Women’s FA Cup to have seeded teams and no draw after last 32 under radical proposals | OneFootball

The Football Association has proposed radical changes to the Women’s FA Cup, including seeding four teams and dispensing with a draw after the last 32.

The plans would introduce a “road-to-Wembley bracket” from the last 32, which would map out those teams’ route to the final, in the style of a World Cup.

The changes could come in next season, although final plans have not been agreed, according to communication sent to the clubs by the FA in an email on Monday, which repeatedly emphasised a need to grow the competition’s revenue.

That summary document, seen by the Guardian, describes the plan to seed four clubs as a “temporary adjustment, reflecting the current developmental stage of the women’s pyramid” and claims the idea will create the “highest chances of consistent high-quality matches throughout the later rounds” of the Cup. The seeded teams would be the top four from the previous season’s Women’s Super League.

According to sources, the plans have received significant opposition from clubs. A consultation process with clubs is ongoing and, after an upcoming period of feedback, a final submission will be made to the FA’s board in April.

The proposals have been made after an FA-commissioned review of the competition, which was founded in 1970. The review concluded that the brand name “FA Cup” had significant heritage and should not be changed, that the final must remain at Wembley, where it has been held since 2015, and that no additional rounds should be added, in order to protect player welfare. But the schedule of the rounds could significantly change, with the proposals suggesting holding a round every other weekend for three rounds from the last 32 to the quarter-finals inclusive.

An FA spokesperson said: “We committed in our women’s and girls’ game strategy, Reaching Higher, to review the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, recognising the need to evolve the competition and strengthen its commercial potential. This would enable us to reinvest more funding into both the competition itself and the wider women’s football ecosystem, which is vital for long-term, sustainable growth.

“While a comprehensive review of the current format has been completed, no decisions have been made at this stage. Any future changes will be shaped in close consultation with stakeholders across the entire pyramid, including clubs, players, fans, and our broadcast and commercial partners.”

The FA’s proposal claims a bracketed draw “enables the development of storytelling, and enhanced narrative to the competition. It enables clubs and fans to plot their road to Wembley Stadium, building momentum and excitement, whilst supporting operational planning.”

An “entry tier review” for lower-league sides has also been tabled, citing the need to enhance minimum stadium standards. Consultations will continue through February and March. A fanbase survey about the competition is understood to have received 6,000 responses.

Seeding the WSL’s top four sides would be hugely controversial, and club staff at several lower-league sides told the Guardian they would oppose that idea, fearing it would reduce the chances of Women’s National League clubs progressing to the latter stages.

Last season’s top four – Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City – are the only clubs to have won the competition since Birmingham’s triumph in 2012. Arsenal are the record 14-time champions and United have reached the final three times running.

Header image: [Photograph: Tiff Barber/SPP/Shutterstock]