Welcome to the ultimate source for the sharpest FA Cup Tips and expert FA Cup predictions. Squawka’s data-driven analysis is your essential guide to navigating the world’s oldest and most unpredictable knockout competition. We cut through the noise of potential giant killings and squad rotation, using advanced metrics to deliver FA Cup football tips across every round. Our comprehensive previews ensure you are equipped to find value in outrights, match outcomes, and goalscoring markets. Trust the numbers, trust Squawka for your FA Cup picks.
This page breaks down everything you need, including how we create our FA Cup tips, what factors matter most in cup football and how to spot valuable opportunities across every round.
Today’s FA Cup tips
Our analysts have crunched the numbers for all today’s fixtures. Check the selections below for our high-confidence FA Cup tips and FA Cup best bets. Do not miss out on today’s sharpest insight.
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FA Cup 2025/2026 – May Update
All that’s left is to crown this year’s FA Cup winner, which will be one of Chelsea or Manchester City. The pair progressed via semi-final wins over Leeds and Southampton respectively, and will battle it out for ultimate glory in England’s prestigious domestic cup competition on Saturday 16th May at 3:00pm.
Without a permanent manager and severely struggling for any kind of reputable form, Chelsea may still be able to tempt a few at odds of 7/2. On the other hand, Man City will be massively favoured in the winner market at 4/5.
FA Cup Outright Odds
FA Cup 2025/2026 Key Dates
Extra Preliminary Round: Saturday 2 August 2025Preliminary Round: Saturday 16 August 2025First Round Qualifying: Saturday 30 August 2025Second Round Qualifying: Saturday 13 September 2025Third Round Qualifying: Saturday 27 September 2025Fourth Round Qualifying: Saturday 11 October 2025First Round Proper: Saturday 1 November 2025Second Round Proper: Saturday 6 December 2025Third Round Proper: Saturday 10 January 2026Fourth Round Proper: Saturday 14 February 2026Fifth Round Proper: Saturday 7 March 2026Quarter Final: Saturday 4 April 2026Semi-Final: Saturday 25 April 2026- The Final: Saturday 16 May 2026
What makes FA Cup betting unique
The FA Cup features clubs from all levels of the English football system, which creates unpredictable matchups and dramatic results. Because of the knockout format, matches often play out differently compared to league games. Motivation, rotation, and pressure all play major roles.Key differences that influence FA Cup predictions include:
• Teams from lower leagues raising their performance levels
• Premier League and Championship teams rotating squads
•Tactical approaches changing due to the high stakes of knockout football
• Match intensity and pace often increasing as the game progresses
• Home advantage is becoming more significant for lower league sides. Understanding these factors gives you a major edge when selecting FA Cup tips.
Why FA Cup betting can strong betting value
FA Cup games often produce betting value because bookmakers sometimes price matches based heavily on league form. But in cup football, motivation and squad decisions can matter more than league results.Reasons FA Cup tips can offer value:•
Underdogs often play with high intensity and attack more bravely
• Favourites may rotate key players which levels the playing field
• Some clubs focus strongly on cup competitions for prestige
• Tactical surprises are more common, creating unexpected match patterns
How We Create Our FA Cup Predictions
Our FA Cup tips are built using a structured analysis process. Every selection is based on objective data, form patterns and match context.
We evaluate:
- Recent form across league and cup matches
- Attacking strength including shots on target, chance creation and expected goals
- Defensive stability and recent goals conceded
- Injury news, suspensions and likely squad rotation
- Motivational factors such as cup prioritisation, fixture congestion or manager comments
- Head to head history if relevant
- Tactical style including pressing intensity, formation changes or direct attacking patterns
- Home and away performance differences
This consistent method helps identify strong opportunities before odds shift.
FA Cup betting strategy for better results
Using a well-thought-out strategy improves long term performance. These principles work well for FA Cup betting.
• Prioritise matches where both teams have clear motivation to progress
• Be careful with odds-on favourites in early rounds, especially away from home
• Look for markets like over 2.5 goals when favourites rotate defences
• Consider both teams to score when a lower league underdog hosts a top tier team
• Avoid accumulators with too many FA Cup fixtures because unpredictability is high
• Use in play markets when possible, especially if the match begins with fast tempo or defensive errors
A clear strategy reduces risk and helps you find value more consistently.
Common mistakes to avoid when betting the FA Cup
Many bettors fall into the same traps during FA Cup season. Avoid these mistakes to improve your success rate.
