# 2016–17 FA Cup

The 2016–17 FA Cup (also known as the FA Challenge Cup) was the 136th edition of the oldest recognised football tournament in the world. It was sponsored by Emirates, and known as The Emirates FA Cup for sponsorship purposes. 736 clubs were accepted into the tournament, and it began with the extra preliminary round on 6 August 2016, and concluded with the final on 27 May 2017. The winner qualified for the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League group stage.
Premier League side Manchester United were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Chelsea.
Arsenal won a record 13th title following a 2–1 win over Chelsea in the final, winning their third FA Cup in 4 seasons.
The tournament was also notable for the performance of Lincoln City from Level 5, who became the first non-league club to reach the quarter-finals since 1914.
This edition of the FA Cup was the first in which quarter-final matches were played to a result on the day, instead of being subject to replay in case of a draw. However, all four matches were settled without the need for extra time.

## 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 | EFL League One EFL League Two |
| Second round proper | 84 | 40 | 40 | none | none |
| Third round proper | 64 | 64 | 20 | 44 | Premier League EFL Championship |
| 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 |

## Prize fund

| Round | No. of Clubs receive fund | Prize fund per club |
| Extra preliminary round winners | 184 | £1,500 |
| Preliminary round winners | 160 | £1,925 |
| First round qualifying winners | 116 | £3,000 |
| Second round qualifying winners | 80 | £4,500 |
| Third round qualifying winners | 40 | £7,500 |
| Fourth round qualifying winners | 32 | £12,500 |
| First round proper winners | 40 | £18,000 |
| Second round proper winners | 20 | £27,000 |
| Third round proper winners | 32 | £67,500 |
| Fourth round proper winners | 16 | £90,000 |
| Fifth round proper winners | 8 | £180,000 |
| Quarter-final winners | 4 | £360,000 |
| Semi-final losers | 2 | £450,000 |
| Semi-final winners | 2 | £900,000 |
| Final runners-up | 1 | £900,000 |
| Final winner | 1 | £1,800,000 |
| Total | | £15,132,000 |

## Round and draw dates

The schedule was as follows.
| Phase | Round | Draw date | Match date |
| Qualifying rounds | Extra preliminary round | 8 July 2016 | 6 August 2016 |
| Qualifying rounds | Preliminary round | 8 July 2016 | 20 August 2016 |
| Qualifying rounds | First round qualifying | 15 August 2016 | 3 September 2016 |
| Qualifying rounds | Second round qualifying | 5 September 2016 | 17 September 2016 |
| Qualifying rounds | Third round qualifying | 19 September 2016 | 1 October 2016 |
| Qualifying rounds | Fourth round qualifying | 3 October 2016 | 15 October 2016 |
| Main tournament | First round proper | 17 October 2016 | 5 November 2016 |
| Main tournament | Second round proper | 7 November 2016 | 3 December 2016 |
| Main tournament | Third round proper | 5 December 2016 | 7 January 2017 |
| Main tournament | Fourth round proper | 9 January 2017 | 28 January 2017 |
| Main tournament | Fifth round proper | 30 January 2017 | 18 February 2017 |
| Main tournament | Quarter-finals | 19 February 2017 | 11 March 2017 |
| Main tournament | Semi-finals | 13 March 2017 | 22 and 23 April 2017 |
| Main tournament | Final | 13 March 2017 | 27 May 2017 |

## Qualifying rounds

The qualifying competition began with the extra preliminary round on 6 August 2016. All of the competing teams that are not members of either the Premier League or English Football League had to compete in the qualifying rounds to secure a place in the First round proper. The final (fourth) qualifying round was played over the weekend of 15 October.

## First round proper

The first round draw took place on 17 October and was broadcast live on BBC Two and BT Sport. All 40 first round proper ties were played on the weekend of 5 November. 32 teams from the qualifying competition joined the 48 teams from League One and League Two to compete in this round. The round included one team from Level 9 still in the competition, Westfields, who were the lowest-ranked team in this round.

## Second round proper

The second round draw took place on 7 November at Haig Avenue, home of Southport F.C., immediately prior to the Southport-Fleetwood tie, and was broadcast live on BT Sport. The round included one team from Level 7 still in the competition, Stourbridge, who were the lowest-ranked team in this round.

