The FA Cup is an annual knockout football competition in England. It is open to any eligible club down to Level 10 of the English football league system. The competition starts with a series of preliminary rounds before the first round proper, which is when League One and League Two teams join the competition.
The 4th round of the FA Cup marks the stage when Premier League and Championship clubs enter the competition. At this stage, there are traditionally 32 clubs left in the tournament.
Quick Answer
In the 2022/23 season, there are 32 clubs competing in the 4th round of the FA Cup.
Clubs by Division
The 32 clubs competing in the 4th round represent the following divisions:
- Premier League: 14 clubs
- Championship: 7 clubs
- League One: 6 clubs
- League Two: 3 clubs
- National League: 2 clubs
Here is a breakdown of the clubs by division:
Premier League
- Arsenal
- Aston Villa
- Brentford
- Brighton & Hove Albion
- Chelsea
- Fulham
- Leeds United
- Leicester City
- Liverpool
- Manchester City
- Manchester United
- Newcastle United
- Southampton
- Tottenham Hotspur
Championship
- Blackburn Rovers
- Burnley
- Millwall
- Norwich City
- Preston North End
- Sheffield United
- West Bromwich Albion
League One
- Bristol Rovers
- Fleetwood Town
- Ipswich Town
- Sheffield Wednesday
- Sunderland
- Walsall
League Two
- Grimsby Town
- Stevenage
- Walsall
National League
- Boreham Wood
- Chesterfield
Clubs Progressing from Previous Rounds
The 32 clubs in the 4th round progressed through the first 3 rounds as follows:
First Round
All clubs from League One and League Two enter in the First Round, along with clubs from the National League and lower divisions. 64 clubs competed in the First Round.
Second Round
The 32 winners from the First Round progressed to the Second Round. Teams from the Championship enter in the Second Round.
Third Round
The 20 winners from the Second Round were joined by the 12 Premier League clubs not involved in European competitions and Championship clubs Cardiff City and West Bromwich Albion. 32 clubs competed in the Third Round.
Geographic Spread of Clubs
The 32 clubs in the 4th round come from across England:
| Region | Number of Clubs |
|---|---|
| London | 6 |
| North West England | 6 |
| West Midlands | 5 |
| South East England | 4 |
| Yorkshire | 3 |
| East Midlands | 2 |
| North East England | 2 |
| South West England | 2 |
| East of England | 1 |
| Isle of Wight | 1 |
This shows the broad geographical representation of clubs from across England in the 4th round of the FA Cup.
Most Common Club Names
There are 3 clubs with ‘United’ in their name in the 4th round:
- Leeds United
- Manchester United
- Sheffield United
There are 2 clubs with ‘City’ in their name:
- Manchester City
- Norwich City
All other club names are unique amongst the 32 participants.
Past 4th Round Results
Here is a look back at the number of clubs competing in the 4th round over the past 5 seasons:
| Season | Number of Clubs |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 32 |
| 2021/22 | 32 |
| 2020/21 | 32 |
| 2019/20 | 32 |
| 2018/19 | 32 |
This shows there have consistently been 32 clubs competing in the 4th round of the FA Cup over the past 5 seasons.
Conclusion
In summary, there are 32 clubs competing in the 4th round of the 2022/23 FA Cup. These clubs come from the Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two and National League. The clubs represent a broad geographical spread across England and have progressed through the early rounds of the competition.
The 4th round sees the entrance of top clubs from the Premier League and Championship as they join lower league clubs who have progressed through the early rounds. 32 clubs at this stage is consistent with the number of participants in the 4th round over recent seasons.
The makeup of clubs in the 4th round reflects the inclusive structure of the FA Cup, with teams from many levels of English football represented. Famous clubs with rich histories in the competition take on lower league opposition hoping to cause an upset. This unique blend of teams is part of what makes the FA Cup so popular.
While the names and divisions of clubs may change from year to year, the 4th round of the FA Cup continues to capture the imagination of football fans. The prospect of underdogs progressing and surprises along the way keep the drama and excitement high at this stage of the competition.
The FA Cup’s 4th round sees new stories and heroes emerge as clubs and players chase the dream of progressing to the next stage. With 32 teams remaining, the prize of reaching Wembley Stadium and FA Cup glory edges closer for those clubs still in the competition.
The 4th round has historically been an important milestone and checkpoint for clubs with ambitions of making a deep run. Making it to the 4th round and beyond requires skill, hard work and sometimes a bit of magic. Each of the 32 clubs remaining will be eager to show they have the formula to navigate their way successfully through the 4th round.
For the lower league clubs, the financial incentives of progressing are also significant. The further a club can advance, the more lucrative the FA Cup run becomes from gate receipts and prize money.
The 32 clubs in 2022/23’s FA Cup 4th round have earned their place at this stage through solid performances in the world’s oldest football competition. Now their sights are set on continuing their journey by winning in the 4th round and confirming their spot in the last 16.
Giant killings, epic replays, dramatic late goals, players becoming heroes – the magic of the FA Cup is alive and well in its 4th round. With 32 teams dreaming of glory, new memories and classic moments are ready to be created as this stage of the competition unfolds.
The 4th round of the FA Cup is always one to savor for players, managers, fans and neutrals alike. The stories, history and tradition woven into this landmark stage help make the FA Cup a sporting event like no other. 32 clubs remain, each eager to advance and become part of the rich lore of the world’s greatest domestic cup competition.
