About our FA Cup news
Latest news on FA Cup, providing comprehensive coverage of fixtures, results, draws, teams, TV rights, and the oldest knockout football competition in England.
The FA Cup, officially known as the Emirates FA Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the oldest national football competition in the world, dating back to 1871. The 2024-25 season marks the 144th edition of this prestigious tournament, with 745 teams participating across the qualifying and main competition phases. Manchester United were the defending champions after winning their 13th title last season, but were eliminated by Fulham in the fifth round after a penalty shootout.
As of early March 2025, the competition has reached the quarter-final stage with eight teams vying for a place at Wembley Stadium. Premier League sides dominate the remaining fixtures, with Manchester City, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Brighton & Hove Albion, Nottingham Forest, and Bournemouth all still in contention. Championship outfit Preston North End stands as the lowest-ranked team left in the tournament, hoping to cause an upset against top-flight opposition.
This season has introduced significant changes to the historic competition, with replays scrapped for all proper rounds for the first time in a non-pandemic season. The final is also scheduled one week before the end of the Premier League campaign, a departure from tradition due to the expanded UEFA competitions putting pressure on the domestic calendar. Despite these changes, the tournament continues to capture the imagination of football fans, with Josh Magennis of Exeter City currently leading the scoring charts with six goals.
The FA Cup's rich heritage as a giant-killing platform remains evident this season. Plymouth Argyle's shock 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the fourth round at Home Park stands among the notable upsets, while the heroic runs of lower-league sides like Tamworth (National League North) and Kettering Town (Southern League Premier Division Central) captured headlines before their eventual eliminations in the third and second rounds respectively.
BBC Sport and ITV Sport continue to provide comprehensive coverage of the competition, with both broadcasters showing live matches throughout the tournament. The quarter-finals, scheduled for 29-30 March, will see Brighton face Nottingham Forest, Fulham take on Crystal Palace, Preston welcome Aston Villa, and Bournemouth host tournament favourites Manchester City, with all four matches broadcast live across the two networks.
Our NewsNow feed on the FA Cup brings you constant updates on all the latest developments, from match reports and injury news to managerial comments and tournament history. Whether you're tracking your club's progress through the competition or simply enjoying the unique magic that only the FA Cup can deliver, our feed ensures you won't miss any of the drama as the road to Wembley unfolds towards the final on 17 May.