• Relying only on league form without considering rotation
• Ignoring the psychological impact of knockout football
• Assuming favourites will dominate regardless of lineup changes
• Overestimating the gap between divisions
• Placing bets without checking starting elevens
• Chasing high odds without a logical reason
Avoiding these errors immediately improves the quality of your fa cup tips.
When do we release our FA Cup tips
Squawka releases FA Cup tips and predictions at least 48 hours before each match. Our team of experts analyses Premier League and EFL sides to provide stats-driven guidance for every round, from the early stages to the final.
You will get:
• Detailed statistical analysis for each team
• Insight into form, motivation, and tactical setup
• Early access to predictions so you can place informed bets
Tips are refreshed before each round to reflect team news and the latest data.
Popular FA Cup betting markets.
FA Cup matches offer a variety of betting options due to their knockout format. Popular markets include:
• Correct score – Predicting the exact 90-minute score
• First scorer – Betting on which player scores first
• Total goals – Markets like Over 2.5 Goals are ideal due to open, attacking football
• Accumulators – Combine multiple selections across matches for higher potential returns
Accumulators can be especially exciting, letting you wager across several FA Cup games in one bet.
In-Play FA Cup Betting
In-play betting allows you to place bets during live matches, taking advantage of dynamic game developments. Common FA Cup in-play markets include:
• Which team will score next
• Will a goal occur before a specific time
• Player-specific markets, like next scorer
Live betting is especially valuable when underdogs challenge top teams, offering opportunities to capitalise on unexpected moments.
Best bookmakers for betting on the FA Cup
We regularly review the top sportsbooks to ensure you are getting the best value for your FA Cup picks. These bookmakers offer the FA Cup odds, enhanced markets, and promotions. Leading names we recommend include Bet365, Sky Bet, BetMGM, Midnite, and Bet UK.
Which other competitions do you offer tips for?
Of course, our tips aren’t just limited to the FA Cup. Indeed, we offer tips for the other major British competitions including the Premier League, the Scottish Premiership, the Championship and the EFL Cup. We also look across Europe, not just for continental tournaments like the Champions League and Europa League but also for the major domestic leagues in Spain, Italy and Germany, amongst others.
FA Cup Offers & Free Bets
The FA Cup throws up some very interesting matches in every round, so you can be sure to find huge boosted odds for new customers and we’ll keep you on top of the latest in the way of these enticing offers here.
Meanwhile, you can always rely on the bookmakers’ free bet offers if none of these price boosts take your fancy, with most sportsbooks offering new customers the chance to increase their playing funds by offering matched deposit bonuses and the likes.
Who has won the most FA Cups?
- Arsenal: 14
- Man Utd: 13
- Chelsea: 8
- Liverpool: 8
- Tottenham: 8
- Man City: 7
- Aston Villa: 7
- Newcastle United: 6
- Blackburn Rovers: 6
- Everton: 5
- West Brom: 5
Previous FA Cup winners
- 1871-72 – Wanderers 1-0 Royal Engineers – Kennington Oval
- 1872-73 – Wanderers 2-0 Oxford University – Lillie Bridge
- 1873-74 – Oxford University 2-0 Royal Engineers – Kennington Oval
- 1874-75 – Royal Engineers 2-0 Old Etonians (R) – Kennington Oval
- 1875-76 – Wanderers 3-0 Old Etonians (R) – Kennington Oval
- 1876-77 – Wanderers 2-1 Oxford University – Kennington Oval
- 1877-78 – Wanderers 3-1 Royal Engineers – Kennington Oval
- 1878-79 – Old Etonians 1-0 Clapham Rovers – Kennington Oval
- 1879-80 – Clapham Rovers 1-0 Oxford University – Kennington Oval
- 1880-81 – Old Carthusians 3-0 Old Etonians – Kennington Oval
- 1881-82 – Old Etonians 1-0 Blackburn Rovers – Kennington Oval
- 1882-83 – Blackburn Olympic 2-1 Old Etonians – Kennington Oval
- 1883-83 – Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Queen’s Park – Kennington Oval
- 1884-85 – Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Queen’s Park – Kennington Oval
- 1885-86 – Blackburn Rovers 2-0 West Brom (R) – Racecourse Ground