## Third round proper

A total of 64 clubs played in the third round; 20 winners of the second round, and 44 teams from Premier League and EFL Championship entering in this round. The draw was held on 5 December 2016 at the BT Tower and was broadcast live on BT Sport and BBC Two. The matches were played across the weekend of 6–9 January 2017. The round included five non-league teams, including one team from Level 7 still in the competition, Stourbridge, who were the lowest-ranked team in this round.

## Fourth round proper

A total of 32 teams played in the fourth round, all winners of the third round. The draw took place at the BT Tower on 9 January 2017. The round included two teams from Level 5 who were still in the competition: Lincoln City, leading the National League on the night of their third round replay and Sutton United, fifteenth on the same night and therefore the lowest-ranked team to play in this round.

## Fifth round proper

A total of 16 clubs played in the fifth round, all winners of the fourth round. The draw was held on 30 January 2017, and the matches were played across the weekend of 18–20 February 2017. The round included the two teams from Level 5 that were still in the competition: Lincoln City and Sutton United, whose fourth round victories ensured the first ever fifth round with two non-league sides remaining. Lincoln City were in this round for the first time in 115 years and Sutton United for the first time in their history.

## Quarter-finals

A total of eight clubs played in the quarter-finals, all winners of the fifth round. The draw was held on 19 February 2017 at Ewood Park, home of Blackburn Rovers F.C., immediately following the Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United match. Matches were played between 11 and 13 March 2017.
In a break from tradition, the FA officially renamed the stage the 'Quarter-finals', the name that had been used colloquially to describe what was previously called the sixth round proper. Changes to previous rules meant that tied matches would have gone to extra-time and potentially a penalty shootout at this stage rather than to a replay, and that a fourth substitute would have been permitted in extra time. The round included Lincoln City from Level 5, who became the first non-league club to reach the quarter-finals since 1914.

## Semi-finals

The four winners of the quarter-finals progressed to the semi-finals. The semi-final draw took place at Stamford Bridge on 13 March following the quarter-final tie between Chelsea and Manchester United. The semi-finals were played at Wembley Stadium on 22 and 23 April 2017.

