The Premier League is a season-long competition for 20 clubs, with the title decided by points. The FA Cup is a knockout competition run by The FA, where a club is out once it loses a tie. All 20 Premier League clubs must enter the FA Cup and join it in the third round.
The basic difference
| Category | Premier League | FA Cup |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | The Premier League | The FA |
| Format | League: every club plays every other club twice | Knockout: the winner of each tie goes through |
| Who takes part | 20 clubs | Clubs from the Premier League, the EFL and Steps 1 to 5 of the National League System |
| When Premier League clubs start | August | Third round, 9-10 January in 2026/27 |
| What the winner gets | The title and a Champions League place | The trophy, a Europa League place and a Community Shield match |
The Premier League rewards consistency across a full league season. The 20 clubs play home and away against each other, making 380 matches in total, with 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw and none for a defeat. The club with the most points wins the title.
The FA Cup works in a very different way. Each round is set by a draw, and only the winner of a tie moves on to the next round until the Final.
Who enters and when Premier League clubs join
The Premier League has a fixed field of 20 clubs. The FA Cup is much broader, open to first teams from clubs in the Premier League, the EFL and Steps 1 to 5 of the National League System.
The Competition Proper contains 124 clubs: 92 exempted from qualifying and 32 that progress from it. Premier League clubs do not start from the opening stages of the cup. They all enter in the third round, and Premier League rules require every Premier League club to take part.
How the calendar works
| Stage | FA Cup 2026/27 | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Third round | 9-10 January | All 20 Premier League clubs enter here |
| Fourth round | 13-14 February | Single-tie knockout continues |
| Fifth round | 6-7 March | Single-tie knockout continues |
| Sixth round | 3-4 April | The quarter-final stage |
| Semi-finals | 24-25 April | Venue selected by The FA |
| Final | 22 May | Venue selected by The FA |
The league season begins in August and runs on a regular round-by-round schedule. The FA Cup sits across the season in separate knockout dates, with Premier League clubs joining after the new year in 2026/27.
The Competition Proper has 8 rounds: First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Round Proper, then the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and the Final. Semi-finals and the Final are played at venues selected by The FA.
What the winners get
The Premier League winner takes the title and a place in the Champions League. The FA Cup winner takes the trophy, a place in the Europa League and a Community Shield match against the Premier League champion a week before the new Premier League season.
If the FA Cup winner also qualifies for the Champions League through the league, the Europa League place passes to the next-highest Premier League club. In 2025/26, Manchester City won the FA Cup.
FAQ
Do Premier League clubs have to play in the FA Cup?
Yes. Rule L.11 in the Premier League handbook says each Premier League club shall enter the FA Cup.
That requirement does not mean they start from the first stage. All 20 Premier League clubs join in the third round.
How many rounds are there in the FA Cup?
The Competition Proper has 8 rounds. They are the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Round Proper, then the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and the Final.
For Premier League clubs, the cup starts at round 3, so their route is shorter than that of clubs which begin earlier.
What do FA Cup winners get?
They get the trophy, a Europa League place and a Community Shield match. The Community Shield is played against the Premier League champions a week before the new league season.
If the cup winners have already reached the Champions League through league position, the Europa League place is passed down to the next-highest Premier League club.
Do Premier League yellow cards count in the FA Cup?
No. Yellow cards picked up in the Premier League are not carried over to the FA Cup.
That means disciplinary records are kept separately for the two competitions, rather than being merged into one running total.