The 2026/27 FA Cup first round takes place this week, with the outright odds suggesting one of the big Premier League clubs will lift the trophy. All of the big five are priced under 10/1 to win the competition, but recent history shows the cup remains a realistic route to a major title for smaller sides, as Leicester City and Crystal Palace proved in 2021 and 2025 respectively.
This guide covers the best FA Cup odds from UK betting sites, including match odds for every tie and the outright winner market, alongside advice for betting on the competition throughout the season.
FA Cup match odds and second round ties
The second round draw produced several standout fixtures, with non-league Dover hosting 2021 winners Leicester City, who avoided an upset at Oxford City in the first round. Seventh-tier sides Wimbourne, Guiseley and Plymouth Parkway have all been handed home ties against Bradford, Notts County and Barnet respectively.
The live match widget displays the latest FA Cup odds for every tie and updates instantly when prices change at football betting sites.
FA Cup winner odds and betting strategies
Punters betting on the FA Cup winner have two options: backing a team outright “on the nose” or betting each-way. Each-way betting involves placing equal stakes on a team to win or place, though most bookmakers only offer each way to two places at 1/2 the odds, meaning the place part pays out at half the quoted odds if the selection loses in the final at Wembley. There is no payout for reaching the semi-finals.
League champions Arsenal are among the FA Cup betting favourites but have not won the trophy since 2020. Defending champions Manchester City are also near the top of the market, having won two of the last four editions and finished runners-up in the other two. Outsiders such as Brentford and Brighton are also attracting interest on betting apps.
FA Cup 2026/27 key dates
The first round proper runs from 6 to 9 November 2026, with the second round on 5/6 December. Premier League teams enter in the third round on 9/10 January 2027. The fourth round is scheduled for 13/14 February, the fifth round for 6/7 March, and the quarter-finals for 3/4 April. The semi-finals take place at Wembley on 24/25 April, with the final on 22 May 2027. Ties may be moved for television purposes.
FA Cup history and giant-killing stats
Over the last ten finals, Manchester City have appeared in four of the last eight, while Chelsea have lost the final five times in the last ten renewals. The table of recent finals shows the dominance of top Premier League clubs reaching the final.
In the 2025/26 FA Cup, 26 of 123 ties were won by a team from a lower division than their opponents. Macclesfield, from the sixth tier, knocked out holders Crystal Palace in the third round, while Wrexham eliminated Nottingham Forest in the same round. Port Vale beat Sunderland at the fifth round stage, and Arsenal lost to Championship side Southampton in the quarter-finals.
Across rounds one and two last year, 17 of 60 ties (28%) were won by the lower-division side, before Premier League teams entered. Through rounds three to five, one in seven matches still produced an upset. When top-flight sides come in after Christmas, factors such as home support for the underdog, weather, pitch type and travel distance can all influence the result.
FA Cup betting trends and responsible gambling
In the 2025/26 FA Cup, the home side won 44% of ties after 90 minutes, the away side won 33%, and 23% were level and went to extra time. Of 95 ties settled inside 90 minutes, 71% saw three or more goals, both teams scored in 54%, and the average was 3.5 goals per game. Replays were scrapped from the first round in 2024/25, so drawn ties now go straight to extra time and penalties, making the ‘draw no bet’ and ‘to qualify’ markets more relevant.
Bookmakers including Sky Bet, Betfred, BoyleSports, Paddy Power and William Hill all run football betting offers that apply to FA Cup ties. Bettors are reminded to gamble responsibly, set a budget, take regular breaks and not chase losses. Free 24/7 support is available from GambleAware, GamCare, Gamblers Anonymous and NHS gambling support. All offers and odds are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change.
