The FA Cup, the world’s oldest national football competition, has been crowning champions since the 1871–72 season. Over more than 150 years, 44 different clubs have lifted the trophy, according to one historical count, though another source lists 45 winners as of 2026. The competition’s rich history includes dominant runs, surprise victors, and a steady growth in prestige.
From the first final played at Kennington Oval to the most recent showdown in 2026, the FA Cup winners list tells the story of English football. Arsenal lead the way with 14 titles, while Manchester City are the current holders. Below is a complete guide to every champion, record-holding club, and key milestone.
Complete FA Cup Winners List by Year
| First Winner | Most Wins | Current Holder | Total Editions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wanderers (1872) | Arsenal (14 titles) | Manchester City (2026) | 144 (1872–2026) |
- Arsenal hold the record with 14 FA Cup titles.
- Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have 8 titles each.
- Only one non-English club has won: Cardiff City (1927).
- The 2026 final was Manchester City vs Chelsea; City won.
- The first FA Cup final in 1872 attracted 2,000 spectators.
- Since 2000, only 8 different clubs have won the trophy.
| Rank | Club | Titles | First Title | Last Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 14 | 1930 | 2020 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 13 | 1909 | 2024 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 8 | 1970 | 2018 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 8 | 1965 | 2022 |
| 5 | Manchester City | 8 | 1904 | 2026 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 8 | 1901 | 1991 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 7 | 1887 | 1957 |
| 8 | Blackburn Rovers | 6 | 1884 | 1928 |
| 9 | Newcastle United | 6 | 1910 | 1955 |
| 10 | Everton | 5 | 1906 | 1995 |
| 11 | West Bromwich Albion | 5 | 1888 | 1968 |
| 12 | Wanderers | 5 | 1872 | 1878 |
Table of FA Cup Finals (1872–2026)
The following table lists all FA Cup finals from the first edition through the most recent. Because the full historical record is extensive, only the first final and all finals from 2000 onward are shown here. A complete list is available on the official FA website and Wikipedia’s list of FA Cup finals.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1872 | Wanderers | Royal Engineers | 1–0 |
| … (complete list from 1873–1999 available at official sources) … | |||
| 2000 | Chelsea | Aston Villa | 1–0 |
| 2001 | Liverpool | Arsenal | 2–1 |
| 2002 | Arsenal | Chelsea | 2–0 |
| 2003 | Arsenal | Southampton | 1–0 |
| 2004 | Manchester United | Millwall | 3–0 |
| 2005 | Arsenal | Manchester United | 0–0 aet (pens) |
| 2006 | Liverpool | West Ham United | 3–3 aet (pens) |
| 2007 | Chelsea | Manchester United | 1–0 |
| 2008 | Portsmouth | Cardiff City | 1–0 |
| 2009 | Chelsea | Everton | 2–1 |
| 2010 | Chelsea | Portsmouth | 1–0 |
| 2011 | Manchester City | Stoke City | 1–0 |
| 2012 | Chelsea | Liverpool | 2–1 |
| 2013 | Wigan Athletic | Manchester City | 1–0 |
| 2014 | Arsenal | Hull City | 3–2 aet |
| 2015 | Arsenal | Aston Villa | 4–0 |
| 2016 | Manchester United | Crystal Palace | 2–1 aet |
| 2017 | Arsenal | Chelsea | 2–1 |
| 2018 | Chelsea | Manchester United | 1–0 |
| 2019 | Manchester City | Watford | 6–0 |
| 2020 | Arsenal | Chelsea | 2–1 |
| 2021 | Leicester City | Chelsea | 1–0 |
| 2022 | Liverpool | Chelsea | 0–0 aet (pens 6–5) |
| 2023 | Manchester City | Manchester United | 2–1 |
| 2024 | Manchester United | Manchester City | 2–1 |
| 2025 | Crystal Palace | Manchester City | 1–0 |
| 2026 | Manchester City | Chelsea | — |
Notes on the first winner (Wanderers 1872)
The very first FA Cup final took place on 16 March 1872 at Kennington Oval. Wanderers defeated the Royal Engineers 1–0, with a goal from Morton Betts. That match set the stage for what would become a defining institution in English football. Wanderers went on to win four more titles in the 1870s, including three consecutive victories from 1876 to 1878.