## 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 6–9 January 2017 17–18 January 2017 (replays) | Third round proper 6–9 January 2017 17–18 January 2017 (replays) | Fourth round proper 27–29 January 2017 8 February 2017 (replays) | Fourth round proper 27–29 January 2017 8 February 2017 (replays) | Fifth round proper 18–20 February 2017 1 March 2017 (replays) | Fifth round proper 18–20 February 2017 1 March 2017 (replays) | Quarter-finals 11–13 March 2017 | Quarter-finals 11–13 March 2017 | Semi-finals 22–23 April 2017 | Semi-finals 22–23 April 2017 | Final 27 May 2017 | Final 27 May 2017 |
| Sutton United | 0 (3) | | | | | | | | |
| AFC Wimbledon | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| AFC Wimbledon | 0 | Sutton United | 1 | | | | | | |
| | | Leeds United | 0 | | | | | | |
| Cambridge United | 1 | Leeds United | 0 | | | | | | |
| Leeds United | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Leeds United | 2 | | | Sutton United | 0 | | | | |
| | | | | Arsenal | 2 | | | | |
| Norwich City | 2 (0) | | | Arsenal | 2 | | | | |
| Southampton | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Southampton | 2 | Southampton | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | Arsenal | 5 | | | | | | |
| Preston North End | 1 | Arsenal | 5 | | | | | | |
| Arsenal | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Arsenal | 2 | | | | | Arsenal | 5 | | |
| | | | | | | Lincoln City | 0 | | |
| Sunderland | 0 (0) | | | | | Lincoln City | 0 | | |
| Burnley | 0 (2) | | | | | | | | |
| Burnley | 0 (2) | Burnley | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | Bristol City | 0 | | | | | | |
| Bristol City | 0 | Bristol City | 0 | | | | | | |
| Fleetwood Town | 0 (0) | | | | | | | | |
| Fleetwood Town | 0 (0) | | | Burnley | 0 | | | | |
| | | | | Lincoln City | 1 | | | | |
| Ipswich Town | 2 (0) | | | Lincoln City | 1 | | | | |
| Lincoln City | 2 (1) | | | | | | | | |
| Lincoln City | 2 (1) | Lincoln City | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1 | | | | | | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1 | | | | | | |
| Milton Keynes Dons | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Milton Keynes Dons | 0 | | | | | | | Arsenal (a.e.t.) | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | Manchester City | 1 |
| Middlesbrough | 3 | | | | | | | Manchester City | 1 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 0 | Middlesbrough | 1 | | | | | | |
| | | Accrington Stanley | 0 | | | | | | |
| Accrington Stanley | 2 | Accrington Stanley | 0 | | | | | | |
| Luton Town | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Luton Town | 1 | | | Middlesbrough | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | Oxford United | 2 | | | | |
| Rotherham United | 2 | | | Oxford United | 2 | | | | |
| Oxford United | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Oxford United | 3 | Oxford United | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | Newcastle United | 0 | | | | | | |
| Birmingham City | 1 | Newcastle United | 0 | | | | | | |
| Newcastle United | 1 (3) | | | | | | | | |
| Newcastle United | 1 (3) | | | | | Middlesbrough | 0 | | |
| | | | | | | Manchester City | 2 | | |
| Barrow | 0 | | | | | Manchester City | 2 | | |
| Rochdale | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Rochdale | 2 | Rochdale | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | Huddersfield Town | 4 | | | | | | |
| Huddersfield Town | 4 | Huddersfield Town | 4 | | | | | | |
| Port Vale | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Port Vale | 0 | | | Huddersfield Town | 0 (4) | | | | |
| | | | | Manchester City | 0 (5) | | | | |
| Bolton Wanderers | 0 | | | Manchester City | 0 (5) | | | | |
| Crystal Palace | 0 (2) | | | | | | | | |
| Crystal Palace | 0 (2) | Crystal Palace | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | Manchester City | 3 | | | | | | |
| West Ham United | 0 | Manchester City | 3 | | | | | | |
| Manchester City | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Manchester City | 5 | | | | | | | | | Arsenal | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | Chelsea | 1 |
| Liverpool | 0 | | | | | | | | | Chelsea | 1 |
| Plymouth Argyle | 0 (0) | | | | | | | | | | |
| Plymouth Argyle | 0 (0) | Liverpool | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| | | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Stoke City | 0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2 | | | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | | Chelsea | 2 | | | | | | |
| Chelsea | 4 | | | Chelsea | 2 | | | | | | |
| Peterborough United | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Peterborough United | 1 | Chelsea | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | | Brentford | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Brentford | 5 | Brentford | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Eastleigh | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eastleigh | 1 | | | | | Chelsea | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Manchester United | 0 | | | | |
| Queens Park Rangers | 1 | | | | | Manchester United | 0 | | | | |
| Blackburn Rovers | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Blackburn Rovers | 2 | Blackburn Rovers | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | Blackpool | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Blackpool (a.e.t.) | 0 (2) | Blackpool | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Barnsley | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Barnsley | 0 | | | Blackburn Rovers | 1 | | | | | | |
| | | | | Manchester United | 2 | | | | | | |
| Manchester United | 4 | | | Manchester United | 2 | | | | | | |
| Reading | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Reading | 0 | Manchester United | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | | Wigan Athletic | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Wigan Athletic | 2 | Wigan Athletic | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Nottingham Forest | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nottingham Forest | 0 | | | | | | | Chelsea | 4 | | |
| | | | | | | | | Tottenham Hotspur | 2 |
| Cardiff City | 1 | | | | | | | Tottenham Hotspur | 2 |
| Fulham | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Fulham | 2 | Fulham | 4 | | | | | | |
| | | Hull City | 1 | | | | | | |
| Hull City | 2 | Hull City | 1 | | | | | | |
| Swansea City | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Swansea City | 0 | | | Fulham | 0 | | | | |
| | | | | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | | | | |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2 | | | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | | | | |
| Aston Villa | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Aston Villa | 0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 4 | | | | | | |
| | | Wycombe Wanderers | 3 | | | | | | |
| Wycombe Wanderers | 2 | Wycombe Wanderers | 3 | | | | | | |
| Stourbridge | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Stourbridge | 1 | | | | | Tottenham Hotspur | 6 | | |
| | | | | | | Millwall | 0 | | |
| Millwall | 3 | | | | | Millwall | 0 | | |
| AFC Bournemouth | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| AFC Bournemouth | 0 | Millwall | 1 | | | | | | |
| | | Watford | 0 | | | | | | |
| Watford | 2 | Watford | 0 | | | | | | |
| Burton Albion | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Burton Albion | 0 | | | Millwall | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | Leicester City | 0 | | | | |
| West Bromwich Albion F.C. | 1 | | | Leicester City | 0 | | | | |
| Derby County | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Derby County | 2 | Derby County | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | Leicester City (a.e.t.) | 2 (3) | | | | | | |
| Everton | 1 | Leicester City (a.e.t.) | 2 (3) | | | | | | |
| Leicester City | 2 | | | | | | | | |

