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2025–26 Women's FA Cup

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2025–26 Women's FA Cup
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Wales
Dates24 August 2025 – 31 May 2026
Defending championsChelsea
← 2024–25
2026–27 →

The 2025–26 Women's FA Cup will be the 56th staging of the Women's FA Cup, a knockout cup competition for women's football teams in England. Chelsea are the defending champions, having beaten Manchester United 3–0 in the 2025 final on 12 May 2024.[1]

Teams

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A total of 538 teams were accepted into the 2025–26 Women's FA Cup, an increase of 24 from the previous year.[2] A preliminary round was introduced with 190 tier 7 teams competing, and 159 tier 6 regional first division teams given an exemption until the first qualifying round. 93 tier 5 teams were given an exemption until the second round qualifying stage. The 48 teams that play in the FA Women's National League Division One (tier 4) were given exemption until third round qualifying. Teams in the Northern and Southern Premier Divisions (tier 3) entered at the first round proper, and the 12 Women's Super League 2 teams (tier 2) entered at the third round proper. The final teams to enter the competition, the 12 Women's Super League teams (tier 1), entered at the fourth round.[3]

Round Clubs
remaining		 Clubs
involved		 Winners from
previous round		 Games played Goals scored Prize money[4]
Winner Loser
Preliminary round 538 46 – 23 £600 £150
First round qualifying 515 326[a] 23 163 £1,800 £450
Second round qualifying 352 256[b] 163 128 £3,000 £750
Third round qualifying 224 176[c] 128 88 £4,000 £1,000
First round 136 112[d] 88 56 £6,000 £1,500
Second round 80 56 56 28 £8,000 £2,000
Third round 52 40[e] 28 20 £35,000 £9,000
Fourth round 32 32[f] 20 16 £54,000 £13,000
Fifth round 16 16 16 8 £80,000 £20,000
Quarter-final 8 8 8 4 £90,000 £22,500
Semi-final 4 4 4 2 £160,000 £40,000
Final 2 2 2 1 £430,000 £108,000
  1. ^ 159 Tier 6 regional first division teams added
  2. ^ 93 Tier 5 regional premier division teams added
  3. ^ 48 FA Women's National League Division One teams added
  4. ^ 24 FA Women's National League Premier Division teams added
  5. ^ 12 Women's Super League 2 teams added
  6. ^ 12 Women's Super League teams added

Preliminary round

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The competition started at the preliminary round with games to be played on 24 August 2025, and made up of 46 teams from the seventh-tier county division football leagues.

First round qualifying

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The 163 matches of the second round qualifying will be played on 7 September 2025. This round includes the introduction of 160 teams from the sixth-tier regional first division football leagues.

Second round qualifying

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The TBD matches of the second round qualifying will be played on 21 September 2025. This round includes the introduction of 93 teams from the fifth-tier regional premier division football leagues.

Third round qualifying

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The TBD matches of third round qualifying will be played on 5 October 2025. This round includes the introduction of 48 teams from the fourth-tier FA Women's National League Division One.

First round proper

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The TBD matches in the first round proper will be played on 26 October 2025. This round includes the introduction of 24 teams from the third-tier FA Women's National League Premier Division.

Second round proper

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The TBD matches in the second round proper will be played on 23 November 2025.

Third round proper

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The 20 matches in the third round proper will be played on 14 December 2025, and includes the introduction of 12 teams from the second-tier Women's Super League 2.

Fourth round

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Matches in the fourth round will be played on 18 January 2026. This round includes the introduction of 12 teams from the first-tier Women's Super League, and is the final round to introduce new teams.

Fifth round

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Eight matches will be played in the fifth round on 22 February 2026, made up of the 16 winning teams from the fourth round.

Quarter-finals

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Four matches will be played in the quarter-finals on 5 April 2026, made up of the eight winning teams from the fifth round.

Semi-finals

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Two matches will be played in the semi-finals on 10 May 2026, made up of the four winning teams from the quarter-finals.

Final

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Main article: 2026 Women's FA Cup final

The final will be played at Wembley Stadium on 31 May 2026.

See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "Sandy Baltimore double seals Adobe Women's FA Cup victory for Chelsea". TheFA.com. The Football Association. 18 May 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Find out the list of clubs accepted into the Adobe Women's FA Cup in 2025-26". TheFA.com. The Football Association. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  3. ^ "The Women's FA Cup Season 2025–26 List of Exemptions". TheFA.com. The Football Association. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  4. ^ "The Adobe Women's FA Cup prize fund for the 2025-26 season". TheFA.com. The Football Association. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
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