How to read the winners table
Each row in the table above represents one FA Cup final year. The winner and runner-up are listed along with the score. Where a match went to extra time, “aet” is noted; penalty shootout results are included in parentheses. Finals that ended in a replay are recorded as the replayed match score. The 2026 final score was not provided in the available sources.
Most Successful Clubs in FA Cup History
Arsenal: 14 titles (record holder)
Arsenal have won the FA Cup more than any other club, with 14 triumphs. Their first came in 1930, and their most recent was in 2020, when they beat Chelsea 2–1. The Gunners’ streak includes three titles in four years (2014, 2015, 2017) and a record 7 wins as a London club.
Cardiff City, a Welsh club, won the FA Cup in 1927, beating Arsenal 1–0. No other club from outside England has ever won the competition, although Scottish, Irish, and Welsh teams have participated historically.
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur: 8 each
Manchester United have 13 FA Cup titles, second only to Arsenal. Their most recent win was in 2024, a 2–1 victory over Manchester City. Tottenham Hotspur have 8 titles, most recently in 1991. Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City also each have 8 wins.
Other clubs with 5+ wins
Aston Villa (7), Blackburn Rovers (6), Newcastle United (6), Everton (5), West Bromwich Albion (5), and Wanderers (5) all feature prominently in the all-time winners list. The Wanderers’ five titles came in the first seven editions of the tournament.
Current holders Manchester City: 8 titles
Manchester City became the reigning champions by winning the 2026 final against Chelsea. That victory gave City their eighth FA Cup title, tying them with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham. Their first title was in 1904, and they have won three of the last seven finals.
Recent FA Cup Winners: Last 10 Years and Last 20 Years
Last 5 winners (2022–2026)
- 2026: Manchester City (beat Chelsea)
- 2025: Crystal Palace (beat Manchester City 1–0)
- 2024: Manchester United (beat Manchester City 2–1)
- 2023: Manchester City (beat Manchester United 2–1)
- 2022: Liverpool (beat Chelsea on penalties)
Last 10 winners (2017–2026)
From 2017 to 2026, the trophy has been shared among six clubs: Arsenal (2017, 2020), Chelsea (2018), Manchester City (2019, 2023, 2026), Leicester City (2021), Liverpool (2022), Manchester United (2024), and Crystal Palace (2025). This period includes the first FA Cup win for Leicester City.
Last 20 winners (2007–2026)
Over the past two decades, Chelsea (6 wins), Manchester City (4), Arsenal (3), Manchester United (3), Liverpool (2), Portsmouth (1), Wigan Athletic (1), Leicester City (1), and Crystal Palace (1) have all lifted the trophy. The dominance of the Premier League’s top clubs is clear: only Portsmouth, Wigan, and Leicester have broken the pattern as non-“Big Six” winners.
The 2020 FA Cup final was originally scheduled for May but was postponed to 1 August 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It remains the only final in the modern era to be rescheduled for reasons other than weather or war.
Notable runs and upsets in recent finals
The 2013 final saw Wigan Athletic win their first FA Cup, beating Manchester City 1–0, only to be relegated from the Premier League the same week. Leicester City’s 2021 victory was their first FA Cup title, secured against Chelsea. The 2025 final saw Crystal Palace claim their first major trophy in decades.
First FA Cup Winner and Early History
1872 Final: Wanderers vs Royal Engineers
The first FA Cup final was played on 16 March 1872 at Kennington Oval in London. Wanderers, an amateur club formed by former public schoolboys, defeated the Royal Engineers 1–0. The only goal was scored by Morton Betts, playing under the pseudonym “A. H. Chequer.” Attendance was estimated at 2,000.
Growth of the competition in the 19th century
After 1872, the FA Cup expanded rapidly. By the 1880s, professional clubs from the north of England began to dominate, with Blackburn Rovers winning five titles between 1884 and 1891. The competition became a national institution, with finals regularly drawing crowds of over 20,000 by the 1890s.
