from a number of lower-tier clubs and government officials.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 April 2024 |title='All parties accepted' replays should stop - FA |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68856480 |access-date=22 April 2024 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Until [[1990–91 FA Cup|1990–91]], further replays would be played until one team was victorious. In [[1971–72 FA Cup|1971–72]], a [[1971–72 FA Cup qualifying rounds#Fourth qualifying round|fourth qualifying round]] game between [[Alvechurch F.C.|Alvechurch]] and [[Oxford City F.C.|Oxford City]] was played six times until Alvechurch won in the fifth replay.<ref>{{cite web |last=Allner |first=Graham |date=21 November 2009 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/nov/21/oxford-city-alvechurch-longest-fa-cup |title=22 November 1971: The longest-ever FA Cup tie finally finishes |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |access-date=4 May 2022 |archive-date=8 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908111307/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/nov/21/oxford-city-alvechurch-longest-fa-cup |url-status=live }}</ref> In their [[1974–75 FA Cup|1975 campaign]], [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] played 12 games over six rounds, which remains the most games played by a team to reach a final.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFACup/History/HistoryOfTheFACup/1975WestHamFulham.aspx |access-date=5 March 2005 |title=Hammers nail Fulham |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 January 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105040811/http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFACup/History/HistoryOfTheFACup/1975WestHamFulham.aspx |publisher=The Football Association}}</ref> Replays were traditionally played three or four days after the original game, but from [[1991–92 FA Cup|1991–92]] they were staged at least 10 days later on police advice for the rounds proper. This led to [[penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shoot-outs]] being introduced, the first of which came on 26 November 1991 when [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]] eliminated [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Penalty shoot-out makes English FA Cup history|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=12JPAAAAIBAJ&pg=6114%2C5540359|newspaper=New Straits Press|location=Kuala Lumpur|page=44|date=28 November 1991|access-date=26 November 2014|archive-date=9 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009060447/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=12JPAAAAIBAJ&pg=6114%2C5540359|url-status=live}}</ref>

From [[1980–81 FA Cup|1980–81]] to [[1998–99 FA Cup|1998–99]], the semi-finals went to extra time on the day if the score after 90 minutes was a draw. If the score was still level after extra time, the match would go to a replay. Replays for the semi-finals were scrapped for [[1999–2000 FA Cup|1999–2000]]; the last semi-final to go into a replay was in 1998–99, when Manchester United beat [[Arsenal F.C.–Manchester United F.C. rivalry|rivals]] Arsenal 2–1 after extra time, following a 0–0 draw in the original match.

The first [[FA Cup Final]] to go to extra time and a replay was the [[1875 FA Cup Final|1875 final]], between the [[Royal Engineers A.F.C.|Royal Engineers]] and the [[Old Etonians F.C.|Old Etonians]]. The initial tie finished 1–1 but the Royal Engineers won the replay 2–0 in normal time. The last replayed final was the [[1993 FA Cup Final]], when Arsenal and [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] fought a 1–1 draw. The replay saw Arsenal win the FA Cup, 2–1 after extra time.

The last quarter-final to go to a replay was Manchester United vs [[West Ham United F.C.|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. It was also the last FA Cup game ever played at the Boleyn Ground.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10295478/fa-cup-quarter-final-replays-to-be-scrapped-from-next-season|title=FA Cup quarter-final replays to be scrapped from next season|first=Mark|last=Ashenden|work=Sky Sports|publisher=Sky UK|date=26 May 2016|access-date=26 May 2016|archive-date=29 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529030744/http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10295478/fa-cup-quarter-final-replays-to-be-scrapped-from-next-season|url-status=live}}</ref>

The last fifth round replay saw [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] defeat [[Rochdale A.F.C.|Rochdale]] 6–1 at Wembley in the [[2017–18 FA Cup]] after the first match at [[Spotland Stadium]] ended in a 2–2 draw.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46607201|title=FA Cup fifth-round replays abolished to ease fixture congestion|publisher=BBC Sport|date=18 December 2018|access-date=9 October 2019|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010193305/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46607201|url-status=live}}</ref>