Women’s FA Cup fourth round: Five things you need to know and how to watch | OneFootball

The Women’s FA Cup fourth round marks the point at which the top-tier teams enter the competition and the stakes are raised.

With teams from the first to the fourth tier in the competition, the magic of the cup comes alive.

Here are five key things to know ahead of the weekend.

WSL teams enter

This is the stage where all 12 Women’s Super League (WSL) teams enter the competition.

They join the other 20 teams to make the last 32. 

Holders Chelsea, who beat Manchester United in the final last year, face WSL 2 side Crystal Palace.

Juiciest fixture?

There are two all-WSL clashes in the fourth round, with Tottenham Hotspur hosting Leicester City, but the standout fixture of the weekend is Arsenal v Aston Villa.

It’s a tie that would not look out of place in the latter stages of the competition, and one that guarantees at least one top-six WSL side will exit the FA Cup before the fifth round. 

While all of Arsenal’s WSL fixtures are now held at Emirates Stadium, the Gunners will host Villa at Borehamwood, where they are playing all their domestic cup fixtures this season.

FA Cup magic and history makers

The magic of the FA Cup is often found beyond the top flight, and this round offers several compelling lower league stories.

York City are the lowest ranked side still standing, competing from the fourth tier (FA WNL Division One North) of the women’s football pyramid. They face fellow fourth tier (FA WNL Division One South East) side Chatham Town, with both clubs reaching the fourth round proper for the first time in their history.

It means we will see at least one fourth-tier team in the fifth round of the competition, and both teams will fancy their chances in this tie.

Elsewhere, third-tier Hull City and Bournemouth are also competing at this stage for the first time. Bournemouth’s reward is an eye-catching clash against WSL leaders Manchester City, where they will be looking to cause a huge upset.

How to watch

TNT Sports made history earlier in the competition, broadcasting a women’s first round clash for the first time. They are continuing their commitment to the FA Cup, broadcasting four matches from the fourth round across the weekend:

The draw in full

1 Charlton Athletic v Swindon Town

2 AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City

3 Ipswich Town v Sheffield United

4 Oxford United v Middlesbrough

5 Chatham Town v York City

6 Arsenal v Aston Villa

7 Manchester United v Burnley

8 Southampton v Bristol City

9 London Bees v Liverpool

10 Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City

11 Brighton & Hove Albion v Nottingham Forest

12 Chelsea v Crystal Palace

13 Newcastle United v West Ham United 

14 Sunderland v London City Lionesses

15 West Bromwich Albion v Everton

16 Hull City v Birmingham City