The 2025–26 Women's FA Cup was the 56th staging of the Women's FA Cup, a knockout cup competition for women's football teams in England. Chelsea were the defending champions, having beaten Manchester United 3–0 in the 2025 final on 18 May 2025. They were eliminated by Manchester City in the semi-finals. Manchester City won their fourth title, defeating Brighton & Hove Albion 4–0 in the final.
Teams A total of 538 teams were accepted into the 2025–26 Women's FA Cup, an increase of 24 from the previous year. A preliminary round was introduced with 190 tier 7 teams competing, and 159 tier 6 regional first division teams given an exemption until the first qualifying round. 93 tier 5 teams were given an exemption until the second round qualifying stage. The 48 teams that play in the FA Women's National League Division One (tier 4) were given exemption until third round qualifying. Teams in the Northern and Southern Premier Divisions (tier 3) entered at the first round proper, and the 12 Women's Super League 2 teams (tier 2) entered at the third round proper. The final teams to enter the competition, the 12 Women's Super League teams (tier 1), entered at the fourth round.
Round Clubsremaining Clubsinvolved Winners fromprevious round Games played Goals scored Prize money Winner Loser Preliminary round 538 46 – 19 94 £600 £150 First round qualifying 515 326159 Tier 6 regional first division teams added 23 154 887 £1,800 £450 Second round qualifying 352 25693 Tier 5 regional premier division teams added 163 124 654 £3,000 £750 Third round qualifying 224 17648 FA Women's National League Division One teams added 128 88 478 £4,000 £1,000 First round 136 11224 FA Women's National League Premier Division teams added 88 56 248 £6,000 £1,500 Second round 80 56 56 28 106 £8,000 £2,000 Third round 52 4012 Women's Super League 2 teams added 28 20 83 £35,000 £9,000 Fourth round 32 3212 Women's Super League teams added 20 16 69 £54,000 £13,000 Fifth round 16 16 16 8 29 £80,000 £20,000 Quarter-final 8 8 8 4 7 £90,000 £22,500 Semi-final 4 4 4 2 £160,000 £40,000 Final 2 2 2 1 £430,000 £108,000
Preliminary round The competition started at the preliminary round with games played on 24 August 2025, and made up of 46 teams from the seventh-tier county division football leagues.
Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) 1 Darlington (7) 4–0 Heaton Hawks (7) 2 Carlisle United (7) 2–0 GT7 (7) 3 Whitehaven (7) 2–2 (3–2 p) West Allotment Celtic (7) 4 Gateshead Leam Rangers (7) H–W Gateshead (7) Gateshead withdrew.5 Stocksbridge Park Steels (7) 8–0 Cherry Burton (7) 726 Oughtibridge War Memorial (7) H–W Grimsby Borough (7) Grimsby Borough withdrew.7 Witton Albion (7) H–W Skipton Town (7) Skipton Town withdrew.8 Maghull (7) 2–0 Southport (7) 9 Harpole (7) 1–2 Boston Town (7) 10 Higham Town (7) 4–1 Matlock Town (7) 11 Kirby Muxloe (7) 1–1 (3–2 p) Birstall United (7)
Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) 12 Allscott Heath (7) 0–3 Broseley (7) 13 Aylsham (7) 1–6 Ramsey & Mistley (7) 14 Sprowston (7) H–W King’s Lynn Town (7) King’s Lynn Town withdrew.15 Islington Borough (7) 0–4 London Academicals (7) 16 AFC Welwyn (7) 2–0 Garston (7) 17 Tonbridge Angels (7) 0–0 (5–3 p) AFC Croydon Athletic (7) 18 Marlborough Town (7) 2–2 (2–4 p) Yateley United (7) 19 Millbrook (7) 7–1 Horsham (7) 20 Pen Mill (7) 0–8 Ridgeway (7) 21 Bristol Brunel (7) 10–0 Iron Acton (7) 22 St Agnes (7) 16–1 Kilkhampton (7) 7523 Signal Box Oak Villa (7) 0–1 Bradworthy (7)
First round qualifying The draw for the first round qualifying took place on 20 August 2025 and included the introduction of 160 teams from the sixth-tier regional first division football leagues. 162 matches of the first round qualifying were played on 7 September 2025, with one abandoned fixture played the following week.
Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) 1 Washington (6) 7–1 Guisborough Town (7) 1572 Northallerton Town (7) 1–2 Carlisle United (7) 1393 Whitehaven (7) 0–1 Redcar Town (6) 4 i2i International (6) 5–2 Boldon CA (7) 5 Cramlington United (7) 1–2 Hartlepool United (6) 6 CLS Amazons (7) A–W Gateshead Rutherford (6) CLS Amazons withdrew.7 Penrith (6) 15–0 Boro Rangers (7) 8 Birtley Town (6) 2–0 Knaresborough Town (7) 9 Bishop Auckland (7) 0–17 Park View (6) 10 Gateshead Leam Rangers (7) 5–2 Harrogate Railway (7) 11 Hebburn Town (7) 0–2 Darlington (7) 12 Wigginton Grasshoppers (7) 3–0 Consett (6) 13 Hartlepool Pools Youth (6) 2–8 Stockton Town (6) 14 Handsworth (6) 9–0 Beverley Town (7) 15 Rossington Main (6) 2–1 Oughtibridge War Memorial (7) 16 Lower Hopton (6) 3–0 AFC Preston (7) 17 North Ferriby (7) 1–5 Grimsby Town (6) 18 Kiveton Park (7) 1–6 Elloughton Blackburn (7) 6019 Wyke Wanderers (7) 6–2 Dinnington Town (7) 20 Chesterfield (6) 3–1 Leeds Medics & Dentists (7) 2021 Sherburn White Rose (7) 7–1 Sheffield United Community Foundation (7) 22 Bottesford Town (7) 0–2 Leeds Modernians (6) 23 Ilkley Town (6) 19–1 Brigg Town (7) 24 FC Farsley (7) 7–0 AFC Tickton (7) 25 Chanterlands (7) 1–10 Dronfield Town (6) 26 Stocksbridge Park Steels (7) 2–1 Cleethorpes Town (6) 6127 Sheffield Wednesday (6) 5–0 Forge Way (7) 28 Inglemire (7) 2–4 Millmoor Juniors (6) 12029 Wirral Phoenix (6) 5–0 Blackburn Eagles (7) 30 Nantwich Town (6) 5–1 Lymm Rovers (7) 31 Colne (7) 5–1 Radcliffe (6) 32 Runcorn Linnets (6) 5–4 Pilkington (6) 11933 Mossley Hill (6) 1–3 Chester (6) 34 Morecambe (6) 7–1 AFC Crewe (6) 35 Witton Albion (7) 0–5 Ashton Town (6) 9936 Rochdale (6) 3–2 MSB Woolton (6) 37 Winton Wanderers (7) 2–3 Marine (7) 38 Altrincham (6) 6–3 Macclesfield (6) 32139 Wigan Athletic Girls & Ladies (6) 4–4 (4–3 p) Warrington Town (6) 40 Hyde United (7) 3–0 Penwortham Town (7) 41 Maghull (7) 0–7 FC Northern (7) 42 Preston North End (6) 5–0 Haslingden (6) 43 Manchester Laces (6) 7–1 Northwich Victoria (7) 15144 Litherland REMYCA (6) A–W FC St Helens (6) Litherland REMYCA withdrew.45 Atherton LR (6) 2–1 Wirral United (7) 46 Buxton (7) 0–10 Blackpool (6) 5047 Accrington Stanley (6) 2–2 (5–4 p) Salford City Lionesses (6) 48 Brookside Athletic (7) 3–2 Long Eaton United (6) 49 Allexton & New Parks (7) 3–1 Higham Town (7) 5050 Basford United (6) 0–0 (4–3 p) Arnold Eagles (6) 3051 Sherwood (6) 1–2 River City (6) 52 Newark Town (6) 0–3 Netherton United (6) 53 Sleaford Town (6) A–W Stanground Cardea Sports (6) Sleaford Town withdrew.54 Spalding United (7) 6–0 Crick Athletic (7) 55 Pride Park (7) 1–4 Nottingham Trent University (6) 56 Boston Town (7) 1–10 University of Nottingham (6) 57 Boston United (7) 0–8 Thurmaston DPC Vixens (7) 58 Kirby Muxloe (7) 2–2 (4–1 p) Thrapston Town (6) 59 Amber Valley (7) 0–5 Melbourne Dynamos (6) 60 Moulton (7) H–W Beaumont Park (6) Beaumont Park withdrew.61 Bugbrooke St Michaels (7) 2–3 Dunton & Broughton United (6) 62 Long Buckby (7) A–W Corby Town (7) Long Buckby withdrew.63 West Bridgford Colts (6) 0–2 Coalville Town (6) 64 Belper Town (6) 27–0 AFC Minster (7) 65 Leicester City Ladies (6) 1–2 Asfordby Amateurs (6) 10066 Albrighton (7) 2–1 Nunnery Wood United (7) 67 Ludlow Town (7) 2–8 Shrewsbury Up & Comers (7) 68 Droitwich Spa (6) H–W Walsall Wood (6) Walsall Wood withdrew.69 Bromsgrove Sporting (6) 4–1 Kingfisher (6) 70 Rugby Town (6) 1–0 Newcastle Town (6) 71 SJB (7) 0–8 Broseley (7) 72 Milton United (Staffordshire) (7) 7–0 Inkberrow (7) 73 Solihull Sporting (6) A–W Crusaders (6) Solihull Sporting (6) withdrew.74 Redditch United (6) 9–0 Dudley Town (7) 75 Lichfield City (6) 11–0 Worthen Juniors (7) 76 Halesowen Town (6) 5–2 Stone Old Alleynians (7) 77 Whitchurch Alport (6) 1–2 Walsall (6) 78 Coton Green (7) 3–0 Long Itchington (6) 6579 Knowle (6) 1–4 Chasetown (6) 11680 Coventry City (7) 0–3 AFC Telford United (6)
Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) 81 Telford Town (6) 0–0 (1–3 p) Shawbury United (7) 82 Colchester United (6) 5–0 Cambridge Rangers (7) 83 Stowupland Falcons (7) 1–5 Mulbarton Wanderers (6) 7584 Costessey Sports (7) 4–3 Brightlingsea Regent (7) 85 Bacton United 89 (7) 0–8 Cambridge City (6) 7086 Needham Market (6) 2–0 Newmarket Town (6) 87 Brantham Athletic (6) 3–0 Wimblington (7) 88 Sprowston (7) 0–3 Histon (6) 89 Fulbourn Bluebirds (6) 4–1 Waterbeach Colts (7) 90 Ramsey & Mistley (7) 2–0 Soham Town Rangers (7) 91 Thetford Town (6) 4–2 Stanway Pegasus (6) 92 Hertford Town (6) 6–0 Oaklands Wolves (7) 93 Southend United (6) 2–1 AFC Welwyn (7) 8694 Hackney (6) 4–0 Ampthill Town (7) 95 Leigh Ramblers (7) 1–2 She Can Play Panthers (6) 96 Berkhamsted (7) 3–0 Ware United (7) 97 New Bradwell St Peter (6) 2–1 AFC Leyton (7) 98 Newport Pagnell Town (6) 3–1 Biggleswade United (6) 20399 Dunstable Town (6) 5–0 St Margaretsbury (7) 100 Romford Town (7) 0–9 Clapton Community (6) 65101 Camden Town (6) 1–0 Frontiers (7) 102 Wormley Rovers (6) 11–0 Langford (7) 103 Stotfold (7) 1–3 Toby (6) 104 London Academicals (7) 2–4 Chelmsford City (6) 105 Hitchin Belles (6) 0–13 Leyton Orient (7) 403106 Wootton Blue Cross (7) 0–5 Colney Heath (6) 107 Oxted & District (7) 1–5 Maidstone United (7) 108 Cray Wanderers (7) 7–1 Margate (7) 109 Eastbourne Town (7) 2–6 Hollands & Blair (7) 110 South London (7) 3–1 