# 2020–21 FA Cup

The 2020–21 FA Cup was the 140th edition of the oldest football tournament in the world, the Football Association Challenge Cup. It was sponsored by Emirates and known as the Emirates FA Cup for sponsorship purposes. The winners qualified for the 2021–22 UEFA Europa League group stage.
Premier League side Arsenal were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the fourth round by Southampton.
Leicester City beat Chelsea 1–0 in the final to win their first FA Cup, having been runners-up on four previous occasions.

## Teams

The FA Cup is a knockout competition with 124 teams taking part all trying to reach the Final at Wembley in May 2021. The competition consisted of the 92 teams from the Football League system (20 teams from the Premier League and the 72 in total from the EFL Championship, EFL League One and EFL League Two) plus the 32 surviving teams out of 644 teams from the National League System (levels 5–10 of the English football league system) that started the competition in qualifying rounds.
All rounds were drawn randomly usually either at the completion of the previous round or on the evening of the last televised game of a round being played depending on television broadcasting rights.
This year's competition was subject to changes to the rules and round dates at short notice to follow the latest national and local government guidelines regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
| Round | Main date | Number of fixtures | Clubs remaining | New entries this round | Winner prize money | Loser prize money | Divisions entering this round |
| First round proper | Saturday 7 November 2020 | 40 | 124 → 84 | 48 | £16,972 | £5,657 | 24 EFL League One teams 24 EFL League Two teams |
| Second round proper | Saturday 28 November 2020 | 20 | 84 → 64 | None | £25,500 | £8,500 | None |
| Third round proper | Saturday 9 January 2021 | 32 | 64 → 32 | 44 | £61,500 | £20,500 | 20 Premier League teams 24 EFL Championship teams |
| Fourth round proper | Saturday 23 January 2021 | 16 | 32 → 16 | None | £90,000 | None | None |
| Fifth round proper | Wednesday 10 February 2021 | 8 | 16 → 8 | None | £180,000 | None | None |
| Quarter-finals | Saturday 20 March 2021 | 4 | 8 → 4 | None | £360,000 | None | None |
| Semi-finals | Saturday 17 April 2021 | 2 | 4 → 2 | None | £900,000 | £450,000 | None |
| Final | Saturday 15 May 2021 | 1 | 2 → 1 | None | £1,800,000 | £900,000 | None |

## Delay and scheduling

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, the previous season's competition was delayed, with the final played roughly three months late, on 1 August 2020. In a normal year, the FA Cup would start in early August, but with the previous season finishing late, the start of the 2020–21 FA Cup was also delayed to 31 August 2020.
Contrary to initial speculation that the 2020–21 FA Cup would be reduced in size, on 25 July 2020, the FA confirmed that lower league teams would be able to compete in the competition, with 737 teams accepted (out of 889 entrants), actually representing an increase of two teams on the previous season. Following the liquidation of Macclesfield Town, 736 teams ultimately entered the competition.
All eligible teams at step 5 of the National League System (and above) were accepted into the competition, with the remaining places given to clubs at step 6. In previous seasons step 6 clubs have been given access to the extra preliminary round based on their league position, but due to the cancellation of these leagues in 2019–20, the places for these teams was allocated by a random draw instead.

### Round & draw dates and rule changes

Planned dates for the early qualifying rounds were released to clubs in the National League System in late July, and confirmed by the FA on 3 August 2020. With replays removed from all rounds, some qualifying rounds were scheduled for Tuesdays rather than the usual Saturday.
| Phase | Round | Draw date | First match date |
| Qualifying rounds | Extra preliminary round | 18 August 2020 | 31 August 2020 |
| Qualifying rounds | Preliminary round | 18 August 2020 | 12 September 2020 |
| Qualifying rounds | First round qualifying | 14 September 2020 | 22 September 2020 |
| Qualifying rounds | Second round qualifying | 25 September 2020 | 3 October 2020 |
| Qualifying rounds | Third round qualifying | 5 October 2020 | 13 October 2020 |
| Qualifying rounds | Fourth round qualifying | 15 October 2020 | 24 October 2020 |
| Main tournament | First round proper | 26 October 2020 | 6 November 2020 |
| Main tournament | Second round proper | 9 November 2020 | 28 November 2020 |
| Main tournament | Third round proper | 30 November 2020 | 9 January 2021 |
| Main tournament | Fourth round proper | 11 January 2021 | 23 January 2021 |
| Main tournament | Fifth round proper | 11 January 2021 | 9 February 2021 |
| Main tournament | Quarter-finals | 11 February 2021 | 20 March 2021 |
| Main tournament | Semi-finals | 21 March 2021 | 17 April 2021 |
| Main tournament | Final | 21 March 2021 | 15 May 2021 |

## Rules changes

To fit into a truncated schedule for the 2020–21 season, replays were removed entirely from the competition. The prize fund was reduced, with figures returning to those last used in the 2017–18 FA Cup. While restrictions on fans attending games in person were in place, the usual prize money awarded to the winners for each round was split 75% to 25% with the losers.

