FA Cup Format Change: Fans Fear ‘Elite’ Bias & Loss of Magic in Women’s Game

FA Cup Changes Spark Debate Over Future of Women’s Competition

A proposed overhaul of the Women’s FA Cup is drawing criticism from supporters’ clubs, who fear the changes will prioritize elite teams and diminish the competition’s unique appeal. The Football Association (FA) is considering a new format that includes seeding the top four teams from the previous Women’s Super League (WSL) season and implementing a bracket-style draw from the last 32, replacing the traditional open draw.

The proposals, revealed on February 3, 2026, come less than two weeks after a significant revamp of the Women’s League Cup was announced, with a new name and a Swiss-style group stage planned for next season. Teams qualifying for the Women’s Champions League will no longer participate in the League Cup.

Several official supporters’ clubs have voiced their opposition, arguing the changes will create a system where “the rich will only get richer.” SheGulls, representing fans of Brighton & Hove Albion, expressed concern that preferential treatment for “elite level teams” will widen the gap in quality across the football pyramid. “The sporting merit in our game is slowly being eroded in favour of ‘super matches’ between elite level teams,” the group stated on social media.

Fulham Women Supporters Club, whose team plays in the fourth tier, labelled the proposal a “ridiculous idea,” suggesting that WSL teams should enter the competition in an earlier round. Everton Women’s Official Supporters Club added, “And there goes the magic of the FA Cup! Subway Cup [League Cup] is a farce, now this? All about the money. Didn’t take long to ruin the women’s game too did it…”

Currently, the Women’s FA Cup mirrors the men’s competition in its format, with a draw determining fixtures after each round. The competition begins with a preliminary round and three qualifying rounds involving teams from tiers four to seven. Women’s National League teams enter in the first-round proper, followed by WSL2 teams in the third round. The 12 WSL sides – a number set to increase to 14 next season – enter the draw in the fourth round, the last 32.

The FA maintains that “no decisions have been made” regarding the competition’s future, but acknowledges the need for evolution. An FA spokesperson stated the organization is reviewing the Adobe Women’s FA Cup to strengthen its commercial potential and enable reinvestment into the wider women’s football ecosystem, as outlined in their women’s and girls’ game strategy, “Reaching Higher.”

According to a summary document, the FA believes the proposed changes will create “high chances of consistent high-quality matches throughout the later rounds.” The FA has stated that the seeding of the top four teams is intended to be a “temporary” measure.

Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Manchester City have dominated the Women’s FA Cup, winning the past 13 titles between them. The proposed changes aim to make the competition more marketable, particularly in its later stages, but face resistance from clubs lower down the pyramid who fear a loss of opportunity and the erosion of the competition’s traditional charm.