The FA Cup is a non-seeded, open knockout tournament open to English and Welsh football teams. To learn all about FA Cup betting and how you can get involved, read our guide to below for the latest odds and betting tips, as well as what the most popular betting markets are!
- FA Cup Fixtures & Results
- How Does the FA Cup Work?
- Best Sites we Recommend for Football FA Cup Betting
- Best FA Cup Betting Sites – Top 10 Ranked
- 2022 FA Cup Betting Odds
- FA Cup 2021/22 Upcoming Key Dates
- FA Cup Betting Predictions
- Strategic FA Cup Betting Tips
- Popular FA Cup Betting Markets
- History of the FA Cup
- The Importance of FA Cup Betting Stats
- Upcoming Sporting Events
- FA Cup Betting FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
FA Cup Fixtures & Results
| 2nd Round Replays | ||
|---|---|---|
| 19:45 (GMT) |
Stockport County Charlton Athletic |
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How Does the FA Cup Work?
The FA Cup is open to all eligible clubs down to Level 10 of the English football league. This includes all 92 professional clubs in the Premier League and the English Football League, including some teams from Wales, as well as non-League teams.
The competition consists of 12 randomly drawn rounds, followed by the Semi-Finals and the Final. Entrants are not seeded, although a system of byes based on league level ensures higher ranked teams enter in later rounds.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how this works, round by round. This explanation is based on how it works typically each year, so do keep in mind that in the current FA Cup tournament, many of these rounds have already taken place and will not be available for FA Cup betting.
- The first six rounds are the Qualifying Competition, where 32 teams move on to the first round of the FA Cup Proper. At this stage, they are pooled with the first 48 professional teams from Leagues One and Two.
- The second round features the 40 winners from the first round, with the 20 winners heading into round three. Teams from the Premier League and the Championship enter in round three, which typically takes place in early January. Home advantage is determined by the draw, and tied matches go to a replay at the away team’s ground.
- All remaining rounds work under simple knock-out rules. We go through 32 teams in round four, 16 in round 5, and as is typical, 8 for the semi-final, and 4 for the quarter final. The ultimate showdown should take place at the historic Wembley Stadium.
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#1
 bet365
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#2
Paddy Power
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18+ New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using cards or Apple Pay will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. Paddy's Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#3
 Betfair
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#4
 Betfred
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• New UK customers only. Register using the promo code BETFRED60, deposit, and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative price Evens+) within 7 days of registration. • First bet must be on Sports. £20 in Free Bets to be used on Sports, £10 in Free Bets to be used on Lotto, and 50 Free Spins (20p per spin) credited within 48 hours of bet settlement. • Further £20 in Free Bets credited 5 days after settlement. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#5
BetVictor
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#6
Sportingbet
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#7
The Pools
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#8
 William Hill
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#9
Netbet
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#10
SBK
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New UK, IE & Malta users only. Min. £10/€10 first deposit only using Debit Card or Trustly. Free bets expire in 90 days. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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Best FA Cup Betting Sites – Top 10 Ranked
#01 bet365
#02 Paddy Power
#03 Betfair
#04 Betfred
#05 BetVictor
#06 Sportingbet
#07 The Pools
#08 William Hill
#09 NetBet
#10 SBK
2022 FA Cup Betting Odds
The 2022 FA Cup final will take place on Saturday 14th May 2022. Check out the latest FA Cup final betting odds below on the current favourites to win the trophy!
FA Cup 2022 Outright Winner Betting Odds
| Team | Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Man City | 4/1 | Pari Match |
| Liverpool | 6/1 | Pari Match |
| Chelsea | 7/1 | Unibet |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 10/1 | Betway |
| Manchester United | 10/1 | Bet365 |
| Arsenal | 12/1 | Bet365 |
| West Ham United | 20/1 | William Hill |
| Aston Villa | 25/1 | Bet365 |
| Leicester City | 25/1 | Bet365 |
FA Cup 2021/22 Upcoming Key Dates
14th May 2022 – Chelsea vs Liverpool Final
FA Cup Betting Predictions
Feel free to consider these tips alongside your own betting strategy, but remember that there is always a chance of losing with any bet, and that you should always stay in control of your betting. With that in mind, here are our predictions as to what kind of FA Cup betting odds could offer the most value.
Chelsea vs Liverpool Predictions
- Out of the 124 teams in the main competition, only Liverpool and Chelsea are left. The Reds have just knocked out league title competitors Manchester City, while Chelsea had a relatively easier opponent to face in Crystal Palace. Both teams will be eager to get their hands on some silverware this year.
- This final is Chelsea’s only chance for a trophy this season, after they were knocked out of the Champions League and are currently third in the Premier League. They also lost the EFL Cup final to Liverpool themselves earlier on this year. That match ended 0-0 and went to penalties, all of which were scored apart from Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga’s (who was brought on solely for the penalty shootout), which meant the final score was 10-11.
