How a sixth-tier underdog disrupted the giants of English football
In short: In the 145th season of the world's oldest football tournament, the hierarchy of the English game was shaken. While Premier League titans prepare for glory, a small club from the National League North proved that even the most established champions are vulnerable to a well-timed upset.
The 2025–26 FA Cup, sponsored by Emirates, delivered one of the season's most significant shocks when the defending champions, Crystal Palace, were knocked out in the third round. Their exit came at the hands of Macclesfield, a side competing in the sixth tier of the English football pyramid. This victory for the National League North club was particularly poignant given their history; the current Macclesfield club emerged only five years after the liquidation of their predecessor, Macclesfield Town.
The tournament's structure allows for massive scale and unpredictable matchups. While 124 teams enter the proper rounds, the competition actually begins much earlier in the qualifying stages. This year, 747 total entrants participated, the highest number since the 2012–13 season. The bracket includes everything from the 20 Premier League clubs to the lowest-ranked participants, such as eighth-tier Maldon & Tiptrie, creating a knockout environment where the gap between the elite and the grassroots can vanish in a single match.
Beyond the on-pitch drama, the 2025–26 season introduced significant changes to how the game is consumed and played. A new four-year television deal saw broadcast rights move to TNT Sports, though an agreement ensures 14 matches remain free-to-air on the BBC. Additionally, the tournament continues a recent era of no replays in the proper rounds, a policy established through a six-year agreement between the FA and the Premier League starting in 2024–25. This streamlined format keeps the pressure high, as every match is a definitive, one-off encounter.
The season's journey concluded at Wembley Stadium on 16 May 2026. While the tournament is famous for its 'magic,' the 2025–26 edition highlighted both the resilience of phoenix clubs and the persistent dominance of the top flight, as Manchester City secured their eighth title in a final that featured Chelsea.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2025–26 FA Cup
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