## Qualifying rounds

Teams that were 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 31 August 2020.

## First round proper

The draw for the first round proper was held on 26 October 2020. The 31 winners from the fourth qualifying round joined the clubs from League One and League Two and bye recipients Chorley in 40 ties played over the weekend of 7 November. This round included one team from level 9, Skelmersdale United, the lowest ranked team left in the competition. Chesterfield were originally drawn to play at Rochdale in this round. However, due to Chesterfield fielding an ineligible player during their fourth qualifying-round match against Stockport County, the match was replayed and ultimately won by Stockport County.

## Second round proper

The draw for the second round proper was held on 9 November 2020. The 40 winners from the first round proper competed in 20 ties played over the weekend of 28 November. This round included two teams from level 8, Canvey Island and Marine, the lowest ranked teams left in the competition.

## Third round proper

The draw for the third round proper was held on 30 November 2020. The 20 winners from the second round proper joined the clubs from the Premier League and EFL Championship in 32 ties played over the weekend of 9 January 2021. This round included one team from level 8, Marine, the lowest ranked team left in the competition. Marine were drawn against Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, representing the biggest league position gap between two teams in the competition's history.

## Fourth round proper

The draw for the fourth round proper was held on 11 January 2021, right before the fifth round proper draw. The 32 winners from the third round proper played in 16 ties over the weekend of 23 January 2021. This round included one team from level 6, Chorley, the lowest ranked and the only non-league team left in the competition.

## Fifth round proper

The draw for the fifth round proper was held on 11 January 2021, immediately after the fourth round proper draw. The 16 winners from the fourth round proper played in eight ties in midweek during the week commencing Monday 8 February 2021.
The round featured 12 teams from the Premier League (level 1) and four from the EFL Championship (level 2).

## Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals was held on 11 February 2021, before the match between Barnsley and Chelsea. The eight winners from the fifth round proper play in four ties played on the weekend of 20 March 2021.
The round featured seven teams from the Premier League (level 1) and one from the EFL Championship (level 2). AFC Bournemouth were the only non-top flight team to play in this round.

## Semi-finals

The draw for the semi-finals was held on 21 March 2021, at half-time of the match between Leicester City and Manchester United. The four winners from the quarter-finals played in two ties at Wembley Stadium on 17 and 18 April 2021.
The round featured four teams from the Premier League (level 1).

## Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Tammy Abraham | Chelsea | 4 |
| 1 | Kelechi Iheanacho | Leicester City | 4 |
| 1 | Gary Madine | Blackpool | 4 |
| 1 | Alfie May | Cheltenham Town | 4 |
| 1 | Tom Nichols | Crawley Town | 4 |
| 6 | Connor Hall | Chorley | 3 |
| 6 | Joshua King | AFC Bournemouth | 3 |
| 6 | Jon Mellish | Carlisle United | 3 |
| 6 | Ashley Nadesan | Crawley Town | 3 |
| 6 | Richarlison | Everton | 3 |
| 6 | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 3 |
| 6 | Dominic Samuel | Gillingham | 3 |
| 6 | Youri Tielemans | Leicester City | 3 |
| 6 | Carlos Vinícius | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 |
| 6 | Benjamin Whiteman | Doncaster Rovers | 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. A number of games per round also aired on BT Sport and BBC digital platforms, BT Sport Extra, and the FA Player. For the first time, all matches in the Third and fourth rounds Proper were aired live in the UK. 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 | 6 November | Harrogate Town v Skelmersdale United | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| First round | 7 November | Tonbridge Angels v Bradford City | 12:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| First round | 7 November | Tonbridge Angels v Bradford City | 12:30pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| First round | 7 November | Ipswich Town v Portsmouth | 3:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| First round | 7 November | Ipswich Town v Portsmouth | 3:00pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| First round | 7 November | Colchester United v Marine | 3:00pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| First round | 7 November | Banbury United v Canvey Island | 3:00pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| First round | 7 November | FC United of Manchester v Doncaster Rovers | 5:30pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC Two |
| First round | 8 November | Havant & Waterlooville v Cray Valley Paper Mills | 12:45pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| First round | 8 November | Wigan Athletic v Chorley | 12:45pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| First round | 8 November | Torquay United v Crawley Town | 12:45pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| First round | 8 November | Hayes & Yeading United v Carlisle United | 12:45pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| First round | 8 November | Eastleigh v Milton Keynes Dons | 12:45pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| First round | 8 November | Maldon & Tiptree v Morecambe | 12:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| First round | 8 November | Maldon & Tiptree v Morecambe | 12:45pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| First round | 8 November | Hampton & Richmond Borough v Oldham Athletic | 12:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| First round | 8 November | Hampton & Richmond Borough v Oldham Athletic | 12:45pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| First round | 8 November | Eastbourne Borough v Blackpool | 2:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| First round | 9 November | Oxford City v Northampton Town | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Second round | 27 November | Tranmere Rovers v Brackley Town | 7:55pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC Two |
| Second round | 28 November | Morecambe v Solihull Moors | 12:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Second round | 28 November | Morecambe v Solihull Moors | 12:30pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC Red Button |
| Second round | 28 November | Portsmouth v King's Lynn Town | 3:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Second round | 28 November | Portsmouth v King's Lynn Town | 3:00pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC Red Button |
| Second round | 28 November | Cheltenham Town v Crewe Alexandra | 3:00pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| Second round | 28 November | Bradford City v Oldham Athletic | 3:00pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| Second round | 28 November | Peterborough United v Chorley | 5:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Second round | 29 November | Bristol Rovers v Darlington | 1:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Second round | 29 November | Bristol Rovers v Darlington | 1:30pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC Red Button |
| Second round | 29 November | Shrewsbury Town v Oxford City | 1:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Second round | 29 November | Shrewsbury Town v Oxford City | 1:30pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| Second round | 29 November | Stevenage v Hull City | 1:30pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| Second round | 29 November | AFC Wimbledon v Crawley Town | 1:30pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| Second round | 29 November | Stockport County v Yeovil Town | 1:30pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| Second round | 29 November | Mansfield Town v Dagenham & Redbridge | 1:30pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| Second round | 29 November | Carlisle United v Doncaster Rovers | 1:30pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| Second round | 29 November | Barnet v Milton Keynes Dons | 1:30pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| Second round | 29 November | Marine v Havant & Waterlooville | 2:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Second round | 30 November | Canvey Island v Boreham Wood | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Third round | 8 January | Aston Villa v Liverpool | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Third round | 8 January | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crystal Palace | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Third round | 9 January | Everton v Rotherham United | 12:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Third round | 9 January | Nottingham Forest v Cardiff City | 12:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Third round | 9 January | Boreham Wood v Millwall | 12:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Third round | 9 January | Norwich City v Coventry City | 12:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Third round | 9 January | Luton Town v Reading | 12:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Third round | 9 January | Chorley v Derby County | 12:15pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Third round | 9 January | AFC Bournemouth v Oldham Athletic | 3:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Third round | 9 January | Bristol Rovers v Sheffield United | 3:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Third round | 9 January | Exeter City v Sheffield Wednesday | 3:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Third round | 9 January | Blackpool v West Bromwich Albion | 3:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Third round | 9 January | Blackburn Rovers v Doncaster Rovers | 3:00pm | FA Player | — |
| Third round | 9 January | Wycombe Wanderers v Preston North End | 3:00pm | FA Player | — |
| Third round | 9 January | Burnley v Milton Keynes Dons | 3:00pm | FA Player | — |
| Third round | 9 January | Queens Park Rangers v Fulham | 3:00pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| Third round | 9 January | Stevenage v Swansea City | 3:00pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| Third round | 9 January | Stoke City v Leicester City | 3:00pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC Red Button |
| Third round | 9 January | Arsenal v Newcastle United | 5:30pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Third round | 9 January | Huddersfield Town v Plymouth Argyle | 6:00pm | FA Player | — |
| Third round | 9 January | Brentford v Middlesbrough | 6:00pm | FA Player | — |
| Third round | 9 January | Manchester United v Watford | 8:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Third round | 9 January | Southampton v Shrewsbury Town | 8:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Third round | 10 January | Barnsley v Tranmere Rovers | 1:30pm | FA Player | — |
| Third round | 10 January | Bristol City v Portsmouth | 1:30pm | FA Player | — |
| Third round | 10 January | Cheltenham Town v Mansfield Town | 1:30pm | FA Player | — |
| Third round | 10 January | Manchester City v Birmingham City | 1:30pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| Third round | 10 January | Chelsea v Morecambe | 1:30pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| Third round | 10 January | Crawley Town v Leeds United | 1:30pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Third round | 10 January | Marine v Tottenham Hotspur | 5:00pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Third round | 10 January | Newport County v Brighton & Hove Albion | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Third round | 11 January | Stockport County v West Ham United | 8:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Third round | 19 January | Southampton v Shrewsbury Town | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Fourth round | 22 January | Chorley v Wolverhampton Wanderers | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Fourth round | 23 January | Southampton v Arsenal | 12:15pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Fourth round | 23 January | AFC Bournemouth v Crawley Town | 3:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Fourth round | 23 January | Brighton & Hove Albion v Blackpool | 3:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Fourth round | 23 January | Barnsley v Norwich City | 3:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Fourth round | 23 January | Millwall v Bristol City | 3:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Fourth round | 23 January | Swansea City v Nottingham Forest | 3:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Fourth round | 23 January | Swansea City v Nottingham Forest | 3:00pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One Wales |
| Fourth round | 23 January | West Ham United v Doncaster Rovers | 3:00pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC Red Button |
| Fourth round | 23 January | Sheffield United v Plymouth Argyle | 3:00pm | BBC iPlayer | — |
| Fourth round | 23 January | Cheltenham Town v Manchester City | 5:30pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Fourth round | 24 January | Chelsea v Luton Town | 12:00pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Fourth round | 24 January | Brentford v Leicester City | 2:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Fourth round | 24 January | Fulham v Burnley | 2:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Fourth round | 24 January | Manchester United v Liverpool | 5:00pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Fourth round | 24 January | Everton v Sheffield Wednesday | 8:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Fourth round | 25 January | Wycombe Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Fourth round | 26 January | AFC Bournemouth v Crawley Town | 7:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport Extra |
| Fifth round | 9 February | Burnley v AFC Bournemouth | 5:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Fifth round | 9 February | Manchester United v West Ham United | 7:30pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Fifth round | 10 February | Swansea City v Manchester City | 5:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Fifth round | 10 February | Leicester City v Brighton & Hove Albion | 7:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Fifth round | 10 February | Sheffield United v Bristol City | 7:30pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC Red Button |
| Fifth round | 10 February | Everton v Tottenham Hotspur | 8:15pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Fifth round | 11 February | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Southampton | 5:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Fifth round | 11 February | Barnsley v Chelsea | 8:00pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Quarter-finals | 20 March | AFC Bournemouth v Southampton | 12:15pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Quarter-finals | 20 March | Everton v Manchester City | 5:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Quarter-finals | 21 March | Chelsea v Sheffield United | 1:30pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Quarter-finals | 21 March | Leicester City v Manchester United | 5:00pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Semi-finals | 17 April | Leicester City v Southampton | 5:30pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Semi-finals | 18 April | Chelsea v Manchester City | 6:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Final | 15 May | Chelsea v Leicester City | 5:15pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Final | 15 May | Chelsea v Leicester City | 5:15pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |

