# 2018–19 FA Cup

The 2018–19 FA Cup (also known as the Football Association Challenge Cup) was the 138th edition of the oldest football tournament in the world. It was sponsored by Emirates and known as The Emirates FA Cup for sponsorship purposes. It started with the extra preliminary round on the weekend of 11 August 2018 and concluded with the final on 18 May 2019.
Premier League side Chelsea were the defending champions, but were eliminated by Manchester United, whom they beat in the previous season's final, in the fifth round. Manchester City won their sixth FA Cup title and their first since 2011. Having won the EFL Cup and the Premier League earlier in the season, they became the first English club to complete a domestic treble.

## Teams

| Round | Clubs remaining | Clubs involved | Winners from previous round | New entries this round | Leagues entering at this round |
| First round proper | 124 | 80 | 32 | 48 | 24 EFL League One teams 24 EFL League Two teams |
| Second round proper | 84 | 40 | 40 | none | none |
| Third round proper | 64 | 64 | 20 | 44 | 20 Premier League teams 24 EFL Championship teams |
| Fourth round proper | 32 | 32 | 32 | none | none |
| Fifth round proper | 16 | 16 | 16 | none | none |
| Quarter-finals | 8 | 8 | 8 | none | none |
| Semi-finals | 4 | 4 | 4 | none | none |
| Final | 2 | 2 | 2 | none | none |

## Round and draw dates

| Phase | Round | Draw date | First match date |
| Qualifying rounds | Extra preliminary round | 6 July 2018 | 10 August 2018 |
| Qualifying rounds | Preliminary round | 6 July 2018 | 24 August 2018 |
| Qualifying rounds | First round qualifying | 28 August 2018 | 8 September 2018 |
| Qualifying rounds | Second round qualifying | 10 September 2018 | 22 September 2018 |
| Qualifying rounds | Third round qualifying | 24 September 2018 | 6 October 2018 |
| Qualifying rounds | Fourth round qualifying | 8 October 2018 | 20 October 2018 |
| Main tournament | First round proper | 22 October 2018 | 10 November 2018 |
| Main tournament | Second round proper | 12 November 2018 | 1 December 2018 |
| Main tournament | Third round proper | 3 December 2018 | 4 January 2019 |
| Main tournament | Fourth round proper | 7 January 2019 | 26 January 2019 |
| Main tournament | Fifth round proper | 28 January 2019 | 16 February 2019 |
| Main tournament | Quarter-finals | 18 February 2019 | 16 March 2019 |
| Main tournament | Semi-finals | 17 March 2019 | 6 April 2019 |
| Main tournament | Final | 17 March 2019 | 18 May 2019 |

## Qualifying rounds

All of the competing teams that are not members of either the Premier League or English Football League competed in the qualifying rounds to secure one of 32 available places in the first round proper. The qualifying competition began with the extra preliminary round on 11 August 2018. The fourth and final qualifying round was played over the weekend of 20 October 2018.

## First round proper

The first round draw took place on 22 October and was made by Dennis Wise and Dion Dublin. All 40 first round proper ties were to be played on the weekend of 10 November with 13 replays to be played on 20 and 21 November. 32 teams from the qualifying competition joined 48 teams from League One and League Two to compete in this round. This round included three teams from Level 7, the lowest-ranked teams still in the competition at that point: Metropolitan Police, Haringey Borough and Hitchin Town.

## Second round proper

The second round draw took place on 12 November. The 40 winners of the first round proper played in 20 second round proper ties on the weekend of 1 December. This round included five teams from Level 6 (Guiseley, Slough Town, Southport, Stockport County and Woking), who were the lowest-ranked teams still in the competition. This round included an all-Welsh tie, Wrexham at home against Newport County, the first such tie in the FA Cup since the latter took on Swansea City in the first round of the 2006–07 tournament.

## Third round proper

The third round draw took place on 3 December 2018 and was broadcast live on BBC One and BT Sport before the final second round tie between Guiseley and Fleetwood Town. All 32 third round proper ties took place on the weekend of 4–7 January 2019. A total of 64 clubs played in the third round; 20 winners of the second round, and 44 teams from the Premier League and EFL Championship entering in this round. This round included one team from Level 6, Woking, the lowest-ranked team still in the competition.
The scheduling for the third round was controversial, due to the number of games scheduled outside the traditional kick-off slot of 15:00 GMT on Saturday. Only 10 of 32 third round proper matches kicked off at that time. This was a result of the FA signing a new overseas television deal in October 2016, which came into force this season. The new contract caused a number of matches to be moved to other time-slots to accommodate viewers outside the UK.