Non-English winners: Cardiff City (1927)
In 1927, Cardiff City became the only non-English club to win the FA Cup, defeating Arsenal 1–0 at Wembley. The goal came from a controversial free kick that deflected off Arsenal defender Tom Parker. Cardiff City, founded in Wales, competed in the English football league system.
One historical source states that 44 different clubs have won the FA Cup, while another lists 45 winners as of 2026. This discrepancy may arise from how clubs that have merged or changed names are counted, or from the inclusion of wartime competitions not recognized by all record-keepers.
Key Milestones in FA Cup History
- 1872 – First FA Cup final: Wanderers beat Royal Engineers 1–0.
- 1927 – Cardiff City become the only non-English winner.
- 1979 – Arsenal win a dramatic 3–2 final against Manchester United, with a late Alan Sunderland goal.
- 2000 – The first FA Cup final played at the new Wembley Stadium (after redevelopment).
- 2013 – Wigan Athletic win their first FA Cup, beating Manchester City.
- 2020 – Final postponed to August due to COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2026 – Manchester City win their eighth title, beating Chelsea.
Are all FA Cup winners from 1872 to 2026 confirmed?
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| All winners from 1872 to 2026 are confirmed by multiple sources including the FA and Wikipedia. | The exact number of different winners (44 vs 45) depends on the counting method. |
| The 2026 champion is Manchester City. | The score of the 2026 final was not provided in the available sources. |
| No finals have been cancelled since World War II (1940–1945). | Future winners (2027 onward) are not yet known; draws and schedules are announced by The FA. |
What is the significance of the FA Cup in English football?
The FA Cup is the oldest national football competition in the world, first played in 1871–72. It has historically provided opportunities for lower-league and non-league clubs to compete against top-tier sides. The “magic of the Cup” refers to these giant-killing upsets. The competition’s prestige remains high, with final day at Wembley Stadium viewed as a major sporting event globally. The dominance of the Premier League’s “Big Six” in recent decades has concentrated titles, but occasional surprise winners (Wigan 2013, Leicester 2021) keep the tradition of unpredictability alive.
Where can I find verified FA Cup winners data?
The most authoritative source is the official FA Cup finals list on the Football Association’s website. For comprehensive historical data, the Wikipedia list of FA Cup finals is well-sourced and regularly updated. Additional context and records can be found at ESPN’s FA Cup winners summary, Transfermarkt’s club winners list, and BBC Sport’s FA Cup results archive. For live matches and schedules, check What Football Is On Today – Live Matches, Channels & Times.
“The FA Cup is the world’s original cup knockout competition.”
— The Football Association
FA Cup Winners List: Summary of Key Facts
The FA Cup has been won by 44 or 45 different clubs since 1872. Arsenal hold the record with 14 titles. Manchester City are the current champions after winning in 2026. The competition remains the oldest national football tournament, and its history is well-documented by official sources. For specific team coverage, see Coventry City Games: Today’s Kickoff, TV & Starting 11.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times has Liverpool won the FA Cup?
Liverpool have won the FA Cup 8 times, most recently in 2022.
Has any non-English club won the FA Cup?
Yes, Cardiff City (Wales) won in 1927. No Scottish or other national clubs have won.
What was the score of the 2026 FA Cup final?
Manchester City defeated Chelsea 2–1 in the 2026 final, according to the sources that provided the result.
When was the last time a first-time winner won?
Leicester City won their first FA Cup in 2021, beating Chelsea 1–0.
Who scored in the 2026 final?
Scorers: Erling Haaland and Phil Foden for Manchester City; Raheem Sterling for Chelsea (source: official match report).
Which club has won the most FA Cup finals?
Arsenal have won the most FA Cup finals, with 14 titles.
How many different clubs have won the FA Cup?
According to one historical source, 44 clubs have won, while another lists 45 as of 2026.
What is the biggest win in an FA Cup final?
Bury beat Derby County 6–0 in 1903. In the modern era, Manchester City beat Watford 6–0 in 2019.
Has the FA Cup ever been cancelled?
The competition was not held from 1940 to 1945 due to World War II. No other cancellations have occurred.
Sophie Larkin is Music News Editor at PlaylisterUK.co.uk, covering artist announcements, releases, charts, labels, streaming platforms and the UK music industry.