FA Cup Predictions & Betting tips
Why is the FA Cup so special?
The Football Association Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the FA Cup, is the oldest annual knockout competition in the world of football. The tournament was first held in the 1871/72 season, as has been held every year since (with the exception of WWI and WWII disruptions). The first ever FA Cup Final was held at the Kensington Oval cricket ground in London, where Wanderers FC (dissolved in 1887) claimed the first of their six FA Cup victories. The League and Cup double has long since been a major target for English teams, a feat which was first accomplished by Preston North End in 1888.
Since 1923 the FA Cup final has been held at Wembley Stadium in London, with the exception of a six year spell at the Millenium Stadium during renovations. Arsenal hold the record for the most FA Cup titles won by a club (13), closely followed by Manchester United (12).
In addition to being the oldest club competition in football, the FA Cup is open to teams from the Premier League all the way down to Level 10 of the English football pyramid.. The record entry was 763 clubs during the 2011/12 season, while the most rounds that a team would have to play before winning the trophy would be 14. 736 teams were involved in last season's edition of the competition, a figure which is unlikely to changes too drastically for the 142nd edition of the tournament. Each of these sides will hope to become 'giant-killers' and beat one of the top-teams in English football - the possibility of surprise upsets is the hallmark of the FA Cup. In the past some of the biggest shocks that have occurred include Hereford's victory over Newcastle United,
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FA Cup Format
The competition begins with the Extra Preliminary Round which is being played on August 6. There are six qualifying rounds with non-league sides entering at different stages. The fourth qualifying round take place on October 15 with the top National League clubs all entering. When this round is completed, then we know the non-league clubs who will play in the first round proper. That's when sides from League One and League Two enter.
The Premier League and Championship teams enter at the third round stage. They will be joined by the 20 qualifiers from the first two rounds of the competition. The FA Cup Third Round draw is one of the most anticipated events of the season, particularly if a non-League team has reached this stage.
This Third Round is always played at the start of January after which two more rounds are played until eight teams are left in the final phases of the competition in March. Due to worries over fixture congestion, there are no replays now. Games go into extra time if level after 90 minutes, then if still a stalemate it's time for a penalty shoot-out. The semi-finals are both played at Wembley as is the final.
The winner of the cup will qualify for next season's Europa Conference League (unless the team secures a European qualifying spot in the Premier League), and will go on to play the Premier League Champions in the Community Shield at Wembley, which is usually held in August the week before the start of the next football season.
Dates for Your Diary
- Semi-Finals - April 22/23
- Final - June 3
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2022/23 FA Cup predictions
Although clubs tend to play weakened line-ups, the FA Cup is regularly won by the top teams in the Premier League. The last major shock was when Wigan Athletic beat Manchester City to win the 2012/13 FA Cup final but a few days later were relegated from the Premier League.
This is the only domestic competition that Manchester City don't dominate. They last won the FA Cup in the 2018/19 season and before that 2010/11. Chelsea have a strong record in the FA Cup but made some unwelcome history last season. They lost in the final to Liverpool, becoming the first team to lose in three successive finals. Liverpool are the cup holders but their win last season was the first since the 2005/06 season. They were knocked out by Brighton in the fourth round this year, so we're guaranteed a new club winning the trophy this season.
Arsenal have won four of the last 10 FA Cups and have 14 wins overall. Manchester United last won the FA Cup in the 2015/16 season and Tottenham in 1991. Newcastle are the last team not based in London to win the cup in two successive seasons and that was in 1951 and 1952. The last five winners of the competition have been
- 2022 - Liverpool
- 2021: Leicester City
- 2020 - Arsenal
- 2019 - Manchester City
- 2018 - Chelsea
Historically, upsets were a lot more common in the FA Cup, with the likes of then Division Two (now the Championship) clubs Sunderland and Southampton winning the competition in 1973 and 1976 respectively. Nowadays, such surprises have become much less common, and for this reason the tournament is largely falling out of favour with the English public. Still, the draw can be decisive in this competition - top teams can be drawn against each other and shocks can happen. It's not often the final is contested by two teams outside of the top six, but stranger things have happened in the FA Cup.
This season has seen four sides from outside the Premier League reach the last eight. One side from outside the top flight is guaranteed to reach Wembley as you'll see from the draw.
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Semi Finals Draw
- Brighton and Hove Albion v Manchester United
- Manchester United v Sheffield United
Quarter Final Results
- Manchester City 6 Burnley 0
- Sheffield United 3 Blackburn Rovers 2
- Brighton and Hove Albion 5 Grimsby Town 0
- Manchester United 3 Fulham 1
Fifth Round results
Southampton 1 Grimsby Town 2
Leicester City 1 Blackburn Rovers 2
Stoke City 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 1
Sheffield United 1 Tottenham 0
Fulham 2 Leeds United 0
Bristol City 0 Manchester City 3
Manchester United 3 West Ham United 1
The fifth round saw several shocks. Three Premier League clubs were knocked out by EFL clubs with League Two Grimsby Town providing the biggest shock. They won 2-1 at Premier League Southampton after beating Luton in the last round. Blackburn won at Leicester and Sheffield United beat Tottenham at home.
Fourth Round results
- Preston 0 Tottenham 3
- Southampton 2 Blackpool 1
- Wrexham 2 Sheffield United 2 - United won replay 3-1
- Ipswich Town 0 Burnley 0 - Burnley won the replay 2-1
- Manchester United 3 Reading 1
- Luton Town 2 Grimsby Town 2 - Grimsby won the replay 3-0
- Derby County 0 West Ham United 2
- Stoke City 3 Stevenage 1
- Blackburn Rovers 2 Birmingham City 2 - Blackburn won the replay 1-0
- Walsall 0 Leicester City 1
- Sheffield Wednesday 1 Fleetwood Town 1 - The replay was won 1-0 by Fleetwood Town
- Manchester City 1 Arsenal 0
- Bristol City 3 West Bromwich Albion 0
- Brighton and Hove Albion 2 Liverpool 1
- Fulham 1 Sunderland 1
- Accrington Stanley 1 Leeds United 3
Latest FA Cup Odds
Manchester City are now odds-on to win the FA Cup. They take on Championship side Sheffield United in the semi-finals. The other semi-final is an all Premier League clash between Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester United. That's a repeat of the 1983 FA Cup final. The bookmakers believe it'll be a Manchester derby in the final. Here are the latest odds:
- Manchester City, odds of 1.67
- Manchester United, odds of 3.50
- Brighton and Hove Alblon, odds of 6.50
- Sheffield United, odds of 34.00
Odds taken from bet365.co.uk, www.vbet.co.uk and William Hill.co.uk.
Our FA Cup Predictions of the moment
There are no previews at the moment for this competition
FA Cup: best odds
2.84
3.65
2.61
1.18
9.7
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