- 1886-87 – Aston Villa 2-0 West Brom – Kennington Oval
- 1887-88 – West Brom 2-1 Preston North End – Kennington Oval
- 1888-89 – Preston North End 3-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers – Kennington Oval
- 1889-90 – Blackburn Rovers 6-1 The Wednesday – Kennington Oval
- 1890-91 – Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Notts County – Kennington Oval
- 1891-92 – West Brom 3-0 Aston Villa – Kennington Oval
- 1892-93 – Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 Everton Fallowfield Stadium
- 1893-94 – Notts County 4-1 Bolton Wanderers – Goodison Park
- 1894-95 – Aston Villa 1-0 West Brom – Crystal Palace
- 1895-96 – The Wednesday 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers – Crystal Palace
- 1896-97 – Aston Villa 3-2 Everton – Crystal Palace
- 1897-98 – Nottingham Forest 3-1 Derby County – Crystal Palace
- 1898-99 – Sheffield United 4-1 Derby County – Crystal Palace
- 1899-1900 – Bury 4-0 Southampton – Crystal Palace
- 1900-01 – Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Sheffield United (R) – Burnden Park
- 1901-02 – Sheffield United 2-1 Southampton (R) – Crystal Palace
- 1902-03 – Bury 6-0 Derby County – Crystal Palace
- 1903-04 – Manchester City 1-0 Bolton Wanderers – Crystal Palace
- 1904-05 – Aston Villa 2-0 Newcastle United – Crystal Palace
- 1905-06 – Everton 1-0 Newcastle United – Crystal Palace
- 1906-07 – The Wednesday 2-1 Everton – Crystal Palace
- 1907-08 – Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 Newcastle United – Crystal Palace
- 1908-09 – Manchester United 1-0 Bristol City – Crystal Palace
- 1909-10 – Newcastle United 2-0 Barnsley (R) – Goodison Park
- 1910-11 – Bradford City 1-0 Newcastle United (R) – Old Trafford
- 1911-12 – Barnsley 1-0 West Brom (R) – Bramall Lane
- 1912-13 – Aston Villa 1-0 Sunderland – Crystal Palace
- 1913-14 Burnley 1-0 Liverpool – Crystal Palace
- 1914-15 – Sheffield United 3-0 Chelsea – Old Trafford
- 1919-20 – Aston Villa 1-0 Huddersfield Town – Stamford Bridge
- 1920-21 – Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers – Stamford Bridge
- 1921-22 – Huddersfield Town 1-0 Preston North End – Stamford Bridge
- 1922-23 – Bolton Wanderers 2-0 West Ham United – Wembley
- 1923-24 – Newcastle United 2-0 Aston Villa – Wembley
- 1924-25 – Sheffield United 1-0 Cardiff City – Wembley
- 1925-26 – Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Manchester City – Wembley
- 1926-27 – Cardiff City 1-0 Arsenal – Wembley
- 1927-28 – Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Huddersfield Town – Wembley
- 1928-29 – Bolton Wanderers 2-0 Portsmouth – Wembley
- 1929-30 – Arsenal 2-0 Huddersfield Town – Wembley
- 1930-31 – West Brom 2-1 Birmingham – Wembley
- 1931-32 – Newcastle United 2-1 Arsenal – Wembley
- 1932-33 – Everton 3-0 Manchester City – Wembley
- 1933-34 – Manchester City 2-1 Portsmouth – Wembley
- 1934-35 – Sheffield Wednesday 4-2 West Brom – Wembley
- 1935-36 – Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield United – Wembley
- 1936-37 – Sunderland 3-1 Preston North End – Wembley
- 1937-38 – Preston North End 1-0 Huddersfield Town – Wembley
- 1938-39 – Portsmouth 4-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers – Wembley
- 1945-46 – Derby County 4-1 Charlton Athletic – Wembley
- 1946-47 – Charlton Athletic 1-0 Burnley – Wembley
- 1947-48 – Manchester United 4-2 Blackpool – Wembley
- 1948-49 – Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 Leicester City – Wembley
- 1949-50 – Arsenal 2-0 Liverpool – Wembley
- 1950-51 – Newcastle United 2-0 Blackpool – Wembley
- 1951-52 – Newcastle United 1-0 Arsenal – Wembley
- 1952-53 – Blackpool 4-3 Bolton Wanderers – Wembley
- 1953-54 – West Brom 3-2 Preston North End – Wembley
- 1954-55 – Newcastle United 3-1 Manchester City – Wembley
- 1955-56 – Manchester City 3-1 Birmingham City – Wembley
- 1956-57 – Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United – Wembley
- 1957-58 – Bolton Wanderers 2-0 Manchester United – Wembley
- 1958-59 – Nottingham Forest 2-1 Luton Town – Wembley
- 1959-60 – Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 Blackburn Rovers – Wembley
- 1960-61 – Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Leicester City – Wembley
- 1961-62 – Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Burnley – Wembley
- 1962-63 – Manchester United 3-1 Leicester City – Wembley
