Who has won the most FA Cups?

Brad Newcomb

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Last updated: 24 Sep 2024

Brad Newcomb 24 Sep 2024

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FA Cup began in 1871 with 15 teams.
Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers won three consecutive titles.
Arsenal holds the record with 14 FA Cup titles.

Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal FC in action during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 (Getty Images)

The FA Cup is the world's oldest and most prestigious knockout football competition that features clubs from the top tier in England to the bottom, playing against each other every season. It is renowned for unpredictable results where smaller teams can defeat more established clubs in their quest to win the cup.

The inaugural FA Cup began in 1871, with 15 teams participating, including Barnes, Civil Service, Hitchin, Crystal Palace, Maidenhead, Marlow, Upton Park, Clapham Rovers, Queen's Park, Donington School, Royal Engineers, Reigate Priory, Wanderers, Harrow Chequers, and Hampstead Heathens.

The final took place at the Kennington Oval London on the 16th of March 1872, with Wanderers edging the Royal Engineers 1-0 to become the first champions of the FA Cup.

English FA Cup soccer — Baffoe Donkor Noah of Eastern in action during the FA Cup final between Eastern and Sham Shui Po (Getty Images)

The only two clubs to have won the FA Cup three consecutive times are the Wanderers, who secured the title in 1876, 1877, and 1878, and Blackburn Rovers, who won it in 1884, 1885, and 1886.

Aston Villa became the first club to win the FA Cup on six occasions when they edged Huddersfield Town 1-0 after extra time in the 1920 final at Stamford Bridge.

The 1923 FA Cup final was the first held at the iconic Wembley Stadium, with Bolton Wanderers securing their maiden FA Cup by defeating the Hammers 2-0.

In 1991, Tottenham Hotspur became the all-time leading winner of the FA Cup, with eight victories, after defeating Nottingham Forest 2-1 after extra time.

Manchester United equalled that record in 1994 and clinched their 11th FA Cup in 2004 after cruising to a comfortable 3-0 win over Millwall.

Arsenal, then under manager Arsene Wenger, have enjoyed the most success during the last two decades in the FA Cup, lifting the trophy seven times in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2014, 2015, and 2017, with their most recent victory coming in 2020 after the Frenchman had left, taking their tally to a record 14 titles.

During that period, Chelsea also won the competition on six occasions in 2000, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2018.

For the 2024/25 season, there will be no more replays from round one onwards. Matches will now be decided within extra time or via a penalty shootout. Additionally, the FA Cup final will take place on the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season, exclusively on a Saturday, with no other Premier League fixtures scheduled for that day.

Notable records achieved by individuals in the FA Cup since its inception:

Harry Cursham scored the most goals in the FA Cup, with 49, when playing for Notts County from 1877 to 1889.

Ted MacDougall holds the record for the most goals scored in a single game, with nine when Bournemouth defeated Margaete 11-0 in the 1971/72 FA Cup.

Below is the list of the most successful teams to have won the FA Cup.