## Fourth round proper

The draw for the fourth round took place on 7 January following the Wolverhampton Wanderers-Liverpool game. It was shown on BBC and was conducted by Carl Ikeme and Robbie Keane. All 16 fourth round ties were played on the weekend of 25–28 January 2019. This round included one team from Level 5, Barnet, the lowest ranking and only non-League side left in the competition.

## Fifth round proper

The draw for the fifth round took place on 28 January 2019. Matches were played on the weekend of 15–18 February 2019. This round included one team from Level 4, Newport County, the lowest ranking side left in the competition. As of this season, extra time and penalties replaced replays as the method for resolving a drawn tie.

## Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals took place on 18 February 2019. Matches were played on the weekend of 16–17 March 2019. This round included two teams from Level 2, Millwall and Swansea City, the lowest ranking sides left in the competition.

## Semi-finals

The draw for the semi-finals took place on 17 March 2019.

## Final

The final was played on 18 May 2019 at Wembley Stadium, London.

## Bracket

The following is the bracket which the FA Cup resembled. Numbers in parentheses next to the match score represent the results of a replay, except for the quarter-finals stage onwards. Numbers in parentheses next to the replay score represents the results of a penalty shoot-out except for the quarter-finals stage onwards.
| Third round proper 4–7 January 2019 15–16 January 2019 (replays) | Third round proper 4–7 January 2019 15–16 January 2019 (replays) | Fourth round proper 25–28 January 2019 5–6 February 2019 (replays) | Fourth round proper 25–28 January 2019 5–6 February 2019 (replays) | Fifth round proper 15–18 February 2019 | Fifth round proper 15–18 February 2019 | Quarter-finals 16–17 March 2019 | Quarter-finals 16–17 March 2019 | Semi-finals 6–7 April 2019 | Semi-finals 6–7 April 2019 | Final 18 May 2019 | Final 18 May 2019 |
| Aston Villa | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Swansea City | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Swansea City | 3 | Swansea City | 4 | | | | | | |
| | | Gillingham | 1 | | | | | | |
| Gillingham | 1 | Gillingham | 1 | | | | | | |
| Cardiff City | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Cardiff City | 0 | | | Swansea City | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | Brentford | 1 | | | | |
| Sheffield United | 0 | | | Brentford | 1 | | | | |
| Barnet | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Barnet | 1 | Barnet | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | Brentford | 3 (3) | | | | | | |
| Brentford | 1 | Brentford | 3 (3) | | | | | | |
| Oxford United | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Oxford United | 0 | | | | | Swansea City | 2 | | |
| | | | | | | Manchester City | 3 | | |
| Middlesbrough | 5 | | | | | Manchester City | 3 | | |
| Peterborough United | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Peterborough United | 0 | Middlesbrough | 1 (0) | | | | | | |
| | | Newport County | 1 (2) | | | | | | |
| Newport County | 2 | Newport County | 1 (2) | | | | | | |
| Leicester City | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Leicester City | 1 | | | Newport County | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | Manchester City | 4 | | | | |
| Manchester City | 7 | | | Manchester City | 4 | | | | |
| Rotherham United | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Rotherham United | 0 | Manchester City | 5 | | | | | | |
| | | Burnley | 0 | | | | | | |
| Burnley | 1 | Burnley | 0 | | | | | | |
| Barnsley | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Barnsley | 0 | | | | | | | Manchester City | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 |
| Fleetwood Town | 2 | | | | | | | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 |
| AFC Wimbledon | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| AFC Wimbledon | 3 | AFC Wimbledon | 4 | | | | | | |
| | | West Ham United | 2 | | | | | | |
| West Ham United | 2 | West Ham United | 2 | | | | | | |
| Birmingham City | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Birmingham City | 0 | | | AFC Wimbledon | 0 | | | | |
| | | | | Millwall | 1 | | | | |
| Millwall | 2 | | | Millwall | 1 | | | | |
| Hull City | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Hull City | 1 | Millwall | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | Everton | 2 | | | | | | |
| Everton | 2 | Everton | 2 | | | | | | |
| Lincoln City | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Lincoln City | 1 | | | | | Millwall | 2 (4) | | |
| | | | | | | Brighton & Hove Albion (p) | 2 (5) | | |