## Top goalscorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Adam Morgan | Curzon Ashton | 6 |
| 1 | Son Heung-min | Tottenham Hotspur | 6 |
| 3 | Sergio Agüero | Manchester City | 5 |
| 3 | Kane Hemmings | Oxford United | 5 |
| 3 | Mikael Mandron | Eastleigh | 5 |
| 3 | Theo Robinson$^a$ | Lincoln City | 5 |
| 3 | Theo Walcott | Arsenal | 5 |
$^a$ Theo Robinson moved to Southend United during the January transfer window with Lincoln still in the cup.

## 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 | 4 November | Eastleigh v Swindon Town | 7:55pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC Two |
| First round | 5 November | Merstham v Oxford United | 12:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| First round | 7 November | Southport v Fleetwood Town | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| First round (Replay) | 16 November | Brackley Town v Gillingham | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| First round (Replay) | 17 November | Dover Athletic v Cambridge United (Replay) | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Second round | 2 December | Macclesfield Town v Oxford United | 7:55pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC Two |
| Second round | 4 December | Curzon Ashton v AFC Wimbledon | 12:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Second round | 5 December | Lincoln City v Oldham Athletic | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Second round (Replay) | 20 December | Peterborough United v Notts County | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Second round (Replay) | 21 December | Newport County v Plymouth Argyle | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Third round | 6 January | West Ham United v Manchester City | 7:55pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Third round | 7 January | Manchester United v Reading | 12:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Third round | 7 January | Preston North End v Arsenal | 5:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Third round | 8 January | Cardiff City v Fulham | 11:30am | BBC iPlayer | BBC One Wales |
| Third round | 8 January | Liverpool v Plymouth Argyle | 1:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Third round | 8 January | Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa | 4:00pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Third round | 9 January | Cambridge United v Leeds United | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Third round (Replay) | 17 February | Lincoln City v Ipswich Town | 8:05pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Third round (Replay) | 18 February | Plymouth Argyle v Liverpool | 7:45pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Fourth round | 27 January | Derby County v Leicester City | 7:55pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Fourth round | 28 January | Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers | 12:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Fourth round | 28 January | Southampton v Arsenal | 5:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Fourth round | 29 January | Millwall v Watford | 12:00pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Fourth round | 29 January | Sutton United v Leeds United | 2:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Fourth round | 29 January | Manchester United v Wigan Athletic | 4:00pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Fourth round (Replay) | 8 February | Leicester City v Derby County | 7:45pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Fifth round | 18 February | Burnley v Lincoln City | 12:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Fifth round | 18 February | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Chelsea | 5:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Fifth round | 19 February | Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur | 2:00pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Fifth round | 19 February | Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United | 4:15pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Fifth round | 20 February | Sutton United v Arsenal | 7:55pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Fifth round (Replay) | 1 March | Manchester City v Huddersfield Town | 7:45pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Quarter-finals | 11 March | Middlesbrough v Manchester City | 12:15pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Quarter-finals | 11 March | Arsenal v Lincoln City | 5:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |
| Quarter-finals | 12 March | Tottenham Hotspur v Millwall | 2:00pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Quarter-finals | 13 March | Chelsea v Manchester United | 7:45pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Semi-finals | 22 April | Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur | 5:15pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Semi-finals | 23 April | Arsenal v Manchester City | 3:00pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 1 |
| Final | 27 May | Arsenal v Chelsea | 5:30pm | BBC iPlayer | BBC One |
| Final | 27 May | Arsenal v Chelsea | 5:30pm | BT Sport App | BT Sport 2 |