- Liverpool on the other hand still have their eyes on a possible quadruple since they won the EFL Cup. They reached the Champions League semi-finals and are within a point of Manchester City in the Premier League, and will participate in this final. The only drawback of being on the right track to doing so is that they will be facing very important matches in quick succession, which might mean that some matches are given more priority than others, depending on which competition the team decides is the most important. Given the nature of the other competitions, the FA Cup will most likely be looked upon as the least important trophy, so we could expect certain key players to be missing from this final.
- Keeping the above in mind and given the context of this final, we are expecting to see a best 11 from Chelsea and a few rested players from Liverpool, especially since there will only be two matches left from the Premier League to play as well as a potential Champions League final still to be played.
- Our suggested bet would be a Double Chance on Chelsea or Draw at 8/11* from bet365.
*Odds displayed are as of 19th April and are subject to change.
Strategic FA Cup Betting Tips
The difference between the FA Cup betting predictions and our strategic FA Cup betting tips?
It’s simple.
While our predictions are specific things that we think are likely to come true, this is more general strategy for the tournament that you can utilise regardless of who you think is likely to win. Or, indeed, whatever markets you deem wise to back and offering solid, competitive FA Cup betting odds. You can enjoy better betting strategy in a snap simply by following our five simple pieces of advice below.
- 01Back your overall winner earlyNow, we are not suggesting that you back a winner just for the sake of it. If you have not a clue, or you do not think any of the markets offered represent good FA Cup final betting odds, then by all means, hold back on FA Cup outright betting. However, if you do think you know who is going to win, then you have been presented with a rare FA Cup betting tips opportunity. Backing an overall winner earlier on will almost certainly bag you better odds and bigger payouts should that bet be successful. Consider the 5000/1 odds offered for Leicester City winning in the 2015/16 Premier League season as one awesome example.
- 02Don’t be afraid of left-field marketsAnd, of course, if no FA Cup outright betting market seems to provide decent value or anything that particular interests you, remember that there are plenty of other markets available. We are not just talking about winners of individual matches either - you could bet on anything from booking points to the numbers of corners taken if you think those markets could net you a winner. When you open your mind to the immense variety of football markets that are available, there are plenty more betting opportunities to be enjoyed.
- 03Shop around for the best FA Cup betting oddsFA Cup final betting is big business. This means that bookmakers are going to be extremely competitive, which can mean very generous odds. Remember, too, that you can open as many accounts as you like, often in mere minutes, allowing you to access the absolute finest odds that the world of football, and FA Cup betting, has to offer.
- 04Watch as much as you can from other leaguesMany of the teams left in the tournament not only have quite the history, but are also currently battling it out in the likes of the Premier League. A wealth of knowledge can be gained from both researching past head-to-head contests, from watching as much of the tournament as you can manage, and from checking out performances elsewhere. Knowledge is power in FA Cup betting, and there is nothing quite like the insight you get from watching the teams perform first-hand.
- 05Look out for the best FA Cup betting offersIt is not just great FA Cup betting odds that can be enjoyed as the fruits of operator competitiveness. They will also often offer great promotions for those betting on the FA Cup, especially as we make our way to the later rounds and FA Cup final betting. Check out our look at the best football betting sites, as well as the best UK betting sites in general, for the perfect place to begin your search for all the hidden value found in those promotional page. You will also find plenty relevant for a broad variety of markets, not just the more heavily advertised FA Cup outright betting promotions.
Popular FA Cup Betting Markets
We’ve discussed how there’s a whole heap of market variety when it comes to FA Cup betting, from the expected, to the strategic, to the weird and wonderful. With that in mind, we’ve chosen a magnificent seven selection of FA Cup betting markets to whet your appetite for the rest of the tournament. Here’s just a few fantastic FA Cup football betting options.
History of the FA Cup
The Football Association (the FA) was formed in 1863 in order to set the Laws of the Game of Association Football, a sport slowly growing in popularity. Known as ‘the beautiful game' and also often referred to as the working man’s game, football was still without a unified competition. By 1871, the FA Secretary C. W. Alcock floated the idea of a Challenge Cup for all clubs belonging to the Association to compete in.
In November that year, the inaugural FA Cup tournament took place. For the first two seasons, the Wanderers were the champions of the 13-match tourney, which grew in numbers each year before qualifying rounds were introduced around the turn of the century.
The 1923 FA Cup Final was the first final to be played in the newly opened Wembley Stadium, and became known as the White Horse Final. Four years later, a Cup Final tradition was established when the hymn Abide with Me was sung for the first time prior to kick off, which still happens today. The 2001 Cup Final was the first to be played outside of England when the Final was moved to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales while Wembley was being redeveloped.
The last Final to be played in Cardiff was in 2006 and was won by Liverpool, who had also won the first FA Cup final to be held in Cardiff too. Fittingly, the 2006 Cup Final featured what was voted the greatest ever Cup Final goal, which was scored by Steven Gerrard in a match that was later dubbed The Steven Gerrard Final. The following year, the final went back to its spiritual home of Wembley, where it continues to be held today.
