Home of football statistics and historyIf you think that Liverpool winning their record-tying Premier League title early in the 2024/2025 season means the end of competitive football on the island, you are wrong. English football still has a lot more to deliver, especially now that we know that the Europa League final will feature two English clubs and that the Europa Conference League final will feature one. With Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur battling it out in the second-tier UEFA competition and Chelsea going up against Real Betis in the third-tier, English football has never been more widespread. Imagine if Arsenal managed to grab that Champions League finals spot too!
But none of that is why we are here, as there is still the biggest domestic cup left to be played in England, the coveted FA Cup, and the teams to watch could not be more different. With Manchester City and Crystal Palace playing for the iconic trophy, there are many things left unknown. It is (a struggling) Goliath versus David, it is Manchester against London, and it is one of the best English teams ever against a historically average side hitting way ahead of their class. So, who will win, what do the stats, odds, and predictions say, and who are the key players to watch in the 2025 Football Association Challenge Cup? Let us dive deeper as we bring to you FA Cup previews & betting tips alongside a look back at how the finalists got there and what this title would mean for them.
The Final is Almost Here
Let us first get the basics out of the way. Date and time? Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 4:30 PM. The place? Well, Wembley Stadium, London, of course, meaning Crystal Palace will have a slight advantage in the stands, because they are a local team and have never won the cup before. However, Manchester City is better, more experienced, and hungrier than ever for a title during this forgettable season in which they fell out of any and all title races early, except this final. A win would mean a salvaged season and not going trophyless. Apart from the trophy, the winner gets a spot in the UEFA Europa League next season, and the winners and the runners-up receive £2,000,000 and £1,000,000 from the competition’s prize fund, respectively.
Respectively, the Eagles beat Aston Villa while the Sky Blues took down Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals to book a trip to Wembley. For Crystal Palace, it will be another FA Cup Final following their 2016 appearance when they lost to Man Utd, and 3rd overall. In the semifinals, they beat a very good Aston Villa side in a season where they looked superb and were in contention for multiple trophies. They lost 4-5 on aggregate to PSG in the UEFA CL quarter-finals and are currently 7th in the Premiership with a chance to play Champions League or Europa League football next season. That 3-0 win was astonishing to say the least, and it could be the wind in their back that takes them the precious hardware.
City are in it for the third successive year, having won it in the 2022/2023 season against United and lost in 2023/2024 to United, and 14th overall (7 titles). The team beat a great Nottingham Forest side 2-0 and booked their first final this season. So far, they have been eliminated from the UEFA CL by Real Madrid 6-3 on aggregate in the Round of 16, and were eliminated by Tottenham in the Round of 16 in the EFL Cup. They really need a win to turn things around and sleep better as they prepare for the FIFA Club World Cup group stage against Wydad AC, Al Ain, and Juventus on June 18, 23, and 26, respectively. They are now third in the Premier League after struggling for so long and could end up second, but this season’s league campaign will always leave a sour taste in their mouths.
Key Players to Watch
The bigger and more successful club, Manchester City, remains the frontrunners to win this season’s FA Cup. The club has claimed the trophy seven times and has appeared in the final in each of the past two seasons. However, despite being the most accomplished side left in the competition based on recent success, City’s current form has dipped, and they are missing their best players. They have struggled mightily throughout the 2024/2025 campaign, particularly in the absence of their Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who usually anchors their midfield with every play going through him. Adding to their troubles, top scorer Erling Haaland has suffered an injury that has sidelined him for a while. However, he said that he feels good and that he would be ready for the big match. So far, Nico O’Reilly and James McAtee have scored 3 goals, and Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne have found the net 2 times for City. Jack Grealish has 3 assists with O’Reilly, Doku, and Phil Foden adding 2 more.
On the other side, Crystal Palace have had a relatively easy run against Millwall, Doncaster Rovers, and Stockport County in the rounds leading up to Aston Villa, whom they routinely beat in the semis. Although they have never won the tournament, they have finished as runners-up twice, including most recently in 2016 when they lost the final to Manchester United. While they are not doing brilliantly in the league as they are currently 12th, the London team still has a chance to win a major trophy thanks to their talented squad of players. Led by Eberechi Eze, Adam Wharton, and Jean-Philippe Mateta, they can make a difference and use the chances they create. Ismaila Sarr and Eze have scored 3 times, while Eddie Nketiah and Daniel Munoz added 2 each.
Odds, Predictions, and Bets to Consider
When odds for the teams are in question, according to the predictions for FA Cup betting on Stake, Manchester City is the heavy favorite to win their 8th title in the competition. They have 1.66 odds to win the game. The underdog, despite playing at home in London, only gets 4.70 odds by the sportsbook to lift the trophy. The draw bet is 4.10 at the moment. Palace have a tall task ahead of them, but big stages are where the heroes are made and legends are born. It would be the biggest moment for their club in recent memory, and they have everything to play for against a team that is not a shadow of their former self, but certainly vulnerable. For more niche bets, the goal range odds are 4.00 for 0-1, 1.99 for 2-3, 3.35 for 4-5, and 11.00 for 6+.
