Emirates FA Cup Predictions

What Makes FA Cup Betting Unique?

Betting on the Emirates FA Cup is truly special due to its storied heritage as the world’s oldest domestic cup competition. With qualifying rounds featuring grassroots and non-league teams right through to Premier League giants, the sheer number of available games and the likelihood of a surprise result, this is one the great competitions to bet on. The recent change to eliminate replays from the first round proper ensures matches are decisive on the day—leading to extra time and penalties when needed—great for match-winner and in-play markets.

How does the FA Cup work?

The 2025/26 Emirates FA Cup begins in early August with six rounds of qualifying, involving several hundred non-league clubs fighting for 32 spots in the First Round Proper. From 1 November 2025, 48 clubs from League One and League Two enter at the first proper round alongside the qualifiers, all rounds from this point are single-leg ties with no replays, so ties level after 90 minutes go straight to extra time and penalties. Premier League and Championship clubs join at the third round in January. The competition continues in knockout-style all the way to the Final at Wembley in May.

When is each stage of FA Cup?

The extra preliminary round gets underway on Saturday 2 August 2025, followed by preliminary and subsequent qualifying rounds spaced roughly every fortnight through early October. The first round proper occurs on Saturday 1 November 2025, the second on 6 December, and the third round proper—when Premier League and Championship clubs enter—on Saturday 10 January 2026. Subsequent rounds are on 14 February (fourth), 7 March (fifth), 4 April (quarter–finals), and 25 April (semi‑finals). The Final takes place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 16 May 2026

When is the FA Cup final - 2025/26?

The 2025/26 FA Cup Final is scheduled for Saturday 16 May 2026 at Wembley Stadium, London. The final takes place on an exclusive weekend with no league fixtures, ensuring full focus on the showpiece event. The winners will also qualify for the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League.

Where to watch the FA Cup Live?

In the United Kingdom, TNT Sports holds exclusive coverage of all matches from the First Round Proper onwards (excluding Saturday 3pm blackout fixtures), streaming them live on TV and via the app. In line with UK regulations, BBC Sport will still show 14 matches free-to-air each season—two per round up to the quarter‑finals, plus one semi-final and the final.

Who has won the FA Cup most often?

Arsenal are the most successful club in FA Cup history, having won the competition 14 times, with their most recent triumph in 2020. Manchester United follow closely with 13 titles, while Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur all have 8 titles. Crystal Palace are the current holders, having claimed their first-ever trophy with a memorable 1–0 win over Manchester City at Wembley in May 2025.