In 1863, the newly founded Football Association (the FA) published the Laws of the Game of Association Football, unifying the various different rules in use before then. On 20 July … See more

An application window is open to clubs before entry lists, round byes and scheduling are announced in July. All clubs in the top four levels (the Premier League and the three divisions of the English Football League) are automatically eligible. Clubs from … See more

Fixtures in the 12 rounds of the competition are usually played at the home ground of one of the two teams. The semi-finals See more

The winners of the competition receive the FA Cup. It is only loaned to the club by the FA; under the current (2015–16) rules it must be returned by … See more

Overview
Beginning in August, the competition proceeds as a knockout tournament throughout, … See more

European football
The FA Cup winners qualify for the following season's UEFA Europa League (formerly named the UEFA Cup; from its launch in 1960 until 1998, they entered the now-defunct UEFA Cup Winners' Cup instead). This … See more

Each club in the final receives 40 winners or runners-up medals to be distributed among players, staff and officials. The traditional styles of … See more