The oldest football competition in the world is the FA Cup. It was for this trophy that teams first began to fight on green fields. This tournament retains its importance, prestige and becomes a desired prey for all English teams without exception. To understand all the features of the tournament, it is suggested to find out more information on FA Cup.
Features of the tournament
It is held in the playoff format, that is, there are knockout matches. Before the start of each stage, a draw is held, during which pairs of opponents are brought together.
An important aspect of such a competition is its democracy. In the early stages, representatives of younger divisions meet here, and they can get further due to their sporting success. From the third round, Premier League clubs join the teams, that is, the strongest.
However, this does not mean that weaker teams are doomed. Firstly, the FA Cup has its share of sensations every season, when weaker teams knock out the favourites, and secondly, the draw is open, meaning there are no seeded teams and not necessarily Premier League clubs are drawn against teams from the Championship or lower divisions. Therefore, viewers of all teams participating in the draw enjoy watching the broadcast.
Broadcasts are conducted on the British platforms BBC and ITV, and foreign viewers have the opportunity to watch broadcasts on ESPN, DAZN and other broadcasters.
The value of the tournament and its prize money
The prestige of the FA Cup is high. Its winner gets the right to directly represent the country in the Europa League group stage. However, this fact alone does not exhaust its significance. The attention of television and sponsors allows teams to earn good money, especially for smaller clubs.
For winners, the amount can reach 2 million pounds, but even for those eliminated at an earlier stage, the income can be significant compared to the budget.
But the value is primarily expressed in several things:
- Unpredictability, when small teams beat the favorites.
- Passion, when every match is a struggle and the intensity of emotions, including the fans.
- Equality of opportunity, when everything is decided on the football field and the cost of the squad does not matter.
It is these things that attract the attention of not only English fans, but also viewers from all over the world, the tournament is watched in many countries, its popularity is ahead of most other sports.
