The 2026/27 Adobe Women’s FA Cup begins with 143 preliminary-round ties on Sunday 23 August 2026 and concludes with the final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 15 May 2027.
A total of 536 clubs will take part, with teams entering at different stages according to their place in the women’s football pyramid. WSL 2 clubs enter in the third round proper on 13 December, while Women’s Super League clubs join in the fourth round proper on 17 January.
Manchester City are the defending champions after defeating Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 in the 2025/26 final.
This guide will be updated throughout the season with the latest draws, fixtures, results, prize money, broadcast selections and final information.
Last updated: 1 August 2026 following the preliminary and first qualifying-round draws.
Women’s FA Cup 2026/27 at a Glance
- Competition begins: 23 August 2026
- Participating clubs: 536
- First Round Proper: 25 October 2026
- WSL 2 clubs enter: Third Round Proper, 13 December 2026
- WSL clubs enter: Fourth Round Proper, 17 January 2027
- Quarter-finals: 21 March 2027
- Semi-finals: 11 April 2027
- Final: 15 May 2027
- Final venue: Wembley Stadium
- Defending champions: Manchester City
- Most successful club: Arsenal, 14 titles
- Broadcast partners: TNT Sports and Channel 4
- VAR: Not used
- Final prize money: £430,000 for the winners
When Does the Women’s FA Cup Start?
The 2026/27 Women’s FA Cup begins with the preliminary round on Sunday 23 August. There are 143 ties scheduled at this stage, with matches kicking off at 2pm unless the clubs mutually agree to another time.
The first qualifying round follows on 6 September. Its draw contains 102 ties, many of which currently include two possible opponents because the preliminary-round winners are not yet known. The qualifying competition continues until October before the first round proper begins on 25 October.
Women’s FA Cup 2026/27 Round Dates
| Round | Date |
|---|---|
| Preliminary Round | Sunday 23 August 2026 |
| First Round Qualifying | Sunday 6 September 2026 |
| Second Round Qualifying | Sunday 20 September 2026 |
| Third Round Qualifying | Sunday 4 October 2026 |
| First Round Proper | Sunday 25 October 2026 |
| Second Round Proper | Sunday 15 November 2026 |
| Third Round Proper | Sunday 13 December 2026 |
| Fourth Round Proper | Sunday 17 January 2027 |
| Fifth Round Proper | Sunday 21 February 2027 |
| Quarter-finals | Sunday 21 March 2027 |
| Semi-finals | Sunday 11 April 2027 |
| Final | Saturday 15 May 2027 |
Round dates may change when matches are selected for television or moved by agreement.
Latest Women’s FA Cup Draw
Preliminary Round Draw
The preliminary round contains 143 matches and will be played on Sunday 23 August. The scheduled kick-off time is 2pm unless participating clubs agree otherwise.
The draw includes clubs from across the country beginning the long route towards the first round proper. Ties include Darlington against Hartlepool United, Chesterfield Community Trust against Sheffield Wednesday and Jersey Bulls against United Services Portsmouth.
First Round Qualifying Draw
The first qualifying round will take place on Sunday 6 September, with 102 matches scheduled for 2pm unless otherwise agreed.
Because the draw was completed before the preliminary round had been played, many ties currently list multiple possible participants. The fixtures should be updated with confirmed club names immediately after the preliminary-round results.
When Do WSL Clubs Enter the Women’s FA Cup?
All Women’s Super League clubs enter the 2026/27 Women’s FA Cup in the fourth round proper. That round will be played on Sunday 17 January 2027.
The fourth round is therefore the point at which the competition brings together the WSL clubs, the surviving WSL 2 teams and clubs that have progressed through the earlier rounds.
When Do WSL 2 Clubs Enter?
WSL 2 clubs enter in the third round proper, which is scheduled for Sunday 13 December 2026.
This gives second-tier clubs one opportunity to progress before WSL teams enter. It can also create some of the competition’s most interesting fourth-round draws, particularly when lower-division teams are given home matches against top-flight opponents.
Charlton Athletic demonstrated the possibilities available to a WSL 2 club last season by progressing as far as the quarter-finals.
How Does the Women’s FA Cup Work?
The Women’s FA Cup is a straight knockout competition. Every tie is decided in a single match. There are no replays, meaning a club cannot earn a second opportunity through a draw.
