The FA Cup is one of the most prestigious football competitions in England and the world. As the oldest football competition in the world, dating back to 1871, the FA Cup captures the imagination of fans across the country. But with over 700 clubs entering the competition every year, how many rounds must a club navigate to reach the final at Wembley?
Quick Answers
There are 6 rounds in total that make up the FA Cup from the Extra Preliminary Round through to the Final. This includes:
- Extra Preliminary Round
- Preliminary Round
- First Round Qualifying
- Second Round Qualifying
- Third Round Qualifying
- Fourth Round Qualifying
- First Round Proper
- Second Round Proper
- Third Round Proper
- Fourth Round Proper
- Fifth Round Proper
- Quarter-Finals
- Semi-Finals
- Final
So in total, there are 14 rounds to navigate for non-league teams to have a chance of FA Cup glory.
Explanation of the Early Rounds
The FA Cup begins in August each year with the Extra Preliminary Round. This round involves the very lowest ranked clubs, typically from Level 9 and 10 of the English football league system. This allows even the smallest semi-professional and amateur clubs to get a taste of the world’s oldest cup competition.
The next round is the Preliminary Round in late August/early September. Clubs that progress from the Extra Preliminary Round enter at this stage, along with teams from Level 8 of the football pyramid.
First Round Qualifying takes place in September. At this stage the sides from Level 7 and some from Level 6 join the competition.
Second Round Qualifying occurs in October, with more teams from Level 6 entering.
Third Round Qualifying takes place in October, with sides from Level 5 entering.
The Fourth Round Qualifying completes the qualifying phase in October, with teams from Level 4 taking part for the first time.
When Do the Football League Sides Enter?
The First Round Proper marks the entry point for English Football League clubs. This takes place in November and is when things really start to heat up in the FA Cup.
League Two and Conference Premier sides enter in the First Round Proper, which amounts to 80 clubs at this stage.
The Second Round Proper occurs in December, with teams advancing from the previous round. At this stage League One sides also enter the fray.
By the Third Round Proper, things are really starting to get serious. This is the stage when Premier League and Championship clubs enter the competition in early January.
With 64 clubs making it to the Third Round Proper, this is when giant killings and cup upsets start to take place as lower league sides get the chance to take on English football’s elite.
The Business End of the FA Cup
The Fourth Round Proper takes place towards the end of January and the early stages of February. With 32 teams remaining, the stakes are getting higher and a place in the Fifth Round is on the line.
The Fifth Round sees 16 teams battle it out for a place in the quarter-finals in late February.
The quarter-final stage provides high drama in March as 8 teams remain just one step from Wembley.
April sees the semi-finals take place at Wembley Stadium, adding to the sense of occasion and history, as the finalists emerge from the last 4 teams left.
The showpiece FA Cup Final caps off months of competition, taking place in May at Wembley Stadium. This is when the FA Cup winner is finally crowned after starting from the Extra Preliminary Round the previous summer.
FA Cup Rounds Summary
To summarize, here are the 14 rounds that make up the FA Cup:
| Round | Month |
|---|---|
| Extra Preliminary Round | August |
| Preliminary Round | August/September |
| First Round Qualifying | September |
| Second Round Qualifying | October |
| Third Round Qualifying | October |
| Fourth Round Qualifying | October |
| First Round Proper | November |
| Second Round Proper | December |
| Third Round Proper | January |
| Fourth Round Proper | Late January/Early February |
| Fifth Round Proper | February |
| Quarter-Finals | March |
| Semi-Finals | April |
| Final | May |
Conclusion
In total, there are 14 rounds that make up the FA Cup, from the hundreds of amateur clubs entering in the Extra Preliminary Round to the two finalists who emerge at Wembley Stadium in May. This mammoth competition gives over 700 teams the dream of possible FA Cup success every season. After 9 grueling qualifying rounds for non-league clubs, the introduction of professional league clubs from November onwards provides added excitement. The Third Round Proper marks the joining of Premier League giants in early January, making cup upsets even more possible. After nearly 300 matches throughout the season, one lucky team gets to lift the historic FA Cup trophy aloft as the culmination of this national institution.
