FA Cup Winner Predictions, Betting Odds, Picks 2023/24

The FA Cup is third on the list of priorities for major English sides, behind the Premier League and the Champions League. It is the equivalent of the Copa del Rey in Spain and the DFB-Pokal in Germany.

The FA Cup is more important than the EFL Cup, largely due to its longer history and all-round prestige. However, the FA Cup used to be more significant in decades gone by than it is today.

Throughout the tournament, FA Cup games are one leg. Before the fifth round, any matches that are drawn are replayed once. From the quarter-finals onwards, a tied match goes to extra time and, if necessary, penalties.

‘FA’ stands for Football Association, which is the name of the governing body of English soccer. The full name of the competition is the Football Association Challenge Cup.

Before the competition proper begins, a qualifying competition determines the teams that will join those from the bottom two divisions of the Football League in round one.

The first round of the FA Cup usually starts in November and contains 24 teams from League One, 24 from League Two, and those who successfully progressed from the qualifying competition.

The 44 sides that make up the Premier League and Championship enter in the third round, which comprises 32 matches. 

Up until the semi-finals, FA Cup games are held at the ground of the team that is drawn at home. The semi-finals and the final both take place at Wembley Stadium in north London.

The FA Cup final can end in a draw after 90 minutes. If the scores are level at that point, an additional period of 30 minutes – known as ‘extra time’ – is played. If there is still nothing separating the teams, a penalty shoot-out decides the winner.

The winner of the FA Cup receives the FA Cup trophy, although they must return it by March 1 of the following year. The club is also awarded 40 medals to be distributed to players and staff, and £2 million for triumphing in the final.

The FA Cup winners will also qualify for the group stage of the next edition of the Europa League, unless they have already done so via their league position.

Soccer fans based in the United States can watch the FA Cup on ESPN.