View source for FA Cup

==Eligibility==
{{See also|Non-English football clubs in the FA Cup|List of Scottish football clubs in the FA Cup}}
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 Level 5–9 ([[non-league football]]) are also eligible provided they play in either the [[FA Trophy]] or [[FA Vase]] competitions in the current season. All participating clubs must also have a stadium suitable for the competition and [[The Football Association|The Association]] may reject applications at its discretion.<ref name=":12" />

Previously, Level 10 clubs were a prominent feature in early qualifying rounds. The gradual remodelling of the [[National League System]] to a 'perfect' 1–2–4–8–16 system, with a first phase in 2018–19, a final phase in 2021–22 (which included the promotion of 107 clubs), and played to a full quota in 2022–23 has resulted in a larger number of teams playing in Level 7–9.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Promotion & Relegation 2018–19 |url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2018/jun/19/national-league-system-promotion-and-relegation-statement-190618 |access-date=18 August 2022 |publisher=The Football Association |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817165458/https://www.thefa.com/news/2018/jun/19/national-league-system-promotion-and-relegation-statement-190618 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NLS allocation 2021–22 |url=https://www.thefa.com/news/2021/may/18/nls-allocations-20210518 |access-date=18 August 2022 |publisher=The Football Association |archive-date=2 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702151941/https://www.thefa.com/news/2021/may/18/nls-allocations-20210518 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NLS club allocation 2022–23 |url=https://www.thefa.com/news/2022/may/12/national-league-system-nls-club-allocations-2022-23-season-20221205 |publisher=The Football Association |access-date=18 August 2022 |archive-date=16 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616003644/https://www.thefa.com/news/2022/may/12/national-league-system-nls-club-allocations-2022-23-season-20221205 |url-status=live }}</ref> Consequently, for the FA Cup, entries equal the number in tiers 1–9 and is cut off to those below.<ref name=":12" /> Though still able to apply, Level 10 clubs are used as alternatives "subject to availability" in the event of a non/rejected applicant (with vacancies filled by Level 10 applicants with the best [[Points per game|PPG]] (points per game) in the previous league season).<ref name=":12" />

The total number of entries in the FA Cup has changed as [[Non-League football]] has gradually been expanded and reorganised over time. In the [[2004–05 FA Cup|2004–05]] season, 660 clubs entered the competition, beating the long-standing record of 656 from the [[1921–22 FA Cup|1921–22 season]]. In [[2005–06 FA Cup|2005–06]] this increased to 674 entrants, in [[2006–07 FA Cup|2006–07]] to 687, in [[2007–08 FA Cup|2007–08]] to 731 clubs, in [[2008–09 FA Cup|2008–09]] and [[2009–10 FA Cup|2009–10]] to 762.<ref name="record number of entries for 2008/9">{{cite web |title=Everyone's Up For The Cup |url=http://www.thefa.com/NewsAndFeatures |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150416164220/http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/News/2008/Jun/everyones_up_for_the_cup |archive-date=16 April 2015 |access-date=1 October 2020 |publisher=The Football Association}}</ref> The total number of entries has also varied naturally from year-to-year as new clubs form and others dissolve at unequal rates. Though most leagues in the [[National League System]] maintain the same number of teams via reprieves, inevitably entry-level divisions (typically at tier 10) have to be impacted when a club leaves the pyramid.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=National League System Regulations |url=https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/rules-of-the-association/2022-23/individual-sections/23-national-league-system-regulations-v2.ashx |journal=The FA Handbook |publisher=The Football Association |issue=2022–23 |at=para. 5:5–5:6 |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=2 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902025958/https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/rules-of-the-association/2022-23/individual-sections/23-national-league-system-regulations-v2.ashx |url-status=live }}</ref> Therefore, for example, 759 teams entered in [[2010–11 FA Cup|2010–11]], a record 763 in [[2011–12 FA Cup|2011–12]], 758 in [[2012–13 FA Cup|2012–13]], 737 in [[2013–14 FA Cup|2013–14]] and 736 in [[2014–15 FA Cup|2014–15]].<ref name="record number of entries for 2008/9" /> However, since 2021–22, the FA has cut off automatic eligibility to the 10th tier (to appear only subject to availability) and instead set the size of the draw to match the more stable number of teams in Level 1–9.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 July 2021 |title=CLUB LINE-UP AND PRIZE FUND DETAILS FOR THE EMIRATES FA CUP 2021–22 SEASON REVEALED |url=https://www.thefa.com/news/2021/jul/02/20210702-emirates-fa-cup-and-fa-youth-cup-entries-exemptions-prize-fund-details-2021-22-season |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425062013/https://www.thefa.com/news/2021/jul/02/20210702-emirates-fa-cup-and-fa-youth-cup-entries-exemptions-prize-fund-details-2021-22-season |archive-date=25 April 2022 |access-date= |publisher=The Football Association}}</ref> This means that the competition may now see a standardised number of entries from one year to the next.<ref>{{Cite web |title=732 – FA plan to become the permanent number of entries each season |date=2 August 2022 |url=https://facupfactfile.wordpress.com/2022/08/02/fa-cup-2022-23-ep-rd-preview-by-numbers/ |access-date=18 August 2022 |archive-date=14 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814130807/https://facupfactfile.wordpress.com/2022/08/02/fa-cup-2022-23-ep-rd-preview-by-numbers/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This number is currently 732 but could rise to 748 for 2023–24 with plans for a new [[South West Peninsula League|SWPL]] 9th tier division to share the [[South West England|South West]] with the existing [[Western Football League|Western League]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=22 July 2022 |title=PROJECT SOUTH WEST APPROVED BY FA LEAGUES COMMITTEE |url=https://www.swpleague.co.uk/blog-post/updates/ |access-date=18 August 2022 |archive-date=3 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103173259/https://www.swpleague.co.uk/blog-post/updates/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

