History of the FA Cup Final

The FA Cup, the world’s oldest association football competition, launched
in 1871 as the Challenge Cup. Staged at the iconic Wembley Stadium since 1923 –
with a brief hiatus at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff – the final evokes
memories of triumph and tragedy, famous upsets and the birth of legends,
raucous support and royal acclaim, earning worldwide affection

FA CUP FINAL BY NUMBERS
44
Teams winning FA Cup,
with 13 more reaching final
07
Most titles by player:
Ashley Cole (Arsenal / Chelsea)
05
Most titles by coach:
Arsene Wenger (Arsenal)
07
Most goals in final:
Ian Rush (Liverpool)

FA CUP 2025
745
Teams (653 in qualifying
rounds, 92 main tournament)
14
Rounds of competition,
qualifying to final 
02
Goals scored (122 matches,
excluding qualifying)
374
Non-league teams in Third
Round (Dag & Red, Tamworth)

MOST FA CUP TITLES: 1872-2024

Arsenal		Finals: 21	Last title: 2020	14
Man Utd		22		2024		13
Chelsea		16		2018		8
Liverpool	15		2022		8
Tottenham	9		1991		8
Man City		13		2023		7
Aston Villa	11		1957		7
Newcastle Utd	13		1955		6
Blackburn	8		1928		6
Everton		13		1995		5
West Brom	10		1968		5
Wanderers	5		1878		5

Wanderers, from London, win first ever FA Cup
in 1872 – beating Royal Engineers at Kennington Oval

Other winners: Sheffield Utd, Bolton, Wolves (4), Sheffield Wednesday, West Ham Utd (3),
Six teams with two wins, 21 teams with one win

Emirates FA Cup
Crafted by renowned
luxury silversmiths
Thomas Lyte in
2014. Replica of
earlier trophy,
61.5cm high,
weighing 6.3kg

2025 final:
Crystal Palace
v Man City,
May 17

RECENT FA CUP FINALS

2024	Manchester United	Manchester City		2–1
2023	Manchester City		Manchester United	2–1
2022	Liverpool 		Chelsea			0–0
2021	Leicester City 		Chelsea			1–0
2020	Arsenal 			Chelsea			2–1
2019	Manchester City 		Watford			6–0
2018	Chelsea 			Manchester United	1–0
2017	Arsenal 			Chelsea			2–1
2016	Manchester United 	Crystal Palace		2–1
2015	Arsenal 			Aston Villa		4–0

Wembley Stadium
Capacity: 90,000
New stadium opened
2007 on site of original,
famous twin towers
and boasts 315m
curving arch.
Set to host
matches at
UEFA Euro 2028

Source: FA Cup
Picture: Getty Images
*Penalties 6-5, †After extra time
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