- 1963-64 – West Ham United 3-2 Preston North End – Wembley
- 1964-65 – Liverpool 2-1 Leeds United – Wembley
- 1965-66 – Everton 3-2 Sheffield Wednesday – Wembley
- 1966-67 – Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Chelsea – Wembley
- 1967-68 – West Brom 1-0 Everton – Wembley
- 1968-69 – Manchester City 1-0 Leicester City – Wembley
- 1969-70 – Chelsea 2-1 Leeds United (R) – Old Trafford
- 1970-71 – Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool – Wembley
- 1971-72 – Leeds United 1-0 Arsenal – Wembley
- 1972-73 – Sunderland 1-0 Leeds United – Wembley
- 1973-74 – Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle United – Wembley
- 1974-75 – West Ham United 2-0 Fulham – Wembley
- 1975-76 – Southampton 1-0 Manchester United – Wembley
- 1976-77 – Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool – Wembley
- 1977-78 – Ipswich Town 1-0 Arsenal – Wembley
- 1978-79 – Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United – Wembley
- 1979-80 – West Ham United 1-0 Arsenal – Wembley
- 1980-81 – Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 Manchester City (R) – Wembley
- 1981-82 – Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Queens Park Rangers (R) – Wembley
- 1982-83 – Manchester United 4-0 Brighton and Hove Albion (R) – Wembley
- 1983-84 – Everton 2-0 Watford – Wembley
- 1984-85 – Manchester United 1-0 Everton – Wembley
- 1985-86 – Liverpool 3-1 Everton – Wembley
- 1986-87 – Coventry City 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur – Wembley
- 1987-88 – Wimbledon 1-0 Liverpool – Wembley
- 1988-89 – Liverpool 3-2 Everton – Wembley
- 1989-90 – Manchester United 1-0 Crystal Palace (R)- Wembley
- 1990-91 – Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Nottingham Forest – Wembley
- 1991-92 – Liverpool 2-0 Sunderland – Wembley
- 1992-93 – Arsenal 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday (R) – Wembley
- 1993-94 – Manchester United 4-0 Chelsea – Wembley
- 1994-95 – Everton 1-0 Manchester United – Wembley
- 1995-96 – Manchester United 1-0 Liverpool – Wembley
- 1996-97 – Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough – Wembley
- 1997-98 – Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle – Wembley
- 1998-99 – Manchester United 2-0 Newcastle – Wembley
- 1999-2000 – Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa – Wembley
- 2000-01 – Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal – Cardiff
- 2001-02 – Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea – Cardiff
- 2002-03 – Arsenal 1-0 Southampton – Cardiff
- 2003-04 – Manchester United 3-0 Millwall – Cardiff
- 2004-05 – Arsenal* 0-0 Manchester United (5-4 penalties) – Cardiff
- 2005-06 – Liverpool* 3-3 West Ham (3-1 penalties) – Cardiff
- 2006-07 – Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United – Wembley
- 2007-08 – Portsmouth 1-0 Cardiff City – Wembley
- 2008-09 – Chelsea 2-1 Everton – Wembley
- 2009-10 – Chelsea 1-0 Portsmouth – Wembley
- 2010-11 – Manchester City 1-0 Stoke City – Wembley
- 2011-12 – Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool – Wembley
- 2012-13 – Wigan Athletic 1-0 Manchester City – Wembley
- 2013-14 – Arsenal 3-2 Hull City – Wembley
- 2014-15 – Arsenal 4-0 Aston Villa – Wembley
- 2015-16 – Manchester United 2-1 Crystal Palace – Wembley
- 2016-17 – Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea – Wembley
- 2017-18 – Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United – Wembley
- 2018-19 – Manchester City 6-0 Watford – Wembley
- 2019-20 – Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea – Wembley
- 2020-21 – Leicester 1-0 Chelsea – Wembley
- 2021-22 – Liverpool* 0-0 Chelsea (6-5 penalties) – Wembley
- 2022-23 – Manchester City 2-1 Manchester United – Wembley
- 2023-24 – Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United – Wembley
- 2024-25 – Crystal Palace 1-0 Manchester City – Wembley
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Lower-league teams often overperform, especially at home or against rotated sides.
Yes, because of unpredictability and rotation, but this also creates value opportunities.
Both options can work, but in-play betting offers value if matches open up unexpectedly.
Sometimes. Mismatched lineups or attacking underdogs can create high-scoring games.
League form matters but should be combined with cup-specific factors for the best FA Cup tips.