| AFC Bournemouth | 1 | | | | | Brighton & Hove Albion (p) | 2 (5) | | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 3 | Brighton & Hove Albion (a.e.t.) | 0 (3) | | | | | | |
| | | West Bromwich Albion | 0 | | | | | | |
| West Bromwich Albion | 1 | West Bromwich Albion | 0 | | | | | | |
| Wigan Athletic | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Wigan Athletic | 0 | | | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 | | | | |
| | | | | Derby County | 1 | | | | |
| Accrington Stanley | 1 | | | Derby County | 1 | | | | |
| Ipswich Town | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Ipswich Town | 0 | Accrington Stanley | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | Derby County | 1 | | | | | | |
| Derby County (p) | 2 (2) (5) | Derby County | 1 | | | | | | |
| Southampton | 2 (2) (3) | | | | | | | | | | |
| Southampton | 2 (2) (3) | | | | | | | | | Manchester City | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | Watford | 0 |
| Norwich City | 0 | | | | | | | | | Watford | 0 |
| Portsmouth | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Portsmouth | 1 | Portsmouth | 1 (0) | | | | | | | | |
| | | Queens Park Rangers | 1 (2) | | | | | | | | |
| Queens Park Rangers | 2 | Queens Park Rangers | 1 (2) | | | | | | | | |
| Leeds United | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Leeds United | 1 | | | Queens Park Rangers | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | | Watford | 1 | | | | | | |
| Newcastle United (a.e.t.) | 1 (4) | | | Watford | 1 | | | | | | |
| Blackburn Rovers | 1 (2) | | | | | | | | | | |
| Blackburn Rovers | 1 (2) | Newcastle United | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| | | Watford | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Woking | 0 | Watford | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Watford | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Watford | 2 | | | | | Watford | 2 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Crystal Palace | 1 | | | | |
| Preston North End | 1 | | | | | Crystal Palace | 1 | | | | |
| Doncaster Rovers | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Doncaster Rovers | 3 | Doncaster Rovers | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | Oldham Athletic | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Fulham | 1 | Oldham Athletic | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Oldham Athletic | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Oldham Athletic | 2 | | | Doncaster Rovers | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | | Crystal Palace | 2 | | | | | | |
| Crystal Palace | 1 | | | Crystal Palace | 2 | | | | | | |
| Grimsby Town | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Grimsby Town | 0 | Crystal Palace | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Tranmere Rovers | 0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 7 | | | | | | | Watford (a.e.t.) | 3 | | |
| | | | | | | | | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2 |
| Bristol City | 1 | | | | | | | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2 |
| Huddersfield Town | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Huddersfield Town | 0 | Bristol City | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | Bolton Wanderers | 1 | | | | | | |
| Bolton Wanderers | 5 | Bolton Wanderers | 1 | | | | | | |
| Walsall | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Walsall | 2 | | | Bristol City | 0 | | | | |
| | | | | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1 | | | | |
| Shrewsbury Town | 2 (3) | | | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1 | | | | |
| Stoke City | 2 (2) | | | | | | | | |
| Stoke City | 2 (2) | Shrewsbury Town | 2 (2) | | | | | | |
| | | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2 (3) | | | | | | |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2 (3) | | | | | | |
| Liverpool | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Liverpool | 1 | | | | | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2 | | |
| | | | | | | Manchester United | 1 | | |
| Chelsea | 2 | | | | | Manchester United | 1 | | |
| Nottingham Forest | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Nottingham Forest | 0 | Chelsea | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | Sheffield Wednesday | 0 | | | | | | |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 0 | Sheffield Wednesday | 0 | | | | | | |
| Luton Town | 0 (0) | | | | | | | | |
| Luton Town | 0 (0) | | | Chelsea | 0 | | | | |
| | | | | Manchester United | 2 | | | | |
| Blackpool | 0 | | | Manchester United | 2 | | | | |
| Arsenal | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Arsenal | 3 | Arsenal | 1 | | | | | | |
| | | Manchester United | 3 | | | | | | |
| Manchester United | 2 | Manchester United | 3 | | | | | | |
| Reading | 0 | | | | | | | | |

## Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Padraig Amond | Newport County | 5 |
| 1 | Gabriel Jesus | Manchester City | 5 |
| 3 | Matt Doherty | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4 |
| 3 | Connor Jennings | Tranmere Rovers | 4 |
| 3 | Raúl Jiménez | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4 |
| 3 | Paddy Madden | Fleetwood Town | 4 |
| 3 | Alfie May | Doncaster Rovers | 4 |
| 3 | Ivan Toney | Peterborough United | 4 |
| 9 | 18 players | 18 players | 3 |

## Broadcasting rights

The domestic broadcasting rights for the competition were held by the BBC and subscription channel BT Sport. The BBC held the rights since 2014–15, while BT Sport since 2013–14. The FA Cup Final was required to be broadcast live on UK terrestrial television under the Ofcom code of protected sporting events.
The following matches were broadcast live on UK television:
| Round | Date | Teams | Kick-off | Channels | Channels |
| Round | Date | Teams | Kick-off | Digital | TV |
| First round | 9 November | Haringey Borough v AFC Wimbledon | 7:55pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC Two |
| First round | 10 November | Maidenhead United v Portsmouth | 12:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| First round | 11 November | Port Vale v Sunderland | 2:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| First round | 12 November | Hampton & Richmond Borough v Oldham Athletic | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| First round (Replay) | 20 November | Oxford City v Tranmere Rovers | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| First round (Replay) | 21 November | Salford City v Shrewsbury Town | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Second round | 30 November | Solihull Moors v Blackpool | 4:00pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC Two |
| Second round | 1 December | F.C. Halifax Town v AFC Wimbledon | 12:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Second round | 2 December | Wrexham v Newport County | 8:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Second round | 3 December | Guiseley v Fleetwood Town | 8:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Second round (Replay) | 17 December | Southport v Tranmere Rovers | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Second round (Replay) | 18 December | Blackpool v Solihull Moors | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Third round | 4 January | Tranmere Rovers v Tottenham Hotspur | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Third round | 5 January | Manchester United v Reading | 12:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Third round | 5 January | Blackpool v Arsenal | 5:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Third round | 6 January | Woking v Watford | 2:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Third round | 6 January | Newport County v Leicester City | 4:30pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Third round | 7 January | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool | 7:45pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Third round (Replay) | 15 January | Blackburn Rovers v Newcastle United | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Third round (Replay) | 16 January | Southampton v Derby County | 8:05pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Fourth round | 25 January | Arsenal v Manchester United | 7:55pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Fourth round | 26 January | Accrington Stanley v Derby County | 12:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Fourth round | 26 January | Millwall v Everton | 5:30pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Fourth round | 26 January | AFC Wimbledon v West Ham United | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Fourth round | 27 January | Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur | 4:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Fourth round | 27 January | Chelsea v Sheffield Wednesday | 6:00pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Fourth round | 28 January | Barnet v Brentford | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Fourth round (Replay) | 5 February | Newport County v Middlesbrough | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Fourth round (Replay) | 6 February | West Bromwich Albion v Brighton & Hove Albion | 8:05pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Fifth round | 15 February | Queens Park Rangers v Watford | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Fifth round | 16 February | Brighton & Hove Albion v Derby County | 12:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Fifth round | 16 February | Newport County v Manchester City | 5:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Fifth round | 17 February | Bristol City v Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Fifth round | 17 February | Swansea City v Brentford | 4:00pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One Wales |
| Fifth round | 17 February | Doncaster Rovers v Crystal Palace | 4:00pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Fifth round | 18 February | Chelsea v Manchester United | 7:30pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Quarter-finals | 16 March | Watford v Crystal Palace | 12:15pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Quarter-finals | 16 March | Swansea City v Manchester City | 5:20pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Quarter-finals | 16 March | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United | 7:55pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Quarter-finals | 17 March | Millwall v Brighton & Hove Albion | 5:30pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Semi finals | 6 April | Manchester City v Brighton | 5:30pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Semi finals | 7 April | Watford v Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Final | 18 May | Manchester City v Watford | 5:00pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Final | 18 May | Manchester City v Watford | 5:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |