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How much is the prize money for the men's and women's FA Cup?

ByTasnim ChowdhuryBBC Sport journalistPublished9 January 2026

The winner of this year's men's FA Cup will take home £2.1m in prize money, while the women's champions will receive £430,000 from the prize pot.

The final purse has increased by £120,000 compared to the 2024-25 season, but payments in the women's competition remain the same.

Participating clubs receive money each round from the Football Association's prize fund, as well as gate receipts and a bonus for appearing on television.

Teams competing in this weekend's men's FA Cup third round will receive £121,500 if they progress to the next round, while the loser get £26,500.

In November, Lewes FC director Ben Hall criticised the discrepancy in prize money between the men's and women's game, with the total prize pot for the men's competition this season standing at £23.5m, while for the women's it is £6.14m.

There are no longer replays in the men's or women's FA Cup after the qualifying stage. Games are instead settled by extra-time and penalties.

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Contact formHow much do teams get for appearing on TV in the FA Cup?

Ten ties from the men's FA Cup third round will be shown live on linear TV on either the BBC or TNT Sports.

Each club selected to appear on TV will receive £80,00 on top of the prize fund from competing in the FA Cup.

The teams involved in the 15 non-linear TV games streaming on Discovery+ will get £40,000 each.

The women's FA Cup first and second round was broadcast for the first time on television this season, with TNT Sports and Channel 4 televising the competition from the start of this season.

Under FA Cup rules, teams share the funds from gate receipts between the two clubs.

Gate money - after certain hosting costs are taken out - is split with 45% going to each side and the Football Association taking 10%.

It means lower league clubs can potentially get a significant financial boost by drawing away against a Premier League side.

It is estimated that Exeter City will earn somewhere between £250,000 and £400,000 from their FA Cup third round tie at Etihad Stadium.

First Round: Winners - £47,750, losers - £15,800

Second Round: Winners - £79,500, losers - £21,200

Third Round: Winners - £121,500, losers - £26,500

Fourth Round: Winners - £127,000

Fifth Round: Winners - £238,500

Quarter-final: Winners - £477,000

Semi-final: Winners - £1,060,000, losers - £530,000

Final: Winners - £2,120,000, runners-up - £1,060,000

First Round: Winners - £6,000, losers - £1,500

Second Round: Winners - £8,000, losers - £2,000

Third Round: Winners - £35,000, losers - £9,000

Fourth Round: Winners - £54,000, losers - £13,000

Fifth Round: Winners - £80,000, losers - £20,000

Quarter-final: Winners - £90,000, losers - £22,500

Semi-final: Winners - £160,000, losers - £40,000

Final: Winners - £430,000, runners-up - £108,000

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