## Prize fund

| Round | Fate | Number of teams | Amount |
| Extra preliminary round | Losers | 184 | £375 |
| Extra preliminary round | Winners | 184 | £1,125 |
| Preliminary round | Losers | 160 | £481 |
| Preliminary round | Winners | 160 | £1,444 |
| First round qualifying | Losers | 117 | £750 |
| First round qualifying | Winners | 117 | £2,250 |
| Second round qualifying | Losers | 80 | £1,125 |
| Second round qualifying | Winners | 80 | £3,375 |
| Third round qualifying | Losers | 40 | £1,875 |
| Third round qualifying | Winners | 40 | £5,625 |
| Fourth round qualifying | Losers | 32 | £3,125 |
| Fourth round qualifying | Winners | 32 | £9,375 |
| First round proper | Losers | 40 | £5,657 |
| First round proper | Winners | 40 | £16,972 |
| Second round proper | Losers | 20 | £8,500 |
| Second round proper | Winners | 20 | £25,500 |
| Third round proper | Losers | 32 | £20,500 |
| Third round proper | Winners | 32 | £61,500 |
| Fourth round proper | Losers | 16 | £22,500 |
| Fourth round proper | Winners | 16 | £67,500 |
| Fifth round proper | Losers | 8 | £45,000 |
| Fifth round proper | Winners | 8 | £135,000 |
| Quarter-finals | Losers | 4 | £180,000 |
| Quarter-finals | Winners | 4 | £360,000 |
| Semi-finals | Losers | 2 | £450,000 |
| Semi-finals | Winners | 2 | £900,000 |
| Final | Runners-up | 1 | £900,000 |
| Final | Winners | 1 | £1,800,000 |
| Sources: The FA ||||