2018–19 FA Cup

2018–19 FA Cup

Football Association Challenge Cup
Tournament details
Country	England Wales
Dates	11 August 2018 – 18 May 2019
Teams	736 (overall) 644 (qualifying competition) 124 (main competition)
Final positions
Champions	Manchester City (6th title)
Runners-up	Watford
Tournament statistics
Matches played	126
Goals scored	360 (2.86 per match)
Attendance	1,200,703 (9,529 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)	Padraig Amond Gabriel Jesus (5 goals each)
(Note: All statistics do not include qualifying play-offs)

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.^[1]

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

Phase	Round	Draw date	First match date	Ref.
Qualifying rounds	Extra preliminary round	6 July 2018	10 August 2018	[2]
	Preliminary round		24 August 2018
	First round qualifying	28 August 2018	8 September 2018
	Second round qualifying	10 September 2018	22 September 2018
	Third round qualifying	24 September 2018	6 October 2018
	Fourth round qualifying	8 October 2018	20 October 2018
Main tournament	First round proper	22 October 2018	10 November 2018
	Second round proper	12 November 2018	1 December 2018
	Third round proper	3 December 2018	4 January 2019
	Fourth round proper	7 January 2019	26 January 2019
	Fifth round proper	28 January 2019	16 February 2019
	Quarter-finals	18 February 2019	16 March 2019
	Semi-finals	17 March 2019	6 April 2019
	Final		18 May 2019

All teams that entered the competition, but were not members of the Premier League or The Football League, competed in the qualifying rounds to secure one of 32 places available in the first round proper. The qualifying competition began with the extra preliminary round on 10 August 2016, with the fourth and final qualifying round played over the weekend of 20 October.

The winners from the fourth qualifying round were Guiseley, FC Halifax Town, Salford City, Chorley, Hartlepool United, Southport, Chesterfield, York City, Solihull Moors, Wrexham, Gateshead, Stockport County, Alfreton Town, Oxford City, Hitchin Town, Woking, Maidenhead United, Slough Town, Weston-super-Mare, Boreham Wood, Metropolitan Police, Aldershot Town, Bromley, Torquay United, Hampton & Richmond Borough, Billericay Town, Sutton United, Ebbsfleet United, Maidstone United, Haringey Borough, Barnet and Dover Athletic.

Haringey Borough was the only club in this season's tournament appearing in the competition proper for the first time. Of the other successful qualifiers, Hampton & Richmond Borough and Hitchin Town were the only clubs not to have featured in the first round at least once in the previous decade, appearing at this stage for the first time since 2007-08 and 1995-96 respectively.

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.^[3]

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.

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.^[4]

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.^[5][6]

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.^[7] 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.^[8]

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.^{[9][10][11][12]}

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.