Carshalton Athletic (7) 111 Eastbourne Borough (6) 2–0 Hastings United (6) 112 Comets (7) 1–1 (4–5 p) AFC Greenwich Borough (6) 113 Tunbridge Wells Foresters (7) 7–1 Ashmount Leigh (6) 114 Tonbridge Angels (7) 7–0 Kings Hill (7) 58115 Croydon (7) 1–1 (1–4 p) Chislehurst Glebe (7) 116 Merstham (7) 2–3 Tooting Bec (7) 117 Richmond & Kew (6) 11–0 Epsom & Ewell (7) 55118 Ashford United (6) 2–8 Bromley (6) 84119 Soccer Elite Football Academy (6) 2–1 Herne Bay (6) 120 Sevenoaks Town (6) 5–0 Bexhill United (6) 121 Farnborough (6) 2–0 Brackley Town (6) 122 Finchampstead (7) 7–0 Milton United (Berks & Bucks) (6) 123 Ashridge Park (7) 10–0 Highworth Town (7) 124 Kidlington Youth (6) 4–0 Ruislip Rangers (7) 125 Denham United (6) 11–3 Barton United (7) 126 Yateley United (7) 1–4 Wallingford & Crowmarsh (7) 307127 Frimley Green (6) 0–2 Royal Wootton Bassett Town (6) 128 Penn & Tylers Green (6) 15–0 Caversham United (7) 129 Manorcroft United (7) H–W Tilehurst Panthers (6) Tilehurst Panthers withdrew.130 AFC Stoneham (6) 16 – 0 Hassocks (7) 37131 Broadbridge Heath (7) 0–2 Montpelier Villa (6) 132 Havant & Waterlooville (6) 5–3 Bognor Regis Town (6) 133 Three Bridges (7) 2–3 Millbrook (7) 134 Haywards Heath Town (6) A–W Burgess Hill Town (7) Haywards Heath Town withdrew.135 Basingstoke Town (7) 2–0 East Preston (7) 136 Bursledon (6) 4–1 United Services Portsmouth (7) 137 Steyning Town Community (6) 1–1 (5–4 p) Shanklin (7) 138 Pagham (7) 0–5 Andover New Street (6) 50139 Nursling & Shirley (6) 0–9 Leatherhead (6) 140 Farnham Town (6) 9–1 AFC Varsity (6) 141 Frome Town (7) 0–4 Weymouth (6) 142 Wells City (6) 1–6 Yeovil Town (6) 143 Ridgeway (7) H–W AFC Totton (7) AFC Totton withdrew.144 Bemerton Heath Harlequins (6) 4–2 Bournemouth Poppies (7) 145 Shaftesbury (6) 3–1 Dorchester Town (7) 20146 Cobham Sports (7) 1–2 Longfleet Lionesses (7) 147 Bournemouth Manor (7) 0–3 Wimborne Town (6) 148 Hereford (6) 2–1 Bath City (6) 92149 Cheltenham Saracens (7) 0–1 Downend Flyers (6) 150 Bishop’s Cleeve (7) 2–0 Cirencester Town (6) 151 Paulton Rovers (6) 4–1 Olveston United (7) 152 Hereford Pegasus (6) 2–3 Ross Juniors (7) 153 Bristol Brunel (7) 4–0 Longlevens (7) 154 Weston Super Mare (6) 2–3 Corsham Town (6) 155 Mangotsfield United (6) 3–0 Bristol & West (7) 156 Bitton (6) 1–1 (6–5 p) Whitchurch (6) 157 Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police (7) 4–2 Teignmouth (7) 158 Sticker (7) 9–1 Appledore (6) 36159 St Agnes (7) 5–0 Honiton Town (7) 160 Feniton (6) 3–0 Bradworthy (7) 68161 Tiverton Town (7) 4–3 Redruth United (7) 162 Bodmin (7) 1–1 (2–4 p) Saltash Borough (7) 96163 Plympton (7) 12–0 Bideford AFC (7) 43
Second round qualifying