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The FA Cup will see numerous major changes that the organization has formally declared, beginning with the 2024–2025 season.
Previously held in the middle of the week, all five Emirates FA Cup rounds will now take place on weekends.
The revisions are part of a new six-year agreement between the Football Association and the Premier League.
The Premier League has also removed its midseason break from the schedule.
Matches will begin in mid-August after a three-week summer vacation, rather than a shorter winter break, based on “expert advice from medical and technical departments”.
The FA Cup currently has no replays after the fifth round. However, the FA believes the decision to abolish them at an earlier level was taken “in light of calendar changes driven by the expanded Uefa competitions”.
Nonetheless, the qualifying rounds, in which clubs from England’s fifth to tenth divisions battle for 32-first-round slots, will have replays.
The first round of the FA Cup includes professional clubs from League One and League Two, with Championship and Premier League teams joining in the third round.
Other modifications include the fourth and fifth rounds, as well as the quarter-finals, being played without interference from Premier League games for the first time.
The fourth round will take place over a lengthy period of time, from Friday to Wednesday.
FA Cup replays are cancelled, and the final will be contested on the final weekend of the season
The FA has revels that there will no longer be FA Cup replays after the first round.
“The Saturday match will take place without interference from Premier League matches, just like the Friday prior to the championship match, “to allow focus on the build-up to the showpiece event.”
The arrangement also sees the Premier League increase its financing for grassroots football by £33 million.
“The FA Cup is our most valuable asset,” stated FA chief executive Mark Bullingham.
“This new deal between the FA and the Premier League improves the FA Cup.”
“It will also grant this unique tournament specific weekends in an increasingly crowded calendar.”
“We’ve also agreed on new financing for grassroots football, disability football, and the women’s and girls’ game.
“Football starts at the grassroots level, and the Premier League acknowledges this by providing much-needed extra funding.”
