Every FA Cup Final (1872–2026): Winners, Results, Records & Statistics

The complete history of every FA Cup Final from 1872 to 2026, including every winner, runner-up, scoreline, venue, attendance, records, statistics and club performances.

The FA Cup Finals page contains every FA Cup Final from 1871-72 to the latest final, including winners, runners-up, scores, attendance, venues, goalscorers and managers. Discover every FA Cup champion, historic results, the biggest winning margins and the clubs with the most FA Cup victories.

Every FA Cup Final (1872–2026)

Explore the complete history of every FA Cup Final, including FA Cup Winners, runners-up, scorelines, venues and records. Since the inaugural final in 1872, the FA Cup has produced unforgettable moments, famous upsets and some of English football’s greatest occasions. This page combines the complete results table with historical analysis, club achievements and key statistics in one place.

1872

First FA Cup Final

150+

Years of History

Arsenal

Most FA Cup Wins (14)

Wembley

Traditional Final Venue

2001–06

Finals in Cardiff

2026

Latest Final Included

The Story of the FA Cup Final

The FA Cup Final is the oldest national cup final in world football and remains one of the most prestigious fixtures in the English football calendar. From the first final at The Oval through the famous White Horse Final in 1923 and the modern Wembley era, the competition has continually produced iconic moments that have become part of football history.

On this page you’ll find every FA Cup Final listed chronologically together with the winning club, runners-up, score, venue and attendance. Alongside the historical results, MyFootballFacts also highlights the most successful clubs, notable records and milestones that have shaped the competition over more than a century and a half. For more historical football statistics covering competitions, clubs and players, explore our football stats section.

Arsenal currently lead the all-time honours list with 14 FA Cup triumphs, followed by Manchester United with 13, while Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have each enjoyed multiple periods of success. The competition’s enduring appeal lies in its blend of tradition, giant-killings and memorable finals, making it one of the world’s most celebrated domestic cup competitions.

Quick Facts

• First FA Cup Final: 1872
• Competition founded: 1871
• Old Wembley hosted Finals from 1923 to 2000
• Millennium Stadium hosted Finals from 2001–2006
• New Wembley has hosted the Final since 2007
• Arsenal are the most successful club with 14 victories
• Manchester United have won 13 FA Cup Finals
• Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have each won 8

FA Cup Finals by Year from 1871-72 to 2025-26 (145)

Teams in BOLD = FA Cup & League Championship “Double” Winners R=Relegated *Not the modern Crystal Palace club **Birmingham City

FA Cup Finals Totals 1871-72 to 2025-26

FA Cup Final Records Centre

Over more than 150 years, the FA Cup Final has produced some of the most memorable occasions in English football. From dominant victories and dramatic extra-time winners to famous giant-killings and penalty shootouts, every generation has added another chapter to the competition’s remarkable history.

The complete results table above records every FA Cup Final since 1872, while the sections below highlight some of the themes and milestones that have helped make the Final one of the most prestigious domestic fixtures in world football.

🏆 Historic Finals

The FA Cup Final has been played at some of England’s most famous football venues, including The Oval, Crystal Palace, Stamford Bridge, the original Wembley Stadium, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and the modern Wembley Stadium.

⚽ High-Scoring Finals

Although many Finals are closely contested, several have produced thrilling scorelines with both teams contributing to memorable attacking encounters that remain among the greatest FA Cup Finals ever played.

⏱ Extra-Time Drama

Some champions have needed more than ninety minutes to lift the trophy. Extra-time has produced countless iconic winning goals that remain firmly embedded in FA Cup folklore.

🥅 Penalty Shootouts

Since the introduction of penalty shootouts, the FA Cup Final has delivered unforgettable moments of pressure and celebration, with goalkeepers and spot-kick specialists becoming instant heroes.

🏟 Wembley Tradition

For generations of supporters, Wembley Stadium has represented the spiritual home of the FA Cup Final. Walking up Wembley Way and seeing the famous arch has become part of one of football’s greatest traditions.

🏴 Cardiff Years

Between 2001 and 2006 the Final temporarily moved to Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium while the new Wembley Stadium was under construction. Despite the change of venue, the competition continued to produce unforgettable Finals.