It is very rare for top clubs to miss the competition, although it can happen in exceptional circumstances. [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] did not defend their title in [[1999–2000 FA Cup|1999–2000]], as they were already in the [[2000 FIFA Club World Championship|inaugural]] [[FIFA Club World Cup|Club World Championship]]. The club stated that entering both tournaments would overload their fixture schedule and make it more difficult to defend their Champions League and Premier League titles. The club claimed that they did not want to devalue the FA Cup by fielding a weaker side. The move benefited United as they received a two-week break and won the [[1999–2000 Premier League|1999–2000 league title]] by an 18-point margin, although they did not progress past the group stage of the Club World Championship. The withdrawal from the FA Cup, however, drew considerable criticism as this weakened the tournament's prestige and [[Alex Ferguson|Sir Alex Ferguson]] later admitted his regret regarding their handling of the situation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/853647.stm |title=Man Utd's FA Cup catastrophe |publisher=BBC News |date=27 July 2000 |access-date=1 March 2012 |archive-date=26 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126025908/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/853647.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premiership/i-regret-manchester-uniteds-fa-cup-pullout-fergie-14583761.html |title=I regret Manchester United's FA Cup pull-out: Fergie |work=The Belfast Telegraph |date=3 December 2009 |access-date=1 March 2012 |archive-date=6 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091206031759/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premiership/i-regret-manchester-uniteds-fa-cup-pullout-fergie-14583761.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/united-underline-cup-withdrawal-742549.html |title=United underline Cup withdrawal |work=The Independent |last=Staniforth |first=Tommy |date=29 October 1999 |access-date=16 May 2011 |location=London |archive-date=27 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027025931/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/united-underline-cup-withdrawal-742549.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Welsh sides that play in English leagues are eligible, although since the creation of the [[Welsh Premier League|League of Wales]] there are only five clubs remaining: [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]], (the only non-English team to win the tournament, in [[1926–27 FA Cup|1927]]), [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]], [[Newport County A.F.C.|Newport County]], [[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]], and [[Merthyr Town F.C. (2010)|Merthyr Town]]. In the early years other teams from Wales, Ireland and Scotland also took part in the competition, with Glasgow side [[Queen's Park F.C.|Queen's Park]] losing the final to [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] in [[1884 FA Cup Final|1884]] and [[1885 FA Cup Final|1885]] before being barred from entering by the [[Scottish Football Association]].

Entries from clubs affiliated to "offshore" associations are also eligible subject to consideration on an annual basis, with special provisions that may apply.<ref name=":12" /> In the [[2013–14 FA Cup|2013–14 season]], the first [[Channel Islands|Channel Island]] club entered the competition when [[Guernsey F.C.]] competed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisisguernsey.com/sport/2013/04/30/lions-in-fa-cup/ |title=Lions in FA Cup |publisher=Guernsey Press |date=30 April 2013 |website=www.thisisguernsy.com |access-date=3 May 2013 |archive-date=15 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015110114/http://www.thisisguernsey.com/sport/2013/04/30/lions-in-fa-cup/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The first game played in the Channel Islands – and thus the southernmost FA Cup tie played – took place on [[2021–22 FA Cup qualifying rounds#Extra preliminary round|7 August 2021]] between [[Jersey Bulls F.C.|Jersey Bulls]] and [[Horsham YMCA F.C.|Horsham YMCA]]. A third club, [[F.C. Isle of Man]], was also eligible to play in [[2022–23 FA Cup qualifying rounds|2022–23]], but, in the end, all Crown Dependency teams either did not appear on the entry list or later withdrew.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History made as FA Cup returns |url=https://www.thefa.com/competitions/thefacup |access-date=18 August 2022 |archive-date=18 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818002119/https://www.thefa.com/competitions/thefacup |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jersey Bulls Withdraw |date=6 July 2022 |url=https://bulls.je/jersey-bulls-withdraw-from-fa-cup/ |access-date=18 August 2022 |archive-date=15 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815030552/https://bulls.je/jersey-bulls-withdraw-from-fa-cup/ |url-status=live }}</ref>