FA CUP FINAL 2026 tickets

FA Cup Final 2026 – The Road to Wembley

The 2025-26 FA Cup is the 145th edition of the oldest football competition in the world. The road to the FA Cup Final is a long and gruelling journey that begins in August with qualifying rounds and doesn't end until May at Wembley. Hundreds of clubs from across the English football pyramid enter the tournament, but only two will make it to the showpiece final on Saturday 16 May 2026. That achievement alone makes the FA Cup Final one of the most special occasions in the football calendar.

This season has already delivered one of the greatest shocks in FA Cup history. Defending champions Crystal Palace — who won their first ever major trophy by beating Manchester City 1-0 in the 2025 final — were sensationally knocked out in the third round by sixth-tier National League North side Macclesfield. It was the first time in 117 years that a reigning champion was eliminated by a non-league side, a reminder that the FA Cup's magic is alive and well.

Most Important FA Cup Final Statistics & Records

Tournament overview

The FA Cup was first contested in the 1871-72 season, making it the oldest national football competition in the world. What began as a small knockout tournament has grown into one of the most iconic events in global sport. A total of 45 different clubs have lifted the trophy over its remarkable history, ranging from early amateur sides to the modern-day Premier League giants. The only non-English club to win the FA Cup is Cardiff City, who defeated Arsenal 1-0 in the 1927 final — a result that remains one of the great curiosities in English football history.

• First Tournament: 1871-72 season
• Current Holders: Crystal Palace (2025 — their first ever win)
• Total Different Winners: 45 clubs
• Non-English Winner: Cardiff City (1927 — only non-English winner)

Most successful clubs

Arsenal are the undisputed kings of the FA Cup. The Gunners have lifted the trophy a record 14 times, with seven of those victories coming under the management of Arsène Wenger between 1998 and 2017. Manchester United sit just one behind on 13, their most recent title coming in 2024 when they beat rivals Manchester City 2-1 at Wembley. Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur form the next tier with 8 victories each, although Spurs fans have endured a long drought — their last FA Cup triumph dates back to 1991. Arsenal and Manchester United are also tied for the most final appearances with 21 each, underlining their dominance in the competition across different eras.

• Most Wins: Arsenal (14 victories, last in 2020)
• Second Most Wins: Manchester United (13 victories, last in 2024)
• Third Most Wins: Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham (8 victories each)
• Most Final Appearances: Arsenal & Manchester United (21 each)
• Most Final Defeats: Manchester United (9 defeats)

Consecutive victories

Winning the FA Cup once is a major achievement. Defending it successfully is extremely rare. Only two clubs in history have managed three consecutive FA Cup wins: the Wanderers (1876-1878), who dominated the early years of the competition, and Blackburn Rovers (1884-1886). In the modern era, Arsenal are the last club to successfully defend the trophy, winning back-to-back in 2014 and 2015 under Wenger. The Wanderers remain the most dominant force in the competition's infancy, winning five of the first seven tournaments — a feat that will almost certainly never be matched.

• Three Consecutive Wins: Wanderers (1876-1878) & Blackburn Rovers (1884-1886)
• Last Successful Defence: Arsenal (2014-2015)
• First Winners: Wanderers (1872) — won 5 of first 7 tournaments

Individual player records

Ashley Cole holds the modern record for the most FA Cup winners' medals, collecting seven across spells at Arsenal and Chelsea. His career perfectly straddled two Cup dynasties — Wenger's Arsenal in the early 2000s and Chelsea's dominant run from 2007 to 2012. Cole also holds the record for the most FA Cup final appearances by a player in the modern era with eight. Historically, Lord Arthur Kinnaird appeared in nine finals during the competition's early years. The competition's all-time leading scorer is Harry Cursham of Notts County, who netted 49 goals between 1877 and 1891 — a record that has stood for well over a century. In finals specifically, Liverpool legend Ian Rush leads the way with five goals across multiple Wembley appearances.

