FA Cup Picks & Predictions
Emirates FA Cup 2025/26 Season - English Soccer Betting Picks & Predictions
You can bet on all the biggest football tournaments at Stake Sportsbook, including the historic FA Cup. In this guide, we’ll share our top FA Cup soccer betting picks.
What is the Emirates FA Cup?
The FA Cup is the world’s oldest soccer competition and one of English football's most prestigious and coveted trophies. Compared to other competitions, it’s unique, as it’s open to every team in the English football pyramid. That means hundreds of teams take part.
Named after the Football Association (FA), the tournament runs every season, giving clubs from across the country a chance to compete at Wembley Stadium and lift the famous trophy. Winners of the competition also earn the right to play in next season’s UEFA Europa League.
Emirates FA Cup History & Past Winners
The English Football Association (FA) was founded in 1863 to create unified rules for the sport of soccer. Before that point, the rules of the game depended on where in the UK it was being played, which made organizing matches very chaotic. After the FA was founded, it set about establishing a nationwide competition.
The original edition of the FA Cup took place in 1871, with a total of 15 teams and 13 games. However, the competition changed a lot in 1888 as more teams were invited, and the qualifying rounds were first introduced.
The game originally had a rule that any tie game must be replayed, leading to a record 6 replays between Alvechurch and Oxford City in 1971-72 qualification. Multiple replays were eventually scrapped from the competition, and replays are no longer possible from the first round onwards.
Although the tournament is held every season, it has had some breaks due to the First and Second World Wars. The finals and semi-finals of the FA Cup have historically been played at Wembley Stadium, a tradition that began with the 1923 FA Cup final. You can bet on English football, including the FA Cup, at Stake.
The following teams have won the most FA Cup wins throughout history:
Arsenal (14) - Last win in 2020
Manchester United (13) - Last win in 2024
Chelsea (8) - Last win in 2018
Liverpool (8) - Last win in 2022
Tottenham Hotspur (8) - Last win in 1991
Manchester City (7) - Last win in 2023
Aston Villa (7) - Last win in 1957
Emirates FA Cup 2025/26 Schedule & Fixtures
The FA Cup is a knockout competition, with a single match to decide the outcome. Should the game end in a draw after regulation time, extra time and a penalty shootout will be used to decide the winner. It begins with qualification rounds at the start of the season, before the first round begins in November.
FA Cup Tournament Stage
First Round - Saturday, November 1, 2025 – Clubs from League One and League Two enter.
Second Round - Saturday, December 6, 2025
Third Round - Saturday, January 10, 2026 – Clubs from the Championship and Premier League enter.
Fourth Round - Saturday, February 14, 2026
Fifth Round - Saturday, March 7, 2026
FA Cup Final Stages
Quarter Final - Saturday, April 4, 2026
Semi Final - Saturday, April 25, 2026
Final - Saturday, May 16, 2026
2024/25 FA Cup Recap
The 2024/25 FA Cup was the 144th edition of the competition, featuring a total of 745 teams, with 124 making the main tournament. Manchester United were the defending champions, but lost to Fulham in the 5th round. The final was contested between Crystal Palace and Man City, with Crystal Palace lifting the trophy for the first time in their history thanks to a goal by Eze. Josh Magennis of Exeter City finished top scorer of the competition with 6 goals.
Emirates FA Cup Round 1-5 Predictions
Last season, all the Non-League, League One, and League 2 teams were knocked out of the competition by the 5th round. Generally speaking, the Non-League teams don’t have a lot of success in the tournament, although some do make it past the 1st round. When making your predictions, check how each team is performing in their league as well as their recent history in the FA Cup.
Some lower league teams could offer up surprises to bigger competition, and the FA Cup is known for its giant-killings. League Two side Grimsby have already knocked Manchester United out of the League Cup this season and could potentially cause an upset in the FA Cup too. Coventry City is doing very well in the Championship this season under the management of Frank Lampard, and have the potential to surprise some PL sides. Middlesbrough could also shock some Premier League sides if they get the opportunity. They have a history of upsets in the competition, having knocked Manchester United out in the 4th round in 2022 and Manchester City in the 3rd round in 2015.
By the end of the 5th round, we expect to see mainly Premier League teams left in the competition, with the big teams like Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal most likely to remain at this point. We may also see good runs from teams like Aston Villa and Newcastle, which have strengthened significantly in recent seasons. Crystal Palace is another good Premier League side that can go on another deep FA Cup in the 2025-26 season after lifting the trophy last season.
Emirates FA Cup Betting Tips, Odds & Previews
Placing a bet on the FA Cup soccer is simple, but you can use our detailed betting guide for more information, and we’ve also got a guide to betting on soccer. Follow these quick steps to get started:
Create your account if you don’t already have one, then make a deposit.
Find FA Cup matches from the upcoming soccer page or use the search bar.
Select a match and then choose a betting market.
Enter your stake in the bet slip and confirm.
Watch the free live stream to enjoy the game.
There are lots of different ways to bet on soccer, and every FA Cup match has plenty of markets to choose from. Some of the most popular include:
1x2 or match winner
Draw no bet
1st goal
Both teams to score
Halftime/fulltime
Live Stream Emirates FA Cup Football/Soccer Matches Online
FA Cup matches are available to watch free on Stake.com. You can log in and enjoy FA Cup live streams whenever there’s a match on by selecting the live stream icon. Our free live streams make it easier for you to follow the action and make the most of live betting markets. Pre-match and live betting options are available on all FA Cup games at Stake.
Emirates FA Cup Betting Odds, Payouts & Promotions
Before you sign up and start betting, make sure you understand how odds work and how to calculate the payouts of your winning bets. You can use the odds to calculate how much you’ll win, and it’s possible to switch between decimal, fractional, and American to choose the format you prefer to use.
Stake is the best place to bet on soccer, including the FA Cup. Not only do we offer the best odds, but we also make it incredibly easy to sign up and start placing bets with your preferred cryptocurrency at Stake or local currency. Use any of our accepted payment methods and then store your crypto, such as BTC, ETH, USDT, EOS, DOGE, LTC, TRX, and SOL in our vault for safety.
Once you’ve joined, you’ll also be able to benefit from our sports betting promos, like our Domestic Soccer Double Winnings bonus! You can also bet on all the biggest soccer tournaments at Stake, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Find the latest World Cup outright odds, but make sure you check out our World Cup picks and predictions before you place your bets.
Soccer & Football Betting Tips, Predictions & Strategies
Research each bet - Every bet you place should be backed up by the available data and careful research of the FA Cup and matchups between teams. Make sure you check the recent form of each side and the overall FA Cup statistics. Last season, an average of 3.12 goals were scored per FA Cup game, and 43% of games ended in a home win. You should also check head-to-head records, as some teams play better against certain opponents.
Make the most of live odds - Live betting provides an excellent opportunity to find value even if you can’t find great odds pre-match. As the game is in-play, the odds will be updated in real time based on what happens on the pitch. You can bet throughout the game, and it’s even possible to check live stats and view the live stream as you bet.
Follow the news - Stay up to date with the news on the FA Cup and the Premier League to learn about injuries and suspensions to key players and their form. This information is really useful for making betting predictions, giving you a better idea of each team’s chances for success.
Stake VIP Club & Responsible Betting
As you bet at Stake Sportsbook, you’ll also be able to level up your account to unlock rewards thanks to the VIP Club. Check out the VIP FAQ page to find out how to benefit fromregular rakeback, frequent reloads, and your own VIP host. Don’t forget to follow our Stake Smart guidelines and bet responsibly while betting on soccer.
