FA Cup (England)

The FA Cup (Football Association Challenge Cup, founded in 1871) is England and Wales’ domestic knockout cup competition organised by The Football Association. Regulations: the competition consists of a six-round qualifying phase played on a regional basis and an eight-round main competition made up of 92 exempt clubs plus 32 qualifiers (124 clubs at the start of the main draw), with ties decided by a draw each round, Premier League and Championship clubs entering at the third round proper, and the final traditionally staged at Wembley Stadium. In qualifying, drawn ties up to and including the fourth qualifying round are replayed, and if a replay is level after 90 minutes it is decided by 30 minutes of extra time and then penalties if required, while in the main competition there are no replays and any tie level after 90 minutes is decided by extra time and then a penalty shoot-out. The winners qualify for the UEFA Europa League, and if the cup winners have already qualified for Europe by other means, the berth is passed down to the next highest-placed league team not already qualified.