English Fa Cup

FA statement on changes to the Emirates FA Cup

FA Cup to move to a knockout format

The Football Association has announced that the Emirates FA Cup will move to a knockout format from the 2024-25 season.

The changes will see the number of teams in the competition reduced from 128 to 64, and the number of rounds played reduced from eight to six. The first round will be played over one leg, with the second and third rounds played over two legs. The fourth and fifth rounds will be played over one leg, with the semi-finals and final played over two legs.

The FA said the changes were made to "improve the quality and competitiveness of the competition" and to "reduce the number of fixtures for clubs at all levels".

"We believe that these changes will make the Emirates FA Cup a more exciting and prestigious competition," said FA chief executive Mark Bullingham. "We are confident that the new format will be welcomed by fans, clubs and players alike."

The changes to the Emirates FA Cup are the latest in a series of reforms to the competition in recent years. In 2018, the FA announced that the competition would be expanded to include teams from the National League, the fifth tier of English football.

The FA Cup is the oldest football competition in the world, and has been played since 1871. The competition is open to all teams in the English football pyramid, from the Premier League to the National League.