The oldest soccer tournament in the world begins its proper stages in November for its newest edition. Now in their 144th season, 745 teams will enter the cup hoping to hoist one of England’s most coveted pieces of silverware. Last year’s final was a Manchester derby, with the underdogs United winning 2-1. Continue reading to access an expert FA Cup betting preview and explore Serie A stats, tips and a breakdown of the odds on winning the FA Cup.
- Football Association Challenge Cup
- Domestic tournament
- 745 teams
- November 2, 2024 to May 17, 2025 (qualifying began August 3, 2024)
- England
- ESPN+
FA Cup Betting: Man City Favored to Win
Man City are favored to win the FA Cup and make amends for their Cup final defeat in 2024. The Cityzens are (+300) to win, while their next closest rivals are Arsenal at (+700). Liverpool is close behind at (+900), along with Chelsea (+1000), Newcastle (+1100), and Man United (+1200). Tottenham and Aston Villa are (+1200) and (+1400), respectively.
Want to better understand the soccer futures market? See our soccer betting tips and learn about soccer betting lines in 2024.
FA Cup Format, Past Results, 2024-25 Schedule
To find out which 32 teams, out of the 640 in the National Football System, would get a pass to the FA Cup first round, a six-round qualifying competition got underway on August 3. Following that, these clubs were arbitrarily selected with clubs from the EFL League One and Two flights, who were given direct entry into the first round. Games are played at the host team’s location up until the fifth round proper, with replays held at the opposing team’s location if needed.
Following the conclusion of the first two rounds, the 20 remaining clubs advance to the Premier League and EFL Championship, the top two English soccer leagues, where they will play with 44 other clubs. From there on, the 64 teams play one round at a time from January to April, until 4 teams are left. The remaining matches between these great clubs take place at Wembley Stadium, which is regarded as the home of English soccer.
Replays, which are currently only allowed in the first through fourth rounds proper, have grown to be a well-known feature of the FA Cup, with many iconic moments taking place in the second game of a tie. In the event that a replay remains a draw after thirty minutes of extra time, the clubs are directed to a penalty kick shootout to decide the winner of the tie. The FA Cup Final winners will automatically qualify for the Europa League and will play in the Community Shield the following season.
Arsenal: Most FA Cup Wins in History
The Gunners are the most decorated team in the history of the FA Cup. Arsenal has won the title 14 times, one ahead of Manchester United at 13. No other team has more than 8. Arsenal last won the Cup in 2019-20, while also winning 3 in four seasons between 2013-14 to 2016-17. Such a rich history of success in this specific tournament should inspire confidence amongst its current players, some of whom were with Arsenal in their most recent run.
Betting on the FA Cup is a very risky proposition, as it is a single-elimination tournament by design. This means one slip-up and you’re out. Additionally, venues are decided by a draw, so any team could end up having to play all of its games on the road. So Manchester City, with a line of at (+300), has a lot of convincing to do to justify such a price tag.
I think the discrepancy between Arsenal and Man City is preposterous. The two clubs are even according to Premier League futures. I think each should be lined at around (+450), so I think there is value on Arsenal at the current line. But only go half your typical betting wager given the concerns described earlier.
FA Cup Betting: Manchester City Revenge Tour in 2024-25?
Manchester City were undercut by their local rivals United in the final to thwart a potential double. Erik ten Hag commandeered his side to an impressive 2-1 victory and yet another FA Cup title despite suffering the most Premier League losses in club history. Indeed, their 14 defeats were their highest total ever, but an extra-time victory over Liverpool and a dramatic win on penalties over second-tier Coventry City in the semifinal put them in a position to give their best performance of the season when the lights shined the brightest.
The win was a shock to the world as Manchester City were utterly dominant in the tournament up until that point. City secured clean sheets in four of their previous five rounds, outscoring their opponents by a combined 15-2. City had experience playing a Manchester derby in the final after meeting United in the same round last season. That time, it was the sky blue outfit that won 2-1.
2024-25 sets up to be a chance for Pep Guardiola to make his 3rd straight final with Manchester City. His side has looked nearly invincible in this format, but it can all fall apart in one night. There is no reason to think they shouldn’t make it very far yet again, but getting to a line of (+300) is asking a lot. City could easily catch a poor draw in any round and face significant pressure early.
If you want to take Manchester City, just wait. This line should stay around the same price until at least the quarterfinals, if not get better.
Odds are accurate at time of writing but subject to change.
Top Sportsbooks for Odds on Winning the FA Cup
Explore some of the best sportsbooks for online betting below. Each website is reviewed by My Top Sportsbooks for user experience, customer service, new member promos, and more.