Why the FA Cup Final is Unique

Few domestic cup competitions anywhere in the world can match the history and prestige of the FA Cup Final. It has crowned champions across three different centuries, witnessed the rise of football dynasties, produced legendary individual performances and delivered some of the biggest shocks in English sporting history.

Unlike league competitions, the Final is decided in a single match where history can be written in ninety minutes. That unpredictability is one of the reasons the FA Cup continues to capture the imagination of supporters around the world.

Classic FA Cup Final Themes

• Last-minute winning goals.
• Extra-time drama.
• Penalty shootout triumphs.
• Underdogs defeating favourites.
• Legendary captain performances.
• Historic Wembley occasions.
• Famous goals celebrated for generations.
• Players becoming club legends in a single afternoon.

What You’ll Find on This Page

• Every FA Cup Final since 1872.
• Every winner and runner-up.
• Final scorelines.
• Venues and attendances.
• Club honours table.
• Competition history.
• Major records and milestones.
• Historical analysis covering more than 150 years of FA Cup Finals.

The Most Successful Clubs in FA Cup Final History

The FA Cup has crowned dozens of champions since the competition began in 1871–72, but only a select group of clubs have consistently reached the Final and lifted English football’s oldest major trophy. While many teams have enjoyed memorable one-off triumphs, a handful of clubs have built lasting FA Cup legacies across multiple generations.

The honours table above highlights every club to have won the FA Cup Final, while the overview below shows the competition’s most decorated sides and explains how they established their place in FA Cup history.

Arsenal

14

Arsenal are the most successful club in FA Cup history, winning the competition fourteen times and setting the benchmark for consistency across more than a century of Finals.

Manchester United

13

Manchester United have appeared in numerous FA Cup Finals and remain one of the competition’s most successful and recognisable clubs.

Chelsea

8

Chelsea established themselves as one of the dominant modern FA Cup clubs with multiple victories during the Premier League era.

Liverpool

8

Liverpool’s eight FA Cup victories span several generations, with memorable Finals contributing to the club’s rich domestic trophy collection.

Tottenham Hotspur

8

Tottenham were one of the competition’s early powerhouses and remain among the most successful clubs in FA Cup history.

Manchester City

7

Manchester City’s modern success has added to a proud FA Cup tradition stretching back more than a century.

A Competition That Rewards Every Generation

One of the unique features of the FA Cup is its ability to produce champions across every era of English football. Historic clubs such as Blackburn Rovers, Wanderers and Aston Villa enjoyed early dominance, while Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City have defined more recent decades.

This blend of tradition and modern success is one of the reasons the FA Cup remains one of football’s most celebrated knockout competitions, with every Final adding another chapter to its remarkable history.

Why the FA Cup Final is So Difficult to Win

• Only two clubs reach the Final each season.
• Every round is a knockout tie.
• Teams from across the English football pyramid compete.
• Upsets are a defining feature of the competition.
• Winning requires consistency over several rounds.
• The Final is played under intense national and international attention.

What Makes the FA Cup Unique?

• The oldest national football cup competition in the world.
• More than 150 years of history.
• Open to clubs from every level of English football.
• Famous for producing giant-killings.
• Iconic Wembley Finals.
• One of the most prestigious domestic trophies in world football.

FA Cup Success Through the Eras

The history of the FA Cup Final reflects the changing landscape of English football. The competition’s earliest years were dominated by amateur clubs before professional teams emerged to establish long periods of success. During the twentieth century, clubs such as Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United built impressive FA Cup traditions, while the Premier League era introduced a new generation of champions including Chelsea and Manchester City.

Despite changes in tactics, stadiums and formats, one aspect has remained constant: lifting the FA Cup at Wembley represents one of the greatest achievements in English domestic football. Every winning team earns a place alongside more than 150 years of football history.

How the FA Cup Final Has Evolved

The FA Cup Final has changed enormously since the first showpiece match in 1872. Stadiums have changed, attendances have risen and fallen, football has become professional, and generations of legendary clubs have lifted the famous trophy. Yet the essence of the Final has remained the same: one match to decide the winners of English football’s oldest national cup competition.

🏟️ Different Eras

The FA Cup Final has been played at iconic venues including The Oval, Crystal Palace, Stamford Bridge, the original Wembley Stadium, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and the modern Wembley Stadium.

