Final details, where to look

The 2024/25 FA Cup final almost appeared on us, with the All Premie League clash between Crystal Palace and Manchester City determining the latest winner of the famous trophy.

Crystal Palace booked their place in the final after a comprehensive Wembley victory over Aston Villa. The goals of Ebebeki Eze and Ismaila Saar sealed the Eagles’ first final since 2016.

Opponent Manchester City is aiming for their third FA Cup in seven seasons, returning to Wembley after a 2-0 semi-final victory at Nottingham Forest.

The 2024/25 tournament hasn’t seen as many huge kill rings as in the past few years, but Plymouth Argyle produced a classic FA Cup upset in the final defeat of Premier League Champions Liverpool.

Meanwhile, holder Manchester United was fined at home by Fulham in the fifth round.

Last year, former United boss Erik Ten Hag won a revenge against his team’s defeat to City in the 2023 final. In the final, they had two elite top flight sides, but they had several Lowertia cup runs.

Maidstone United reached the fifth round and suffered a 5-0 defeat to Coventry City. Against Man Utd, Sky Blues thought they had won the tie in the extra time, but ended up losing by a penalty.

The first FA Cup final took place in 1872, with the first Wanderers Football Club of five victories winning. As of 2025, Arsenal holds a record for most trophies that won by 14, and is the last in 2020.

In total, 143 FA Cup finals have been staged, with 44 teams winning the competition at least once in history.

FA Cup format and change

The FA Cup is a simple knockout tournament, with each tie winner moving on to the next round. Non-league clubs will take part in the qualifying round, with League 1 and League 2 teams taking part in the first round. The Premier League and Championship Clubs will participate in the third round stages.

A major change to the format has eliminated replays from the first round. Previously, in the drawn matches, fixtures will play on the visitors’ home ground, but citing the player’s welfare, the FA decided to remove the replays to facilitate fixture crowding.

The move sparked rage from the EFL and repulsion from things like Kiel Starmer.

Final preview of the FA Cup

With Crystal Palace and Manchester City winning the semi-finals, both clubs will return to their path to Wembley three weeks after their victory at Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, respectively. Kick-off is at 4:30pm.

As Jesse Lingard winner secured the Red Devils trophy in Louis Van Girl’s final match, they will be the Palace’s first FA Cup final since 2016 when they lost to Manchester United after an extra time.

Both of the Eagles’ previous Cup finals were against United. Other cups came in 1990. This was won after a replay following a seductive 3-3 draw at Wembley Stadium.

Now United’s neighbors are in the way of the first major trophy on Oliver Glasner’s side.

As for the seven-time Manchester City winner, he has far more experience in this situation, with Pep Guardiola taking part in the Manchester Derby in 2023 and 2024, heading for the third consecutive final.

Despite the excess of trophies under the Spanish reign, the FA Cup has only won twice since Guardiola’s arrival (2019 and 2023).

After an overwhelming campaign by their high standards, City has the opportunity to finish it to the best and avoid becoming a trophyless for the first time since the 2016/17 season – Guardiola’s first helm.

2024/25 FA Cup Results

The first round of the FA Cup was kicked off with Tamworth, a fifth-tee defeating the town of League One Hadersfield, but the weekend saw a fair bit of surprise results and an all-powerful horror.

However, “fairy tales” were not supposed to run for Wrexham, as they were restored by the town of Harrogate. AFC Wimbledon’s victory in a grim match against the MK Dons was another highlight of the round.

Tamworth continued the story in the second round after knocking out Burton Albion on a penalty, but reading was spent extra time by the town of Harborough. Elsewhere, League One leader Wycombe avoided upset with a victory at the non-league Wialdstone.

The Rams’ great run to the third round came to a brave end at the home of Tottenham Hotspur on the Premier League side, and the National League outfit took Ange Postecoglou’s men to extra time.

The shock in the third round was undoubtedly that Brentford was cancelled at home by championship fighter Plymouth Argyle, but Manchester United saw Arsenal in a fierce incident at Emirates Stadium after a penalty shootout.

The pilgrims were there again in the fourth round, but Brighton insisted on the high-profile scalp himself by coming from behind to see Chelsea.

Elsewhere, Manchester City was given an almighty horror from League 1 Leighton Orient and fought to narrow it down to round five after falling behind one of the season’s goals and moments.

The 16th round kicked off as Aston Villa raised its first major trophy chance since 1996, beating 2-0 at Villa Park. This made Preston the only second representative after beating championship rival Burnley.

The weekend also won a dramatic shootout against the Bournemouth wolves. Boubacal Traore missed a very important spot kick before Luis Sinistera sealed the Cherry location at the final 8am.

Crystal Palace joined them courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Millwall. This was hidden by the illness injury of Gianphilip Mateta.

Plymouth was heading for another big upset, but only led at Manchester City for seven minutes before the Premier League champions finally won.

Another dramatic afternoon continued when Brighton saw Newcastle in an extended period thanks to Danny Welbeck’s winner in a game where both sides reduced to 10, but Fulham won by a penalty at Old Trafford, saving Byrdreno from Joshu Azilky and Victor Lindelof.

In the quarterfinals, all away sides won, and the only losers to get on the scoresheet before Bournemouth bowed.

Crystal Palace and Aston Villa secured a comfortable victory on the road, but Nottingham Forest and Manchester City had to rely on penalties and super subs respectively to overcome their final eight opponents.

In Wembley’s semi-finals, Palace steamed the villa to steam the villa, winning comfortably 3-0, with the West Midlanders leaving the Cup and Champions League in two weeks.

Manchester City finally dispatched Nottingham Forest with other semis. The Reds’ super run ended an extraordinary domestic campaign after consecutive shootout victories.

First round

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Quarterfinals

Semi-finals

final

Round Day

This year’s final will take place on Saturday, May 17th, 2025, on the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season. Top Flight League fixtures have been rescheduled for the final standalone fixture on the final day.

FA Cup prize

The FA will win over £22 million in prize money during the 2024/25 season. Non-league clubs that have achieved it from the first round of qualifying to the proper round of the first round can pocket around £23,000, but if Premier League or Championship clubs go all the way, they’re good for £5.41 million songs.

How to watch the FA Cup final on TV

In the UK, FA Cup broadcasting rights are shared between the BBC and ITV. Throughout the season, the BBC showed 18 live matches, and ITV promised to broadcast 20 games from the competition.

In the US, FA Cup games are broadcast live on ESPN, and ESPN+ streams equipment selections during the tournament.

In recent years, the BBC and ITV have shared the scope of the finals, but a new broadcasting contract will come into effect next year.

This year’s final will actually be displayed on both channels, with ITV coverage starting at 3pm. BBC One broadcasts will begin at 3:25pm. The match itself starts at 4:30pm.