The FA Cup is the most prestigious competition in football; it is rich in history. The tournament's iconic nature lies in the joy of seeing lower-league teams face off against top sides, where smaller teams make big, shocking moves.
With much of modern football losing its grip on history and heritage, there remains something pure about seeing the FA Cup draw—the intensity of wondering what unique outcomes will occur.
Even this simple tradition is facing pressure from commercialisation. The FA has proposed seeding the top four WSL sides from the previous season to avoid each other in the draw. This plan would create a “record-to-Wembley bracket” from the round of 32 onwards, removing draw memories for the last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals.
Seeding the top four WSL sides (Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City) to avoid each other until later rounds.
The FA argues that this would boost revenue from broadcasters and commercial partners. The idea of financial growth is understandable and creative. But it favours the richest clubs with the largest fan bases, undermining the principles of fairness and integrity.
This benefits the top clubs, which do not need the boost, given that they usually advance far in the competition.
Only four clubs have won the Women’s FA Cup in the past 13 years, the same four that would benefit from seeding this season.
Instead of boosting the top clubs, the FA could focus on telling the human stories of grassroots football, boosting those sides and making the earlier pounds memorable.
From the FA's perspective, seeding would increase “high-quality matches” while offering “a chance of a variation of fixtures,” creating a contradictory message in their own summary. But separating the top four does not change the variation in fixtures.
Despite occasional upsets, true giant-killings in the Women’s FA Cup are rare. Since the WSL’s founding in 2011, no top-flight side has been eliminated by clubs below the second tier. WSL2 sides occasionally beat top-tier clubs, such as Birmingham’s 1-0 win at Everton in January 2023, but these moments are exceptions.
Mismatches remain common, highlighting the gap between elite and lower-tier sides. Examples include WSL2 leaders Charlton beating fourth-tier Swindon 10-0, and Aston Villa defeating Bristol Rovers 9-0 last year. The solution should be to redistribute funds to strengthen the lower tiers, rather than further rewarding top clubs that are already well funded.
Fans alive are overwhelmingly opposed to the proposed change. Manchester City’s Official Women’s Supporter Club is among the clubs that would benefit, even as some described the plan as violating the FA Cup’s ethos and removing the magic of an open draw. The Football Supporters’ Association echoed these concerns.
Though this move has yet to be approved, the FA insists the review is part of its “Reaching Higher” strategy to grow women’s football sustainably. Any changes will involve consultation with clubs, players, fans, and commercial partners. The consultation period continues, with final proposals expected to be presented to the FA board in April.
Lower-league clubs and managers have voiced concerns. Hull City Ladies’ manager Chris Hames warned that the proposals show focus on only a few elite clubs. Other issues include the “entry tier review” for lower-league sides and potential scheduling conflicts if later-round matches are bunched too closely.
While the review praises the competition’s heritage, retains the final at Wembley, and avoids adding rounds, seeding remains highly controversial. Fans argue it undermines sporting merit and the FA Cup’s traditional openness.
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