FA Cup Football Trivia Questions & Answers (2026)
54+ FA Cup trivia questions covering the world's oldest football competition - history, famous finals, giant-killings and modern winners. Questions are organised by difficulty - tap any question to reveal the answer.
Updated for 2026. From the 1872 final at Kennington Oval to modern Wembley triumphs.
Answers checked as of 11 August 2026. Records, transfer fees and appearance tallies change as football is played — every answer here was verified against sources on or after that date. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will correct it.
FA Cup History
The FA Cup is the world's oldest national football competition, first played in 1871-72. Test your knowledge of the trophy's origins, founding clubs and the rich heritage of England's premier knockout cup.
Easy
In which year was the FA Cup first contested?+
The FA Cup was first contested in the 1871-72 season, making it the oldest national football competition in the world.
Which club won the inaugural FA Cup in 1872?+
Wanderers F.C. won the inaugural FA Cup, beating Royal Engineers 1-0 at the Kennington Oval.
What does 'FA' stand for in FA Cup?+
FA stands for The Football Association, the governing body of football in England, founded in 1863.
Which iconic London stadium has hosted FA Cup finals since 2007?+
Wembley Stadium has hosted the FA Cup final since the new stadium reopened in 2007. The original Wembley hosted finals from 1923 to 2000.
Which famous song is traditionally sung before the FA Cup final?+
'Abide with Me' has been sung before the FA Cup final since 1927, becoming a beloved tradition.
Which club has won the FA Cup the most times?+
Arsenal hold the record for the most FA Cup wins, with 14 titles.
Medium
Why is the FA Cup also sometimes called the 'Magic of the Cup'?+
The phrase refers to the unpredictability of the competition, where lower-league teams can defeat top-flight giants in a single knockout match.
Which manager has won the FA Cup the most times?+
Arsene Wenger won the FA Cup seven times as Arsenal manager, making him the most successful manager in the competition's history.
Which club did the FA Cup first non-English winner come from?+
Cardiff City won the FA Cup in 1927, the only time a club from outside England has lifted the trophy.
What is the name of the famous trophy presented to FA Cup winners?+
The trophy has no separate name — it is simply the FA Cup, the original 1871 version being nicknamed the 'little tin idol'. Only two designs have been used: the original (1872-1910, plus an 1895 replica after the first was stolen) and the larger Fattorini & Sons design introduced in 1911. The cup presented today is the fifth physical trophy, a 2014 replica made by Thomas Lyte; the previous replica was in use from 1992 to 2013.
Which round of the FA Cup do Premier League and Championship clubs traditionally enter?+
Premier League and Championship clubs enter the FA Cup at the Third Round Proper stage, which traditionally takes place in early January.
What was unique about the 1923 FA Cup final?+
The 1923 final at Wembley, between Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United, was famously overcrowded with an estimated 200,000 spectators. It became known as the 'White Horse Final' after a police horse helped clear the pitch.
Hard
Which FA Cup final ended in a famous 'fog' due to weather conditions?+
None — no FA Cup final has been defined or abandoned because of fog. The 1937 final, in which Sunderland beat Preston North End 3-1 on 1 May, was played in fine weather on a pitch described as 'like a bowling green'; it is remembered as the 'Coronation Cup Final' and as the first final ever held in May. The famous fog story belongs to a league match: Chelsea v Charlton at Stamford Bridge on 25 December 1937, where goalkeeper Sam Bartram carried on for a quarter of an hour after the game had been abandoned.
Which club won three consecutive FA Cup finals in the 1880s?+
Blackburn Rovers won three consecutive FA Cup finals from 1884 to 1886, an early era of dominance in the competition.
When was the FA Cup final first televised in colour?+
The FA Cup final was first televised in colour in 1968.
Which club won the FA Cup as a non-league team in the modern era?+
No non-league team has won the modern FA Cup. Tottenham Hotspur won in 1901 as a Southern League club, before joining the Football League.
Trace players through their FA Cup-winning careers.
Play Career PathFamous Finals
FA Cup finals have produced some of football's most memorable moments. From last-minute winners to dramatic comebacks, the showpiece at Wembley has delivered countless classic matches.
Easy
Which FA Cup final is famously known as the 'Matthews Final'?+
The 1953 FA Cup final between Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers is known as the 'Matthews Final' after Stanley Matthews helped Blackpool win 4-3 from 3-1 down.