• Most Wins by Player: Ashley Cole (7 wins — 3 with Arsenal, 4 with Chelsea)
• Most Final Appearances (Modern): Ashley Cole (8 finals)
• Most Final Appearances (Historical): Arthur Kinnaird (9 finals)
• Most FA Cup Goals Overall: Harry Cursham — Notts County (49 goals, 1877-1891)
• Most Final Goals: Ian Rush (5 goals in finals)
• Youngest Final Goal Scorer: Norman Whiteside (18 years, 1983 vs Brighton)
• Oldest Final Player: Billy Hampson (41 years, 257 days — 1924)

Managerial records

Arsène Wenger's seven FA Cup triumphs make him the most successful manager in the history of the competition — a fitting legacy for a man who transformed Arsenal and English football as a whole. Wenger's Cup wins spanned nearly two decades, from 1998 to 2017, and his teams won seven consecutive FA Cup finals during that stretch. George Ramsay of Aston Villa holds second place with six wins, all achieved during the early days of professional football. Sir Alex Ferguson, despite Manchester United's record 21 final appearances under his leadership, won the FA Cup five times — a reminder of how difficult it is to lift the trophy consistently.

• Most Wins by Manager: Arsène Wenger (7 victories with Arsenal, 1998-2017)
• Second Most Wins: George Ramsay (6 wins with Aston Villa)
• Other Notable Managers: Sir Alex Ferguson (5 wins), Thomas Mitchell (4 wins)

Final score records

The FA Cup Final has seen its share of extraordinary scorelines over the years. The record for the biggest victory in a final is 6-0, which has occurred twice: Bury's demolition of Derby County in 1903 and Manchester City's rout of Watford in 2019 — the latter featuring a stunning overhead kick from Raheem Sterling. Three hat-tricks have been scored in FA Cup finals, the most famous belonging to Stan Mortensen in the 1953 final against Bolton. Despite Mortensen scoring three, the match is forever known as "The Matthews Final" in honour of Stanley Matthews, whose mesmerising wing play set up the goals. The fastest goal ever scored in a final came from Louis Saha, who needed just 25 seconds to find the net for Everton against Chelsea in 2009.

• Biggest Final Victory: 6-0 (Bury vs Derby 1903, Manchester City vs Watford 2019)
• Hat-tricks in Finals: 3 total — William Townley (1890), Jimmy Logan (1894), Stan Mortensen (1953 — "The Matthews Final")
• Fastest Final Goal: Louis Saha (25 seconds, 2009)
• First Penalty in Final: Albert Shepherd (1910)

Attendance & venue records

Wembley Stadium has been the spiritual home of the FA Cup Final since 1923, when Bolton Wanderers beat West Ham United in what became known as the "White Horse Final." The official attendance that day was recorded as 126,047, but estimates suggest anywhere between 150,000 and 300,000 fans crammed into the stadium — a chaotic scene that would be unthinkable under today's safety regulations. The old Wembley hosted finals from 1923 to 2000, before being demolished and rebuilt. During the construction period from 2001 to 2006, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff stepped in as the temporary home of the final. Since the new Wembley opened in 2007, the FA Cup Final has been back where it belongs.

• Highest Attendance: 1923 Final (Bolton vs West Ham) — estimated 150,000-300,000 (official: 126,047)
• Main Venues: Wembley Stadium (1923-2000, 2007-present)
• Temporary Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff (2001-2006 during Wembley rebuild)
• Early Venues: Kennington Oval, Crystal Palace, Stamford Bridge

Disciplinary records

The FA Cup Final is usually a showcase of skill and sportsmanship, but it has also produced some memorable disciplinary moments. Kevin Moran of Manchester United became the first player to receive a red card in a final in 1985 — a controversial decision that many felt was harsh. Since then, a total of six players have been sent off in finals. The 2025 final also saw its share of controversy, as Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson escaped what many considered a clear red card for handball outside the area before going on to save Omar Marmoush's penalty. Penalty shoot-outs have been needed in just three finals: Arsenal vs Manchester United in 2005, Liverpool vs West Ham in 2006, and Liverpool vs Chelsea in 2022.

