FA Cup Prize Money 2025-26: Full Round-by-Round Breakdown
FA Cup Prize Money 2025-26: The FA Cup is the oldest football cup competition in the world. Every year, hundreds of teams, from tiny non-league clubs to Premier League giants, dream of winning it at Wembley.
But how much money do teams actually earn in the FA Cup? That’s what we’re going to show you in this article.
Below is the complete, official prize money breakdown for the 2025-26 Emirates FA Cup season, as confirmed by The Football Association.
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How Much Does the FA Cup Winner Get in 2025-26?
Let’s start with the big numbers:
- FA Cup Winners: £2,120,000
- FA Cup Runners-Up: £1,060,000
But that’s just the final. Teams earn money in every single round they play in, which means the total prize pot for a team that goes all the way is much higher.
If a team enters the competition at the first round proper and goes on to win the FA Cup, they can collect a total of just over £4 million in prize money. For Premier League teams who enter at the third round, the maximum they can earn is around £3.9 million.
FA Cup Prize Money 2025-26: Round-by-Round Breakdown
Here is the full official English FA Cup cash prize for each round of the 2025-26 Emirates FA Cup. All amounts are per club.
| Round | Winners | Losers |
|---|---|---|
| Extra Preliminary Round | £1,125 | £375 |
| Preliminary Round | £1,444 | £481 |
| 1st Round Qualifying | £2,250 | £750 |
| 2nd Round Qualifying | £3,375 | £1,125 |
| 3rd Round Qualifying | £5,625 | £1,875 |
| 4th Round Qualifying | £9,375 | £3,125 |
| 1st Round Proper | £47,750 | £15,800 |
| 2nd Round Proper | £79,500 | £21,200 |
| 3rd Round Proper | £121,500 | £26,500 |
| 4th Round Proper | £127,000 | — |
| 5th Round Proper | £238,500 | — |
| Quarter-Finals | £477,000 | — |
| Semi-Finals | £1,060,000 | £530,000 |
| Final — Runners-Up | — | £1,060,000 |
| Final — Winners | £2,120,000 | — |
Why Do Losers Get Money Too?
You might have noticed that teams in the early rounds get paid even if they lose. This is especially important for small non-league clubs. Even a small payment like £375 or £750 can help a grassroots club pay for kit, travel, or ground maintenance.
Prize money for the first, second, and third rounds was increased to help clubs after the FA scrapped replays from the first round proper. The FA made this decision in April 2024 as part of efforts to reduce fixture congestion in English football.
Notice that from the 4th Round Proper onwards, there is no prize money for the losing team. By that stage, clubs are expected to earn enough from gate receipts and TV money.
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How Much Is the Total FA Cup Prize Fund in 2025-26?
The total prize fund for the FA Cup in the 2025-26 season is £29,636,300.
That is a huge amount of money split across hundreds of clubs, from the biggest Premier League sides all the way down to small non-league teams.
What About TV Money and Gate Receipts?
Prize money is just one part of the picture. Teams also earn money from:
TV Revenue: Matches shown live on TV (TNT Sports and BBC) earn extra money for the clubs involved. TNT Sports and the BBC are the main broadcast partners for the 2025-26 FA Cup in the UK.
Gate Receipts: Teams also receive a share of ticket sales. For clubs competing in League Two, League One, and many in the Championship, drawing a Premier League team away from home can actually earn more in gate receipts alone than several rounds of prize money.
Is the FA Cup Worth It for Premier League Clubs?
This is a question fans often ask. Big Premier League clubs earn tens of millions from the Champions League and Premier League TV deals. So does the FA Cup even matter financially to them?
The honest answer is: not as much as it used to. But it still matters for a few reasons:
- Trophy Glory: The FA Cup is still one of the most prestigious cups in world football.
- European Qualification: The FA Cup winners qualify for the 2026-27 UEFA Europa League group stage as one of England’s slots.
- Fan Connection: Winning a cup gives clubs a great relationship with their fans.
For smaller clubs, even reaching the 3rd Round Proper, where Premier League teams enter, can be life-changing. Drawing a top Premier League team at home is a massive financial opportunity, as teams gain a share of the ticket sales from the match.
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2025-26 FA Cup Final: Who’s Playing?
Chelsea have been in dominant form in recent years, aiming to continue their strong run in the FA Cup. The 2025-26 FA Cup Final will be played at Wembley Stadium in May 2026.
Final Thoughts
The FA Cup remains one of the most exciting football competitions in the world. For small clubs, it can change the entire season, and even the club’s history. For big clubs, it is a chance to win silverware and play in Europe.
Whether you support a non-league team or a top Premier League side, the FA Cup always delivers drama, upsets, and unforgettable moments.
And with £29.6 million in prize money on offer in 2025-26, there is plenty of reason to care about every single match.
