2024-03-22 未知
The English Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is the oldest football competition in the world. It was first held in 1871 and is open to all eligible clubs in England, from the top-flight teams in the Premier League to amateur clubs in lower divisions. This article will explain the format and rules of the FA Cup tournament.
The FA Cup follows a knockout format, where each round consists of a single-leg match. The competition starts with multiple qualifying rounds for lower-ranked teams and progresses to the main tournament. The tournament includes a total of 12 rounds, leading up to the final at Wembley Stadium.
The early stages of the FA Cup involve qualifying rounds, which are open to teams from lower divisions. These rounds feature hundreds of teams from various leagues, including amateur and semi-professional clubs. The number of rounds and teams participating may vary each season. The lower-ranked teams play against each other in a knockout format until a set number of winners emerge.
After the qualifying rounds, the main tournament begins, featuring teams from higher divisions, including clubs from the Premier League and the English Football League. These teams enter the competition in multiple rounds, depending on their division and league status.
The first round proper is the initial stage of the main tournament and involves the teams from the fourth tier of the English Football League. Additionally, teams who have progressed from the qualifying rounds also join at this stage. The draw is random, with no seeding, and the matches are typically played at the home ground of one of the teams.
In the second and third rounds, the teams from higher divisions, including the Championship and Premier League, join the competition. The draw remains unseeded, giving smaller teams the opportunity to face top-tier clubs. The matches take place over a single-leg, and if the scores are level at the end of the match, a replay is scheduled at the opponent's ground.
From the fourth round onwards, replays are no longer played if the matches result in a draw. Instead, the match proceeds to extra time and, if required, a penalty shootout to determine the winner.
Once the competition reaches the fifth round, also known as the quarter-finals, there are no replays, and matches are decided by a single-leg tie. The draw remains unseeded, and extra time and penalties are used to determine the winner if the scores remain level.
The semi-finals and the final are played at Wembley Stadium, the iconic venue in London. The semi-finals are also single-leg ties, while the final is a special occasion held at the end of the season, showcasing the two best teams competing for the trophy.