• First Red Card in Final: Kevin Moran (Manchester United, 1985)
• Total Red Cards in Finals: 6 players sent off (1985-2025)
• Penalty Shoot-outs in Finals: 3 occasions (2005, 2006, 2022)

Historic milestones

The FA Cup has been at the forefront of many firsts in English football. The 1927 final between Cardiff City and Arsenal was the first to be broadcast on BBC Radio, bringing the drama of Wembley into living rooms across the nation. Just over a decade later, in 1938, the final was televised for the first time — a landmark moment for British broadcasting. The last FA Cup Final replay took place in 1993, when Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday needed two matches to settle their encounter. Since 1999, drawn finals have been decided on the day, with extra time and penalties replacing replays.

• First Television Broadcast: 1938
• First BBC Radio Broadcast: 1927
• First Wembley Final: 1923 (Bolton vs West Ham — "The White Horse Final")
• Last Replay: 1993 (Arsenal vs Sheffield Wednesday)
• First Non-League Winner: Blackburn Olympic (1883)

Scoring records (all rounds)

While the final tends to produce tight, cagey affairs, the earlier rounds of the FA Cup have seen some truly staggering scorelines. The biggest win in FA Cup history came in 1887, when Preston North End thrashed Hyde 26-0 — a scoreline so extreme it barely seems real. Jimmy Ross scored 19 goals in a single FA Cup campaign for Preston that same season. In the modern era, the most notable giant-killings and thrashings continue to capture the imagination. Marine vs Tottenham in 2021 became the biggest gap in league status ever seen in the competition, with 161 divisions separating the two sides.

• Biggest Win Ever: Preston North End 26-0 Hyde (1887)
• Most Goals in One Season: Jimmy Ross — 19 goals (Preston, 1887-88)
• Post-War Record: Tottenham 13-2 Crewe (1960)
• Modern Record: Shrewsbury 11-2 Marine (1995)

Special achievements

The FA Cup forms part of some of the most celebrated achievements in English football history. Seven clubs have completed the coveted League and FA Cup Double, a feat that was once considered almost impossible. Manchester City took things a step further in 2019, becoming the first English club to complete the domestic treble by winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and EFL Cup in the same season — part of an extraordinary campaign under Pep Guardiola. Chelsea hold the record for the longest unbeaten run in the FA Cup, going 29 matches without defeat before finally losing in 2013.

• Double Winners: 7 clubs have won League & FA Cup in same season
• Domestic Treble: Manchester City (2019 — first English club)
• Longest Unbeaten Run: Chelsea (29 matches, ended 2013)
• Biggest Giant Killing Gap: 161 divisions (Marine vs Tottenham, 2021)

Road to the 2025-26 FA Cup Final

The 2025-26 FA Cup kicked off in August 2025 with the extra preliminary round and winds its way through dozens of rounds before reaching the showpiece final at Wembley on 16 May 2026. Along the way, the magic of the Cup has already produced one of the greatest shocks in the competition's history, with sixth-tier Macclesfield knocking out defending champions Crystal Palace in the third round.

• Extra Preliminary Round: Saturday 2 August 2025
• Preliminary Round: Saturday 16 August 2025
• First Round Qualifying: Saturday 30 August 2025
• Second Round Qualifying: Saturday 13 September 2025
• Third Round Qualifying: Saturday 27 September 2025
• Fourth Round Qualifying: Saturday 11 October 2025
• First Round Proper: Saturday 1 November 2025
• Second Round Proper: Saturday 6 December 2025
• Third Round Proper: Saturday 10 January 2026
• Fourth Round Proper: Saturday 14 February 2026
• Fifth Round Proper: Saturday 7 March 2026
• Quarter Finals: Saturday 4 April 2026
• Semi-Finals: Saturday 25 April 2026
• The Final: Saturday 16 May 2026