And Wembley must surely be considered the ideal place for the history that has already unfolded since that return, such as Arsenal’s record-breaking win in 2020, where they became the team with the most FA Cup wins and final appearances. Incredible to think they were knocked out of the 2022 edition in the third round, and proof that anything can happen in FA Cup betting.
We also experienced even more heartbreak for Watford and Crystal Palace, who both came so close but failed to win the big one, with losses in the 2016 finals for Crystal Palace and 2019 finals for Watford. More positively, history was made with Portsmouth’s 2008 win, providing the longest gap between FA Cup wins at 69 years, with their last victory coming in 1939. We even saw Manchester United and Everton draw for most defeats following a loss in 2009 for the latter, and in 2005 and 2007 for the former.
And the historic moments keep on coming.
Last year, in the 2021 FA Cup, Leicester were surprise winners – likely the biggest upset in the tournament since Wigan Athletic won back in 2015. It was also a historic season for more unfortunate reasons. There were both rules and round changes to adhere to government guidelines due to the pandemic which had impacted sports globally.
While football is still feeling the impact of the outbreak today, it seems, at the time of writing at least, likely that the remaining fixtures for the 2022 iteration of the FA Cup will go ahead as is currently scheduled.
The Importance of FA Cup Betting Stats
There are arguably no better ways of improving your betting strategy, whether we are talking about FA Cup betting or any other kind, than by researching your sport and its participants as thoroughly as possible. Luckily for football fans, there’s likely no sport as well-covered in terms of available information, with ThePuntersPage leading the charge. We have such a huge selection of statistical pages that we’ve had to create an entire football stats centre to showcase them all!
In addition, we also provide incredibly useful betting calculators to help you make the most out of the immense collection of information we provide.
Past Winners of the FA Cup
| Year | Champion | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Leicester City | Chelsea |
| 2020 | Arsenal | Chelsea |
| 2019 | Manchester City | Watford |
| 2018 | Chelsea | Manchester United |
| 2017 | Arsenal | Chelsea |
| 2016 | Manchester United | Crystal Palace |
| 2015 | Arsenal | Aston Villa |
| 2014 | Arsenal | Hull City |
| 2013 | Wigan Athletic | Manchester City |
| 2012 | Chelsea | Liverpool |
| 2011 | Manchester City | Stoke City |
| 2010 | Chelsea | Portsmouth |
| 2009 | Chelsea | Everton |
| 2008 | Portsmouth | Cardiff City |
| 2007 | Chelsea | Manchester United |
| 2006 | Liverpool | West Ham United |
| 2005 | Arsenal | Manchester United |
| 2004 | Manchester United | Millwall |
| 2003 | Arsenal | Southampton |
| 2002 | Arsenal | Chelsea |
| 2001 | Liverpool | Arsenal |
| 2000 | Chelsea | Aston Villa |
FA Cup Key Stats
- Ashley Cole has won a record seven FA Cup Finals.
- With 13 FA Cup wins, Arsenal are the most successful team in the history of the competition.
- Ian Rush is the record goal-scorer in FA Cup final history, with 5 goals to his name.
- Arsène Wenger is the most successful manager in FA Cup history, having won the cup 7 times.
- Didier Drogba has found the net in four separate cup Finals, a competition record.
- It is the world’s oldest football tournament, having begun in 1871
- The longest tie took place between Oxford City and Alvechurch in the fourth qualifying round of 1971. It went over 660 minutes, with Alvechurch mercifully winning 1-0 in the sixth match
- In 2021, the biggest gap in rank ever saw 8th tier Marine take on Tottenham.
- Way back in 1887, the biggest ever FA Cup win took place when Preston North End beat Hyde 26-0.
- In 2005, Tunbridge Wells vs Littlehampton Town saw 20 penalties each, the longest ever for this tournament.
Upcoming Sporting Events
FA Cup Betting FAQs
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No, there is no seeding to the FA Cup.
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The FA Cup final traditionally takes place at London’s Wembley Stadium.
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No – all matches are one leg, but may go to a replay in the event of a tie, which would then be decided by extra time and a penalty shoot-out.
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Yes – FA Cup winners qualify for the following season's UEFA Europa League.
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Absolutely. There are all kinds of bets that you can make on the tournament or the individual matches.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
The most famous domestic football cup competition in the world, the FA Cup is a staple of the English football season. The FA Cup final, which takes place each May, traditionally brings the curtain down on the domestic season before all professional players take their summer break. This illustrious event dates back as far as the 1871/2 season, and has lost none of its shine to UK fans and those overseas.
Because of its huge popularity, there are many people that like to place a bet on the FA Cup. The goal of this article is to assist you in finding the perfect operator to place those bets in the smartest, most strategically sound way possible. But most importantly of all, we hope that we’ve provided you with all the foundation you need to have the best time possible while FA Cup betting, whatever the result!
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