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The FA Cup

The FA Cup, organized by the Football Association, is the oldest football competition in the world. The Cup has been around since season 1871, where Wanderers won over Royal Engineers which was held at Kennington Oval with 2,000 spectators. (see winners list)

2007 FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium

The competition is open to clubs across all levels of English football, from top-tier Premier League teams to amateur sides, it features a knockout format. Matches are decided in single rounds, with replays in some cases.

Renowned for its "giant-killing" moments, where lower-division teams defeat elite clubs, the FA Cup culminates in a prestigious final at Wembley Stadium.

Scottish and Irish teams competed in the early years of the competition. Welsh teams frequently take part in the competition. A team from Wales won the 1927 Cup and reached the final in 2008.

From the beginning of the Cup until 1993, when a match finished in a draw, they would replay the match up to a total of six times. In 1993, the Football Association decided that future finals will be decided on the spot, putting the Cup Final replays to an end. A draw at the end of normal time will be followed by two 15-minute extra times. If the scores are still tied, a penalty shootout settles which team will be victors of the Cup Final.

More FA Cup Information

• FA Cup Winners List
• FA Cup History
• FA Cup Trivia
• FA Cup Trophy - the current FA Cup trophy, a silver cup, is the 5th version of the FA Cup.
• FA Cup Venues
• FA Cup Quiz
• FA Cup Results: 2024, 2025

Related Pages

• More Major Football Events
• Other major world sporting events
• About Sport in England

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