FA Cup Information

The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is the main knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association.

The FA Cup is the oldest football competition in the world, commencing in 1871-72. Because it involves clubs of all standards playing against each other there is great scope for "giant-killers" from the lower divisions to eliminate top clubs from the tournament.

A record 687 teams were accepted into the FA Cup in 2006-2007. In comparison, the League Cup, a lower prestige English football knockout tournament, can involve only the 92 members of the Football League (which organises the competition) and the FA Premier League.