Which Liverpool manager won the FA Cup in 1986 to complete the club's first ever League and Cup double?+
Kenny Dalglish, as player-manager, led Liverpool to the FA Cup and First Division double in 1985-86, beating Everton 3-1 in the final.
Which Coventry City manager famously lifted the FA Cup in 1987?+
John Sillett managed Coventry City to their famous FA Cup win in 1987, beating Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 after extra time.
Which Manchester United manager won the FA Cup five times?+
Sir Alex Ferguson won the FA Cup five times as Manchester United manager (1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004).
Which legendary forward scored Manchester United's winner in the 1999 FA Cup final?+
Teddy Sheringham and Paul Scholes scored as Manchester United beat Newcastle United 2-0 in the 1999 FA Cup final, completing the first leg of the treble.
Medium
Which FA Cup final saw the famous Steven Gerrard goal that completed a stunning comeback?+
The 2006 FA Cup final between Liverpool and West Ham United, where Gerrard scored a long-range equaliser in the 91st minute. Liverpool won on penalties.
Who scored Wimbledon's winner in the famous 1988 FA Cup final upset?+
Lawrie Sanchez scored the only goal as Wimbledon beat Liverpool 1-0 in the 1988 FA Cup final - one of the greatest upsets in the competition's history.
Which Eric Cantona moment defined the 1996 FA Cup final?+
Eric Cantona scored the only goal as Manchester United beat Liverpool 1-0 in the 1996 FA Cup final, completing the Double for the second time in three seasons.
Which club beat Manchester City in the 2011 FA Cup final to deny City their first trophy under their new owners?+
Stoke City reached the 2011 FA Cup final but lost 1-0 to Manchester City, who won their first major trophy in 35 years thanks to a Yaya Toure goal.
Which 1992 FA Cup final saw Liverpool beat Sunderland?+
Liverpool beat Sunderland 2-0 in the 1992 FA Cup final, with Michael Thomas and Ian Rush scoring the goals.
Hard
Which FA Cup final was decided by a goalkeeping howler in 2007?+
Didier Drogba scored an extra-time winner for Chelsea against Manchester United in the 2007 FA Cup final, the first at the new Wembley.
Which player has scored the most goals in FA Cup final history?+
Ian Rush scored five goals in FA Cup finals for Liverpool, a long-standing record in the modern era.
Test your transfer knowledge of FA Cup-winning squads.
Play Transfer GuessGiant-killings & Upsets
The 'Magic of the Cup' is most evident when lower-league sides defeat top-flight giants. From Sutton United to Bradford, the FA Cup has produced unforgettable shocks over its 150-year history.
Easy
Which non-league side famously beat Coventry City in the 1989 FA Cup?+
Sutton United, then a non-league side, beat top-flight Coventry City 2-1 in the FA Cup third round in January 1989.
Which lower-league side reached the FA Cup final in 1992?+
Sunderland, then a Second Division side, reached the 1992 FA Cup final but lost 2-0 to Liverpool.
Which non-league side reached the FA Cup fifth round in 2017?+
Lincoln City became the first non-league side to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals in over 100 years in 2016-17.
Which Wigan Athletic side famously won the FA Cup in 2013?+
Wigan Athletic beat Manchester City 1-0 in the 2013 FA Cup final, with Ben Watson scoring the winner. They were relegated from the Premier League days later.
What is the term for a lower-league side beating a top-flight team in a knockout cup?+
The term is 'giant-killing' - a hallmark of the FA Cup's enduring romance.
Medium
Which Hereford United player scored a famous winner against Newcastle United in 1972?+
Ronnie Radford scored a famous long-range goal for non-league Hereford United against Newcastle United in February 1972 - one of football's most iconic moments.
Which Bradford City side knocked Chelsea out of the FA Cup in 2015?+
Bradford City came back from 2-0 down at Stamford Bridge to beat Chelsea 4-2 in the FA Cup fourth round in January 2015.
Which non-league side reached the FA Cup quarter-finals in the 1970s?+
None — no non-league side reached the FA Cup quarter-finals in the 1970s. Lincoln City in 2016-17 were the first non-league quarter-finalists since 1914. The best non-league run of the 1970s was Blyth Spartans in 1977-78, who beat Stoke City 3-2 away before losing a fifth-round replay 2-1 to Wrexham at St James' Park. Hereford United's famous 1971-72 run, after beating Newcastle, ended in the fourth round against West Ham.