⚽ Football Through the Generations

Every football era has produced its own unforgettable FA Cup Finals, from amateur clubs in the nineteenth century to today’s Premier League giants.

🏆 New Champions

While several clubs have dominated the competition, the FA Cup has also created unforgettable moments for first-time winners whose triumphs remain defining moments in club history.

🌍 Global Appeal

What began as an English cup competition has grown into one of the world’s best-known domestic football finals, watched by millions of supporters every season.

More Than Just a Cup Final

Unlike league championships, the FA Cup Final is decided in a single afternoon. One goal, one save or one moment of brilliance can transform a season and secure a permanent place in football history. That unique combination of pressure, tradition and unpredictability is why the Final remains one of the most anticipated fixtures in the football calendar.

The History of the Final in Four Eras

1872–1922

The Early Years

The first fifty years of the FA Cup established the competition as the premier knockout tournament in English football. Amateur clubs dominated the earliest Finals before professional teams gradually emerged to shape the modern game.

1923–2000

The Wembley Tradition

The opening of the original Wembley Stadium transformed the FA Cup Final into one of Britain’s great sporting occasions. Countless legendary matches, famous goals and unforgettable celebrations took place beneath the Twin Towers during this era.

2001–2006

The Cardiff Years

While Wembley Stadium was rebuilt, the Millennium Stadium hosted six FA Cup Finals. The temporary move to Cardiff ensured the competition retained its status while a new national stadium was constructed.

2007–Present

The Modern Wembley Era

The return to Wembley Stadium ushered in a new chapter in FA Cup history. Modern Finals have continued to deliver memorable goals, dramatic finishes and trophy celebrations beneath the famous arch.

Why FA Cup Finals Still Matter

Every FA Cup Final tells a different story. Some showcase dominant performances from England’s biggest clubs, while others are remembered for dramatic upsets, extra-time winners or penalty shootouts. Together, these matches form a continuous timeline stretching back more than 150 years and illustrate how English football has evolved while preserving one of its greatest traditions.

Explore the Complete FA Cup Final Record

Use the results table above to browse every FA Cup Final by season, compare club performances, revisit historic scorelines and discover how the competition has developed from the nineteenth century to the modern era. Whether you’re researching a specific Final or exploring football history, the complete record provides an authoritative reference for every FA Cup Final ever played.

FA Cup Finals Statistics & Records

More than 150 years of FA Cup Finals have produced unforgettable champions, dramatic upsets and remarkable records. The results table above documents every Final, while the statistics below highlight some of the competition’s biggest achievements and enduring trends.

🏆 Most Successful Club

Arsenal have won more FA Cup Finals than any other club, lifting the trophy 14 times.

🥈 Second Most Successful

Manchester United have appeared in numerous Finals and have won the FA Cup on 13 occasions.

🏟 Traditional Home

Wembley Stadium has hosted the majority of FA Cup Finals since opening in 1923, apart from the Cardiff years between 2001 and 2006.

⚽ Historic Competition

The FA Cup is the world’s oldest national football cup competition and remains one of the most prestigious domestic trophies.

🔥 Famous Upsets

The competition is renowned for giant-killings, with several underdogs producing unforgettable victories in the Final.

⏱ Modern Finals

Extra-time and penalty shootouts have ensured that many recent Finals have produced unforgettable drama.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has won the most FA Cup Finals?

Arsenal are the most successful club in FA Cup history with 14 victories.

When was the first FA Cup Final?

The first FA Cup Final was played in 1872.

Where is the FA Cup Final played?

The Final is played at Wembley Stadium in London, although six Finals were held at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium while Wembley was rebuilt.

Which club has played in the most FA Cup Finals?

The honours table above shows every club’s Final appearances, victories and runner-up finishes throughout the history of the competition.

How many clubs have won the FA Cup?

The competition has been won by dozens of clubs since 1872, illustrating the unique unpredictability of the FA Cup.

Why is the FA Cup so famous?

The FA Cup combines more than 150 years of history with open competition, allowing clubs from every level of English football to compete for one of the sport’s most iconic trophies.

Explore More English Football History

FA Cup History FA Cup Winners League Cup Finals Community Shield Premier League Winners English Football Pyramid