FA Cup Outright Betting & Odds

Few tournaments boast the tradition and allure of the English FA Cup. There’s just something about this famous old competition that brings out the best in players and supporters, particularly in the first three rounds of the competition.  

At any stage of the tournament, you can access the latest FA Cup outright odds and back your winner of this year’s competition. Learn how to bet on the FA Cup at Parimatch Sportsbook.  

Why Bet on the FA Cup?  

Despite the mega riches of the English Premier League and other top divisions across Europe, the magic of the FA Cup is still alive and well.  

It’s the only competition in English football that frequently pits David against Goliath, and more often than the big boys might like, the underdogs write themselves into the history books.  

Every season, we eagerly anticipate the third-round draw and look for those blockbuster ties that send Premier League giants to tiny non-league grounds that are packed to the rafters for the occasion.  

It all makes the FA Cup one of the most exciting competitions to bet on, given its unpredictability and the fact that it often brings out the best in lower-ranked teams.  

FA Cup Qualification, Format & Schedule  

The FA Cup is the oldest national football competition on the planet, first contested in 1871/72. Much of its charm lies in the fact that the FA Cup is open to all clubs from the ninth level of the football pyramid.  

Preliminary rounds begin in August, and there are six qualifying rounds before the competition proper begins in November. Rounds one and two of the FA Cup see League One and Two clubs enter the fray, before the Premier League and Championship clubs enter round three in January.  

By this stage, then, some teams can have played as many as eight fixtures just to get to this round, so it’s like a cup final in itself, particularly if they get a good draw against a big team.  

From the first round proper, FA Cup replays no longer exist, meaning that all ties go to extra time and penalties if they’re level after 90 minutes.  

The semi-finals are held at Wembley Stadium in London, which is also the venue for the FA Cup final. Though it’s not always the case anymore, the final is often the last game of the domestic football season.  

FA Cup Winners and Records  

Arsenal are the most successful team in FA Cup history, having won the famous old trophy 14 times. Manchester United are just one FA Cup behind the Gunners, with 13 triumphs. 

Manchester United have also suffered the most defeats in FA Cup finals over the years, losing nine finals between 1957 and 2023. 

Queens Park (now a Scottish FA Cup side), Birmingham City, and Watford hold the record for the most final appearances without winning the FA Cup (two).  

When Crystal Palace won the 2025 FA Cup, the Eagles secured their first-ever major silverware. They followed it up with a win in the 2025 FA Community Shield, but later in the season, they suffered the ignominy of losing to Macclesfield in the FA Cup third round, a result regarded as one of the biggest cup shocks in English football history.  

How to Bet on the FA Cup?  

You can back your winner of the FA Cup at any stage of the football season, from the start of the qualifying rounds to the business end of the tournament.  

You’ll find the latest FA Cup outright odds at the top of this page. You can back any team to win the trophy outright or place an each-way bet on this year’s FA Cup winner.  

If you opt for an each-way bet, you’ll receive a payout if your team reaches but loses the final. We offer a payout at half the odds for each-way bets.  

When you’re ready to bet, sign in to your Parimatch account or click “Join Now” at the top of this page to begin the registration process.  

Then, check to see if you’re eligible for one of our current promotions and make your first deposit. With funds in your account, you can bet on the team you think will win this season’s FA Cup.  

As you bet on football, please gamble within your means. Set your limits, stick to them, and adjust your stake before betting. Visit our Safer Gambling Portal to learn how to use betting tools to help control your expenditure.  

Other FA Cup Betting Markets 

Alongside outright bets on the winner of the FA Cup, you can also bet on every FA Cup fixture at Parimatch. Once you know the draw for the next round, bet on the teams you think will win each match. You could even bring them together in an FA Cup accumulator.  

Matchday markets for the FA Cup include wagers such as both teams to score and the total number of goals (over/under), as well as half-time betting and correct score options.  

You may also want to wait until an FA Cup match is underway and access our in-play betting markets. This way, you can bet on the next player to score, whether a player will be cautioned, and the number of corners in a specific half or match.  

Bet on Cup Football Today at Parimatch  

The FA Cup is the most prestigious of the English domestic cup competitions, but it’s not the only one you can bet on at Parimatch Sportsbook.

You can also place a bet on the winner of the EFL Cup (Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons). This competition is open exclusively to the 92 teams in the football league, and the final is held months before the FA Cup showpiece at Wembley Stadium.  

We also offer outright betting options for cup competitions lower down the football pyramid. You can bet on the EFL Trophy, the FA Trophy, and the FA Vase at Parimatch Sportsbook.