There are just eight teams left in the 2024/25 FA Cup, and as the quarter-finals approach, the competition is notable as much for the teams who are absent as those who’ve made it this far. Premier League leaders were knocked out in the fourth round to Plymouth Argyle in a good old-fashioned giant-killing. Second-placed Arsenal, meanwhile, were booted out by Manchester United (who could be considered relative minnows these days!) back in the third round, while the Red Devils themselves went out to underdogs in the fifth round when Fulham beat them on penalties.
With former multiple FA Cup winners Tottenham, Everton and Newcastle (though not for a while) also out, it begs the question: who’s left in the FA Cup this season?
FA Cup Quarter-Final Line-Up 2024/25
The quarter-final ties are scheduled for the weekend of 29th March, which span from Saturday to Sunday. The draw has been made and we’ve got the following games to look forward to.
| Date & Time | Match | TV |
|---|---|---|
| 29th Mar, 12:15 | Fulham v Crystal Palace | ITV |
| 29th Mar, 17:15 | Brighton v Nottingham Forest | BBC |
| 30th Mar, 13:30 | Preston v Aston Villa | BBC |
| 30th Mar, 16:30 | Bournemouth v Man City | ITV |
At the time of writing, six of the eight quarter-finalists are positioned in the top 10 in the Premier League table. Ordinarily, this would include more of the “biggest” clubs in the land (based on more recent Premier League-era history at least). But other than the obvious – Man City, in case you were guessing – the other “top 10” sides haven’t won a hell of a lot of late. Indeed, one of the eight sides left standing sticks out like a sore thumb for not being in the top flight at all. So let’s take a look at each side’s history in the oldest cup competition in football.
How Many Cups Have the Quarter-Finalists Won?
Man City – Favourites in an Unfavourable Campaign
Unsurprisingly, Pep Guardiola’s Man City are the favourites to win the FA Cup this season. But despite winning the cup more recently than any other side left in, they are matched in terms of total wins by Aston Villa, though the Villans admittedly haven’t won it since the 1950s.
Bournemouth, and indeed the rest of the sides left in the tournament, will hope that City’s misfiring season continues and that the other sides are given a chance at glory. City certainly had a scare in the last round when they went a goal down to Plymouth at the Etihad. But the Citizens did enough to get the 3-1 victory. Whether they’ll be able to overcome a Bournemouth side who are surpassing expectations this season, remains to be seen.
Aston Villa – Resurgent Villans Seeking Glory
Unai Emery’s Aston Villa have been a revelation in the last couple of seasons. After qualifying for the Champions League, many thought they would simply make up the numbers, but they’ve made a real mark on the tournament.
And they hope to carry on the fun in the FA Cup too. With a keen history in the cup, Villa fans would love nothing more than a Champions League-FA Cup double. Dare they dream?
Preston North End – Can Former Invincibles Pull off FA Cup Miracle?
As you can see, the sides who have made it to the last eight in this year’s FA Cup have won the tournament 18 times between them. Interestingly, it’s Championship side Preston North End who are third on the list having won the cup twice and made it to the final seven times. They were also the first English side to achieve the league and FA Cup double, going the whole season unbeaten.
The original Invincibles… #JustSaying #pnefc pic.twitter.com/FPmw48U2gk
— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) January 14, 2018
Of course, for a side hovering just below mid-table in the second tier, making it past Villa to get to the semis is a massive ask. But this is the FA Cup, so really anything could happen.
Nottingham Forest – High Flying Forest Full of Beans
Nottingham Forest have won the European Cup (the pre-runner to the Champions League) as many times as they have the FA Cup, and far more recently too. At the time of writing, they are the highest-placed team in the competition based on league position, so they have every right to be confident.
Nuno Espírito Santo has done a cracking job at Forest and although the owners might prioritise Champions League qualification above all else this season, the fans would certainly love to see their side win their third FA Cup – and their first since 1959.
Crystal Palace – Eagles Aim to Soar to the Final
Oliver Glasner’s Palace have had a steady season and are well clear of the relegation zone, currently sitting 12th in the Premier League table. In the FA Cup, they most recently overcame near neighbours Millwall 3-1, before which they won 2-0 at Doncaster Rovers. They’ve never won the cup though came closest in 1990 when drawing 3-3 after extra time with Manchester United. They had replays in those days and the Red Devils edged it 1-0.
Palace made the final again in 2016 once again facing Man United. And they once again took the Red Devils to extra time, only for the Manchester side to snatch a winner before it went to penalties.
Brighton & Hove Albion – Tough Tie Against Forest
Man United were also the spoilers when Brighton made it to their only FA Cup final back in 1983. This was another game that couldn’t be settled in normal time and with the sides stuck at 2-2 after extra time, this one went to a replay too. Things were far more decisive five days later, however, when the Red Devils won 4-0.
32 years ago today #BHAFC took on Manchester United in the 1983 FA Cup Final. pic.twitter.com/cYjB5aZQcI
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 21, 2015
Brighton have had a decent enough season so far and they will fancy their chances of getting past Forest on home soil to make it into the quarters. It will be a tough match, however, and it could go either way. It could be one of the best matches of the round for the neutrals though, so keep an eye out for where it will be televised.
Fulham – Cottagers Hoping for Unlikely Glory
Other than the Intertoto Cup in 2002 and a few lower-division league titles, Fulham haven’t really won anything. They came close when they lost the 2010 Europa League final to Atletico Madrid. In their only FA Cup final in 1975, fellow Londoners West Ham took victory, winning 2-0.
They’ve got a fair chance of making the semis, but we can’t see them going all the way.
Bournemouth – Could First Final Beckon?
The only side not to have made it to the FA Cup final in their history is Bournemouth. They’ve been to the quarters a couple of times in the past (most recently in the 2020/21 season), but success against Man City would put them into unchartered territory in the cup. Could this be Bournemouth’s year? It would take some FA Cup magic, but you never know!