Which Wrexham side famously beat Arsenal in 1992?+
Wrexham, then in the Football League's Fourth Division, beat reigning league champions Arsenal 2-1 in the FA Cup third round in January 1992.
Which lower-league side beat Manchester United at Old Trafford in the FA Cup?+
Leeds United, then in League One, beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford in the FA Cup third round on 3 January 2010, Jermaine Beckford scoring the only goal. It made Leeds the first side from outside the Premier League to knock Manchester United out of a competition under Alex Ferguson. (Bournemouth's famous 2-0 win over United in 1984 was played at Dean Court, not Old Trafford.)
Hard
Which non-league side made the FA Cup fifth round in the 1980s as one of the famous cup runs?+
Telford United, Yeovil Town and others have all had memorable runs to the FA Cup fifth round as non-league sides.
Which Yeovil Town manager famously led the side to the FA Cup fifth round?+
Alec Stock, who as player-manager led non-league Yeovil Town to the fifth round in 1948-49. Yeovil beat First Division Sunderland 2-1 in the fourth round in front of a record 17,000 at Huish and its famously sloping pitch, before losing 8-0 to Manchester United in the fifth round in front of more than 81,000.
Which Sutton United player scored the famous winning goal against Coventry City in 1989?+
Matthew Hanlan scored Sutton United's famous winning goal in their 2-1 victory over Coventry City in January 1989.
Which lower-league club reached the FA Cup semi-final in 2008?+
Barnsley reached the FA Cup semi-final in 2007-08, beating Liverpool and Chelsea on the way before losing to Cardiff City.
Connect FA Cup giant-killers with their famous wins.
Play ConnectionsModern FA Cup Winners
The modern FA Cup has been dominated by Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City. Test your knowledge of recent winners and the players who lifted the famous trophy.
Easy
Which club won the FA Cup in 2020 by beating Chelsea at an empty Wembley?+
Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 in the 2020 FA Cup final, played without fans due to COVID-19, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring twice.
Which Chelsea manager won three FA Cups between 2009 and 2012?+
No single manager did — Chelsea's three FA Cups in that period came under three different managers: Guus Hiddink (2009, beating Everton 2-1), Carlo Ancelotti (2010, beating Portsmouth 1-0 to complete the club's first Double) and Roberto Di Matteo (2012, beating Liverpool 2-1).
Which Manchester City manager won the FA Cup in 2019 by completing a domestic treble?+
Pep Guardiola won the FA Cup in 2019 as part of Manchester City's domestic treble, beating Watford 6-0 in the final.
Medium
Which Hull City manager led the club to its first ever FA Cup final in 2014?+
Steve Bruce managed Hull City to their first ever FA Cup final in 2014, losing 3-2 to Arsenal after extra time.
Which Crystal Palace manager led the club to the FA Cup final in 2016?+
Alan Pardew led Crystal Palace to the 2016 FA Cup final, where they lost to Manchester United 2-1 after extra time.
Which Watford manager led the club to the FA Cup final in 2019?+
Javi Gracia managed Watford to the 2019 FA Cup final, where they were beaten 6-0 by Manchester City.
Which club did Roberto Di Matteo win the FA Cup with in 2012?+
Roberto Di Matteo won the FA Cup with Chelsea in 2012, beating Liverpool 2-1 in the final, just weeks before also winning the Champions League.
Which Manchester United player scored against Arsenal in the 2003-04 FA Cup semi-final?+
Paul Scholes scored the only goal, in the 32nd minute, as Manchester United beat Arsenal 1-0 in the 2003-04 FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park on 3 April 2004. United went on to beat Millwall 3-0 in the final at the Millennium Stadium, through Cristiano Ronaldo and two from Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Hard
Which club holds the record for most FA Cup final appearances in the 21st century without winning the trophy?+
Several clubs have multiple final appearances without victory. Watford and Hull City both lost their first FA Cup final appearances at Wembley.
Which player won the FA Cup with three different clubs in the 2010s?+
Multiple players have won the FA Cup with multiple clubs. Specific 21st-century examples include senior squad members at Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City.
Which youngest goalscorer scored in an FA Cup final in the 2010s?+
FA Cup finals have featured several young scorers. The youngest scorers are often noted in match-by-match reports for individual finals.
Which manager became the first to win the FA Cup as both player and manager with the same club in the 21st century?+
Multiple managers have won the FA Cup with the same club they played for, including former Chelsea figures and other club legends.
Test how the FA Cup unfolded over time with Timeline.
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