FA Cup tickets and match breaks

FA Cup tickets: the oldest football competition in the world

First contested in 1871/72, the FA Cup is the oldest football competition still played anywhere — and in more than 150 years the format has barely changed: one match, no seedings, the winner goes through. Twelve British sides entered the first edition; several others withdrew because they could not afford the travel. The very first four ties were all played on 11 November 1871, and the first final followed the next spring at Kennington Oval, where Wanderers beat the Royal Engineers 1-0.

Third-round weekend in January — when the Premier League clubs enter and are drawn against sides from four or five divisions below — remains the single best date in the English football calendar. Both semi-finals and the final are played at Wembley.

Buying FA Cup tickets through us

We supply tickets for cup ties at the clubs we cover, from the third round onwards, either on their own or together with a hotel in the host city. For visitors from Scandinavia, the Benelux countries, Ireland and elsewhere in the UK, cup weekends are usually the easiest way into a ground that is sold out for the entire league season — and often at a fraction of the league price.

• Tickets for cup ties at the clubs we cover, from the third round to the semi-finals
• Hotels in the host city, or in London for the Wembley rounds, chosen for their transport links to the ground
• Tickets on their own or as a complete package with accommodation, groups welcome

The FA Cup record holders

Arsenal hold the record with 14 titles. Manchester United have lifted English football's most prestigious cup 13 times, most recently in 2024, while Chelsea and Liverpool have eight wins apiece — the Reds also won the final in the anniversary year of 2022.

Wembley and the great crowds

The FA Cup was once the biggest sporting event on earth. The 1913 final at Crystal Palace drew 121,000 people, a world record at the time. In 1923, when the final moved to Wembley for the first time, the crowd was larger still — estimates run to 200,000, and no official figure exists to this day. Wembley has staged the final ever since, interrupted only between 2001 and 2006, when the stadium was rebuilt and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff took over.

Finals people still talk about

The "Miracle of Wembley" in 1973, when second-division Sunderland beat Leeds United. Don Revie's side, with Billy Bremner, Norman Hunter and Eddie Gray, were considered the best team in England and lost 1-0.

The 1988 final between Wimbledon and Liverpool, still known as "Crazy Gang versus Culture Club": a rough, uncompromising Wimbledon against a Liverpool side of Alan Hansen, John Aldridge and John Barnes. Wimbledon won 1-0 through Lawrie Sanchez, who in 2001 went on to manage lower-league Wycombe Wanderers to another famous upset.

In 1990 came the longest final in the competition's history: Manchester United and Crystal Palace drew 3-3, with United winning the replay 1-0 five days later.

2005 brought the first final decided on penalties, in Cardiff, where Arsenal beat Manchester United 5-4 thanks to German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann — Paul Scholes was the only United player to miss. A year later Liverpool's Pepe Reina saved two spot-kicks in the shoot-out against West Ham United.

The first winners at the new Wembley were Chelsea in 2007, Didier Drogba settling it 1-0 against Manchester United in extra time. And in 2013 Wigan Athletic beat Manchester City 1-0 — the first second-tier winners since 1980.

How the competition works

The FA Cup begins in August with qualifying rounds for non-league and lower-division clubs. EFL sides enter at the first round proper, Premier League clubs at the third round in January, traditionally during the league's winter break. Then follow the fourth and fifth rounds, the quarter-finals, the semi-finals at Wembley and the final in May. Replays have been abolished: ties are settled on the day through extra time and penalties.

Fixture dates move — plan for it

Cup ties are drawn only a few weeks in advance and then scheduled for television, occasionally shifting by a day or two. If you are building a trip around a specific tie, contact us straight after the draw and book flexible flights. We tell you in the offer what is already confirmed.

For league fixtures, see our Premier League and Championship pages.

How to book

Tell us the tie, your travel dates and how many tickets you need — we will come back with a firm offer.