Fa Cup

WEB FA statement on changes to the Emirates FA Cup

The Football Association has announced the following changes to the Emirates FA Cup:

Format changes:

The first round will be reduced from 392 to 384 teams, with 16 teams now receiving byes into the second round. This will reduce the number of matches in the first round and give more teams a chance to progress to the later stages of the competition.

Prize money:

The prize money will be increased for all rounds of the competition, with the winners of the final receiving £1.8 million. This will make the Emirates FA Cup one of the most lucrative cup competitions in the world.

Broadcast coverage:

The BBC will continue to broadcast live matches from the Emirates FA Cup, with a minimum of four matches per round being shown live on BBC One and BBC Two. The BBC will also provide highlights and analysis of the competition on its website and social media channels.

Ticketing:

Ticket prices for the Emirates FA Cup will be frozen for the next three seasons. This will make it more affordable for fans to attend matches and support their teams.

The Football Association is confident that these changes will make the Emirates FA Cup even more exciting and competitive. The competition is more than 150 years old and is one of the most prestigious cup competitions in the world.