The FA Cup is the oldest national football competition in the world, having been first played in the 1871/72 season. The FA Cup open to entry for all teams down to level 9 in the English football pyramid, with the first six rounds being qualifying rounds contested by non-league teams. At the first round proper, 48 teams from League One and League Two enter the competition, before the remaining 44 teams from the Premier League and Championship are added to the third round draw.
The FA Cup is a knockout format, with teams being randomly drawn against each other. There are no seeds within the FA Cup draw, meaning any team can face each other at any stage of the competition. Any matches that finish as a draw after 90 minutes up until the fifth round will have their outcome decided via a replay at the away team’s home ground. After the fifth round, matches will go straight to extra-time and penalties if necessary. The winners of the FA Cup will also earn a place in the UEFA Europa League and the following season’s Community Shield, where they will face the winners of the Premier League at Wembley.
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