If a game is level after 90 minutes:
- An additional 30 minutes is played.
- Extra time is divided into two 15-minute periods.
- If the score remains level, the tie is decided by penalties.
VAR will not be used during the competition.
Women’s FA Cup Prize Money for 2026/27
The Women’s FA Cup prize fund remains unchanged from the previous season. Payments are awarded to both winning and losing clubs in every round, beginning with £1,000 for preliminary-round winners and £400 for the teams eliminated.
| Round | Winning club | Losing club |
| Preliminary Round | £1,000 | £400 |
| First Round Qualifying | £1,800 | £450 |
| Second Round Qualifying | £3,500 | £1,000 |
| Third Round Qualifying | £4,500 | £1,500 |
| First Round Proper | £7,000 | £2,500 |
| Second Round Proper | £9,000 | £4,000 |
| Third Round Proper | £35,000 | £9,000 |
| Fourth Round Proper | £54,000 | £13,000 |
| Fifth Round Proper | £80,000 | £20,000 |
| Quarter-finals | £90,000 | £22,500 |
| Semi-finals | £160,000 | £40,000 |
| Final | £430,000 | £108,000 |
A WSL club entering in the fourth round and winning the competition would receive £814,000 across its five victories.
A club beginning in the preliminary round could collect £875,800 by winning every round and lifting the trophy at Wembley.
Those cumulative figures are calculated from the FA’s published round-by-round payments.
How to Watch the Women’s FA Cup in 2026/27
TNT Sports and Channel 4 are the UK broadcast partners for the Women’s FA Cup.
Broadcast selections are expected to be announced round by round. Exact television schedules and streaming information are not yet available.
Early-round matches may also be shown through club channels or online platforms, but no complete streaming schedule has been confirmed. This section will be updated when coverage is announced.
Confirmed broadcast information
- UK broadcasters: TNT Sports and Channel 4
- Early-round streaming: To be confirmed
- International broadcasters: To be confirmed
- Women’s FA Cup Final coverage: To be confirmed
When Is the 2027 Women’s FA Cup Final?
The 2026/27 Women’s FA Cup final will be played at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 15 May 2027. The kick-off time, ticket prices, supporter allocations and broadcast details have not yet been announced.
Manchester City will enter the competition as defending champions after beating Brighton 4-0 at Wembley in the previous final.
Who Has Won the Most Women’s FA Cups?
Arsenal are the most successful club in Women’s FA Cup history with 14 titles. The most recent five finals have produced three Chelsea victories, Manchester United’s first title and Manchester City’s 2025/26 triumph.
| Season | Winner |
| 2025/26 | Manchester City |
| 2024/25 | Chelsea |
| 2023/24 | Manchester United |
| 2022/23 | Chelsea |
| 2021/22 | Chelsea |
Women’s FA Cup Fixtures and Results
Preliminary Round
- Date: 23 August 2026
- Number of ties: 143
- Standard kick-off: 2pm
- Results: To be added
First Round Qualifying
- Date: 6 September 2026
- Number of ties: 102
- Standard kick-off: 2pm
- Results: To be added
Second Round Qualifying
- Date: 20 September 2026
- Draw: To be announced
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 2026/27 Women’s FA Cup begin?
The preliminary round will be played on Sunday 23 August 2026.
When do WSL clubs enter the Women’s FA Cup?
WSL clubs enter in the fourth round proper on Sunday 17 January 2027.
When do WSL 2 clubs enter?
WSL 2 clubs enter in the third round proper on Sunday 13 December 2026.
When is the Women’s FA Cup Final?
The final will be played at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 15 May 2027.
Who are the defending champions?
Manchester City are the defending champions after beating Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 in the 2025/26 final.
Who has won the most Women’s FA Cups?
Arsenal hold the record with 14 titles.
Are there replays in the Women’s FA Cup?
No. Matches level after 90 minutes proceed to extra time and then penalties if required.
Is VAR used in the Women’s FA Cup?
No VAR will be used in the 2026/27 competition.
What is the Women’s FA Cup prize money?
The winning club receives a payment for progressing through each round. The final winners receive £430,000, while the runners-up receive £108,000.
Where can I watch the Women’s FA Cup?
TNT Sports and Channel 4 hold the UK broadcast rights. Individual match selections and streaming details will be added when confirmed.
Source: FA
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