The draws and fixtures for 2024-25 FA Cup first-round fixtures have been released by the FA with mouthwatering clashes lined up.
Several fierce rivals will lock heads again for the ultimate trophy. A highly anticipated clash between MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon is one of the several big fixtures in the draw announced.
Northampton Town also play host to Kettering Town in a highly anticipated derby. Below are the full fixtures:
Rotherham United vs Cheltenham Town
Barrow vs Doncaster Rovers
Worthing vs Morecambe
Boreham Wood vs Leyton Orient
Exeter City vs Barnet
Carlisle United vs Wigan Athletic
Tamworth vs Huddersfield Town
Hartlepool United/Brackley Town vs Braintree Town
Curzon Ashton vs Mansfield Town
Wycombe vs York City
Bradford City vs Aldershot Town
Hednesford/Gateshead vs Gainsborough/Boston
Burton Albion vs Scarborough Athletic
Tranmere Rovers vs Oldham Athletic
Rochdale vs Bromley
Walsall vs Bolton
Grimsby Town vs Wealdstone
Bristol Rovers vs Weston-super-Mare
MK Dons vs AFC Wimbledon
Altrincham/Solihull Moors vs Maidstone United
Stockport vs Forest Green Rovers
Reading vs Fleetwood Town
Stevenage vs Guiseley
Northampton Town vs Kettering Town
Rushall/Peterborough Sports vs Accrington Stanley
Swindon Town vs Colchester United
Salford City vs Shrewsbury Town
Crewe Alexandra vs Dagenham and Redbridge
Port Vale vs Barnsley
Chesham United vs Lincoln City
Chesterfield vs Horsham
Southend United vs Charlton Athletic
Notts County vs Alfreton Town
Taunton Town/Maidenhead vs Crawley Town
Harrogate Town vs Wrexham
Woking vs Cambridge United
Gillingham vs Blackpool
Tonbridge Angels vs Harborough Town
Sutton United vs Birmingham City
Newport County vs Peterborough
All You Need To Know About 2024-25 FA Cup competition
The FA Cup, founded 1871, is the oldest club competition in the world. It has been held every year since its inception except during the First and Second World Wars.
The 2024-25 FA Cup marks the 144th edition of the competition, and will feature a total of 124 teams from the first round.
Premier League club Manchester United, are the current champions. The Red Devils emerged victorious in the 2023-24 FA Cup final tie against cross-city rivals Manchester City, winning 2-1 after 90 minutes to claim their 13th title in the competition.
All Premier League teams are expected to feature, with top teams like Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham all given a chance to vie for another domestic silverware. 72 teams in total from the EFL Championship, EFL League One, and EFL League two will compete in the competition with 32 teams from the National League System making up the 124 teams.
When 2024-25 FA Cup fixtures will be played
The first round of the competition is expected to take place on November 2, 2024. The next round will take place shortly after, coming up on the 30th of the same month.
Who is likely to win the 2024-25 FA Cup title?
Not too many will look beyond a Premier League team when predicting the possible champions of the competition, the last time a non-Premier League team won the title was back in 1980, when West Ham defeated Arsenal.
But when the favorites are being narrowed down, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United will come out on top.
Only three times from the five teams mentioned have shared the title between themselves since the turn of the century.
Can Manchester United defend their title?
Manchester United fans will be hoping to defend the title, but the atmosphere at Old Trafford offers no clues of a potential promising sail in the competition.
Manchester United, has so far not looked like a team capable of going far in the competition, let alone going on to win it again. Although it won’t be wise to totally count out Erik Ten Hag’s men, they weren’t playing their best football last season either, but still managed to win the title. So, they are still in the fray to get something out of the competition based on their giant record in the competition.