FA Cup Records and Stats
The FA Cup, officially known as the Football Association Challenge Cup, is the world’s oldest national football competition, established in the 1871–72 season. With more than 150 years of top-tier footballing history, the tournament has produced a wealth of fascinating records and statistics. It has long cemented its place as one of the most cherished competitions in English football and is beloved by the players and fans alike.
Arsenal holds the record for the most FA Cup wins by a club, having lifted the trophy 14 times. Their most recent triumph came in 2020. Manchester United follows closely behind, with 12 titles to their name. In terms of appearances in the final, both the Red Devils and the Gunners have appeared more than 20 times, thus showcasing their consistency in domestic cup competitions despite struggling in the Premier League in the last decade.
The record for the most FA Cup goals by a player is held by Harry Cursham, who scored an astonishing 49 goals for Notts County between 1877 and 1888, a record that still stands today. Among modern players, Ian Rush scored 44 FA Cup goals for Liverpool and Chester, making him one of the most prolific scorers in the competition’s recent history.
The largest victory margin in an FA Cup match occurred in 1887 when Preston North End defeated Hyde 26-0. In terms of modern-era surprises, the FA Cup’s moniker of giant killings, where lower-league teams defeat top-tier sides, one of the most iconic examples is Hereford United’s 2-1 win over Newcastle United in 1972.
The fastest goal in an FA Cup final was scored by Louis Saha for Everton against Chelsea in 2009, just 25 seconds after kickoff. Despite his early strike, Chelsea went on to win the match 2-1.
Wembley Stadium has traditionally been the host of the FA Cup Final since 1923, excluding a few years during the stadium’s reconstruction in the early 2000s. The 1923 final, known as the “White Horse Final,” attracted an estimated crowd of over 200,000 spectators, far exceeding the venue’s intended capacity.
Lower-league clubs have made remarkable runs, like when Lincoln City became the first non-league team in over 100 years to reach the quarter-finals in 2017. Fans adore stories like this and typically root for the unlikeliest of overperformers and underdogs, especially when their favourite team is knocked out of the competition.
FA Cup FAQs
How much do you know about this domestic English football competition, and are you informed enough as a fan and sports betting enthusiast? If you are unsure about this, here are some frequently asked questions and answers about it.
1. What is the FA Cup?
The FA Cup (Football Association Challenge Cup) is the oldest national football competition in the world, established in 1871. It is an annual knockout tournament open to clubs from all levels of the English football pyramid, and as such, unique in the sport.
2. Who is eligible to compete in the FA Cup?
Teams from Levels 1 to 10 of the English football league system can enter, ranging from Premier League giants to small amateur clubs. They can participate provided they meet certain criteria set by the FA.
3. How is the FA Cup structured?
The competition begins with qualifying rounds for lower-tier teams. Higher-tier teams enter in stages. Level 9 and 10 clubs start in the extra preliminary round. League One and Two clubs enter the First Round Proper. Premier League and Championship clubs join at the Third Round Proper.
4. What makes the FA Cup unique among football competitions?
It is renowned for “giant killings”, a term for when smaller or non-league clubs defeat top-tier teams. It is an open format that allows for dream matchups and dramatic upsets, as well as one-in-a-lifetime opportunities to face big clubs as an amateur or a semi-pro player.
5. Who has won the most FA Cups?
As of 2024, Arsenal holds the record with 14 FA Cup titles, followed by Manchester United with 12.
6. Where is the FA Cup Final held?
Since 2007, the final has been held at the iconic grounds of Wembley Stadium in London, a venue that adds prestige and tradition to the competition and a place where every English player and team hopes to play.
7. What does the winner of the FA Cup receive?
The winner earns a place in the UEFA Europa League (unless already qualified through the league) and lifts the iconic silver FA Cup trophy, redesigned several times but always deeply symbolic and iconic.
8. Has any non-league team ever won the FA Cup?
Yes. Tottenham Hotspur in 1901 remains the only non-league club to win the FA Cup, having competed as a Southern League team at the time.
9. What is the magic of the FA Cup?
The phrase refers to its unpredictability, open format, and capacity to produce emotional and historic moments, often seeing amateur players face elite professionals in unlikely matchups.
10. How are replays handled in the FA Cup?
Historically, drawn matches went to replays. However, from the 2022/2023 season onwards, replays were scrapped from the fifth round onward as ties are now decided by extra time and penalties, like anywhere else, to ease fixture congestion.
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