2016–17 FA Cup - Fa Cup Schedule

The 2016â€"17 FA Cup (also known as the FA Challenge Cup) is the 136th and current edition of the oldest recognised football tournament in the world. It is sponsored by Emirates, and known as the Emirates FA Cup for sponsorship purposes. 736 clubs were accepted into the tournament, and it began with the Extra Preliminary Round on 6 August 2016, and will conclude with the final on 27 May 2017. The winner will qualify for the 2017â€"18 UEFA Europa League group stage.

Premier League side Manchester United are the defending champions.

This edition of the FA Cup will be the first in which quarter-final matches will be played to a result on the day, instead of being subject to replay in case of a draw.

Teams

Prize fund

Round and draw dates

The schedule is as follows.

Qualifying rounds

The qualifying competition began with the Extra Preliminary Round on 6 August 2016. All of the competing teams that are not members of either the Premier League or English Football League had to compete in the qualifying rounds to secure a place in the First Round Proper. The final (fourth) qualifying round was played over the weekend of 15 October.

First Round Proper

The First Round draw took place on 17 October and was broadcast live on BBC Two and BT Sport. All 40 First Round Proper ties were played on the weekend of 5 November. 32 teams from the qualifying competition joined the 48 teams from League One and League Two to compete in this round. The round included one team from Level 9 still in the competition, Westfields, who were the lowest-ranked team in this round.

Second Round Proper

The second round draw took place on 7 November at Haig Avenue, home of Southport F.C., immediately prior to the Southport-Fleetwood tie, and was broadcast live on BT Sport. The round included one team from Level 7 still in the competition, Stourbridge, who were the lowest-ranked team in this round.

Third Round Proper

A total of 64 clubs played in the third round; 20 winners of the second round, and 44 teams from Premier League and EFL Championship entering in this round. The draw was held on 5 December 2016 at the BT Tower and was broadcast live on BT Sport and BBC Two. The matches were played across the weekend of 6â€"9 January 2017. The round included one team from Level 7 still in the competition, Stourbridge, who were the lowest-ranked team in this round.

Fourth Round Proper

A total of 32 teams played in the fourth round, all winners of the third round. The draw took place at the BT Tower on 9 January 2017. The round included two teams from Level 5 who were still in the competition: Lincoln City, leading the National League on the night of their third round replay and Sutton United, fifteenth on the same night and therefore the lowest-ranked team to play in this round.

Fifth Round Proper

A total of 16 clubs will play in the fifth round, all winners of the fourth round. The draw was held on 30 January 2017, and the matches are scheduled to be played across the weekend of 17â€"20 February 2017. The round includes the two teams from Level 5 which are still in the competition: Lincoln City and Sutton United, whose fourth round victories ensured the first ever fifth round with two non league sides remaining. Lincoln City are in this round for the first time in 115 years and Sutton United for the first time in their history.

Top goalscorers

As of 29 January 2017

Note: Players and teams marked in bold are still active in the competition.

Broadcasting rights

The following matches were/will be broadcast live on UK television:

Notes

References

External links

• The official FA Cup website