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

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

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)				Fourth round proper 25–28 January 2019 5–6 February 2019 (replays)				Fifth round proper 15–18 February 2019				Quarter-finals 16–17 March 2019				Semi-finals 6–7 April 2019				Final 18 May 2019
	Aston Villa	0
	Swansea City	3
					Swansea City	4
					Gillingham	1
	Gillingham	1
	Cardiff City	0
									Swansea City	4
									Brentford	1
	Sheffield United	0
	Barnet	1
					Barnet	3
					Brentford	3 (3)
	Brentford	1
	Oxford United	0
													Swansea City	2
													Manchester City	3
	Middlesbrough	5
	Peterborough United	0
					Middlesbrough	1 (0)
					Newport County	1 (2)
	Newport County	2
	Leicester City	1
									Newport County	1
									Manchester City	4
	Manchester City	7
	Rotherham United	0
					Manchester City	5
					Burnley	0
	Burnley	1
	Barnsley	0
																	Manchester City	1
																	Brighton & Hove Albion	0
	Fleetwood Town	2
	AFC Wimbledon	3
					AFC Wimbledon	4
					West Ham United	2
	West Ham United	2
	Birmingham City	0
									AFC Wimbledon	0
									Millwall	1
	Millwall	2
	Hull City	1
					Millwall	3
					Everton	2
	Everton	2
	Lincoln City	1
													Millwall	2 (4)
													Brighton & Hove Albion (p)	2 (5)
	AFC Bournemouth	1
	Brighton & Hove Albion	3
					Brighton & Hove Albion (a.e.t.)	0 (3)
					West Bromwich Albion	0
	West Bromwich Albion	1
	Wigan Athletic	0
									Brighton & Hove Albion	2
									Derby County	1
	Accrington Stanley	1
	Ipswich Town	0
					Accrington Stanley	0
					Derby County	1
	Derby County (p)	2 (2) (5)
	Southampton	2 (2) (3)
																				Manchester City	6
																					Watford	0
	Norwich City	0
	Portsmouth	1
					Portsmouth	1 (0)
					Queens Park Rangers	1 (2)
	Queens Park Rangers	2
	Leeds United	1
									Queens Park Rangers	0
									Watford	1
	Newcastle United (a.e.t.)	1 (4)
	Blackburn Rovers	1 (2)
					Newcastle United	0
					Watford	2
	Woking	0
	Watford	2
													Watford	2
													Crystal Palace	1
	Preston North End	1
	Doncaster Rovers	3
					Doncaster Rovers	2
					Oldham Athletic	1
	Fulham	1
	Oldham Athletic	2
									Doncaster Rovers	0
									Crystal Palace	2
	Crystal Palace	1
	Grimsby Town	0
					Crystal Palace	2
					Tottenham Hotspur	0
	Tranmere Rovers	0
	Tottenham Hotspur	7
																Watford (a.e.t.)	3
																	Wolverhampton Wanderers	2
	Bristol City	1
	Huddersfield Town	0
					Bristol City	2
					Bolton Wanderers	1
	Bolton Wanderers	5
	Walsall	2
									Bristol City	0
									Wolverhampton Wanderers	1
	Shrewsbury Town	2 (3)
	Stoke City	2 (2)
					Shrewsbury Town	2 (2)
					Wolverhampton Wanderers	2 (3)
	Wolverhampton Wanderers	2
	Liverpool	1
													Wolverhampton Wanderers	2
													Manchester United	1
	Chelsea	2
	Nottingham Forest	0
					Chelsea	3
					Sheffield Wednesday	0
	Sheffield Wednesday	0
	Luton Town	0 (0)
									Chelsea	0
									Manchester United	2
	Blackpool	0
	Arsenal	3
					Arsenal	1
					Manchester United	3
	Manchester United	2
	Reading	0

Rank	Player	Club	Goals[17]
1	Padraig Amond	Newport County	5
	Gabriel Jesus	Manchester City
3	Matt Doherty	Wolverhampton Wanderers	4
	Connor Jennings	Tranmere Rovers
	Raúl Jiménez	Wolverhampton Wanderers
	Paddy Madden	Fleetwood Town
	Alfie May	Doncaster Rovers
	Ivan Toney	Peterborough United
9	18 players		3

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
				Digital	TV
First round	9 November	Haringey Borough v AFC Wimbledon	7:55pm	BBC iPlayer	BBC Two
	10 November	Maidenhead United v Portsmouth	12:30pm	BT Sport App	BT Sport 1
	11 November	Port Vale v Sunderland	2:30pm	BT Sport App	BT Sport 1
	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
	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
	1 December	F.C. Halifax Town v AFC Wimbledon	12:30pm	BT Sport App	BT Sport 1
	2 December	Wrexham v Newport County	8:00pm	BT Sport App	BT Sport 1
	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
	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
	5 January	Manchester United v Reading	12:30pm	BT Sport App	BT Sport 2
		Blackpool v Arsenal	5:30pm	BT Sport App	BT Sport 2
	6 January	Woking v Watford	2:00pm	BT Sport App	BT Sport 2
		Newport County v Leicester City	4:30pm	BBC iPlayer	BBC One
	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
	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
	26 January	Accrington Stanley v Derby County	12:30pm	BT Sport App	BT Sport 2
		Millwall v Everton	5:30pm	BBC iPlayer	BBC One
		AFC Wimbledon v West Ham United	7:45pm	BT Sport App	BT Sport 2
	27 January	Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur	4:00pm	BT Sport App	BT Sport 2
		Chelsea v Sheffield Wednesday	6:00pm	BBC iPlayer	BBC One
	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
	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
	16 February	Brighton & Hove Albion v Derby County	12:30pm	BT Sport App	BT Sport 2
		Newport County v Manchester City	5:30pm	BT Sport App	BT Sport 2
	17 February	Bristol City v Wolverhampton Wanderers	1:00pm	BT Sport App	BT Sport 2
		Swansea City v Brentford	4:00pm	BBC iPlayer	BBC One Wales
		Doncaster Rovers v Crystal Palace	4:00pm	BBC iPlayer	BBC One
	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
		Swansea City v Manchester City	5:20pm	BT Sport App	BT Sport 2
		Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United	7:55pm	BBC iPlayer	BBC One
	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
	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
				BT Sport App	BT Sport 2

• The official FA Cup website