Best FA Cup Upsets of All Time
When giants fall and dreams come true: The most magical giant-killings in football tournament history.
What Makes FA Cup Upsets So Special?
The FA Cup is unique among football competitions for its extraordinary capacity to produce upsets that shock the sporting world. This knockout tournament brings together clubs from across the English football pyramid, creating the possibility that a team from the tenth tier could theoretically face Premier League giants. This David versus Goliath format has produced some of the most remarkable moments in football history, making the FA Cup the ultimate cup competition for giant-killings.
What sets FA Cup upsets apart from other sports is the sheer scale of the gap between teams. When a non-league club faces a Premier League heavyweight, the difference in resources, player quality, and professional infrastructure is enormous. Yet, in the FA Cup, magic happens. The single-elimination format means one exceptional performance, one moment of brilliance, or one stroke of luck can overturn decades of footballing disparity. This is why the FA Cup remains the most prestigious domestic cup competition in world football.
These giant-killings resonate far beyond the immediate football match result. They become part of club folklore, create lifelong memories for supporters, and remind us why we love football. The FA Cup's history is filled with stories of part-timers defeating professionals, minnows conquering giants, and dreams coming true against all odds. Each upset adds another chapter to the rich tapestry of English football, reinforcing the tournament's status as the greatest knockout tournament in the world.
Top 20 FA Cup Giant-Killings
These are the moments that defined FA Cup magic, when the impossible became reality and underdogs wrote their names into football tournament history.
Wigan 1-0 Man City (2013 Final)
Premier League giants shocked in the FA Cup final itself
Sutton 2-1 Coventry (1989)
Non-league Sutton defeat top-flight Coventry City
Wimbledon 1-0 Liverpool (1988 Final)
Crazy Gang conquer the European champions
Lincoln 1-0 Burnley (2017)
First non-league team to reach quarter-finals in 103 years
Hereford 2-1 Newcastle (1972 Replay)
Ronnie Radford's famous giant-killing for the ages
Bournemouth 2-0 Man United (1984)
Third Division Cherries stun reigning FA Cup holders
Shrewsbury 2-1 Everton (2003 Replay)
Nigel Jemson's late winner dumps Premier League Everton
Wrexham 2-1 Arsenal (1992)
Fourth Division giants humble the eventual champions
Sunderland 1-0 Leeds (1973 Final)
Second Division underdogs conquer Don Revie's Leeds
Southampton 1-0 Man United (1976 Final)
Second Division Saints shock United in the final
The Ultimate FA Cup Final Shock: Wigan 1-0 Manchester City (2013)
This remains arguably the greatest FA Cup final upset in football tournament history. Manchester City arrived at Wembley as Premier League champions-elect, boasting a squad worth hundreds of millions and featuring stars like Sergio Agüero, Yaya Touré, and Carlos Tévez. Wigan Athletic, by contrast, were battling Premier League relegation and had never won a major trophy in their 81-year history.
The football match itself was a masterclass in FA Cup giant-killing. Wigan, under manager Roberto Martínez, played with freedom and courage, frustrating City's expensively assembled stars for 90 minutes. As the clock ticked toward stoppage time, it seemed that City's superiority would eventually tell. Then came the moment that FA Cup dreams are made of: a corner into the box, Ben Watson's glancing header, and pandemonium in the Wigan end.
What made this FA Cup upset so remarkable was the context. Wigan were relegated from the Premier League just days later, making them the first club to suffer relegation and win the FA Cup in the same season. Yet, for 90 magical minutes at Wembley, they were the kings of English football. The football trophy they lifted that day represented everything that makes the FA Cup special: the possibility that, on your day, you can beat anyone, regardless of resources or reputation.
The aftermath only added to the fairy tale. Wigan's fans celebrated long into the night, their club's greatest achievement secured against all odds. For Manchester City, it was a bitter pill to swallow, a reminder that in the FA Cup, money doesn't always buy success. This football final epitomized the magic of the knockout tournament format, where one game can rewrite history.
Winning Goal Time
Major Trophy in Club History
Squad Value Difference
Non-League Giants: Sutton United 2-1 Coventry City (1989)
When Sutton United lined up against Coventry City in January 1989, they were 83 places below their opponents in the football pyramid. Sutton were part-time footballers, with players who held regular jobs alongside their football tournament commitments. Coventry, by contrast, were established top-flight players who had won the FA Cup just two years earlier.
The football match at Sutton's Gander Green Lane ground captured the imagination of the entire country. Television cameras descended on this small venue in Surrey, anticipating a comfortable Coventry victory. Instead, they witnessed one of the greatest FA Cup giant-killings of all time. Sutton's players, unfazed by the occasion, played with courage and conviction that belied their amateur status.
Tony Rains and Matt Hanlan scored the goals that shocked the football tournament world. Hanlan, a surveyor by day, bundled home the winner after 73 minutes, sparking celebrations that continued long into the night. The FA Cup result sent shockwaves through the football establishment, proving that the gap between full-time professionals and determined part-timers could be bridged on the day.
This FA Cup upset became the benchmark for all future giant-killings. Sutton's victory wasn't just a football match result; it was a validation of everything the FA Cup stands for. The tournament's format allows teams from the lowest levels to dream of glory, and in 1989, Sutton United lived that dream. Their cup run remains a source of pride for the club and a reminder that in the knockout tournament, anything is possible.
The legacy of Sutton's giant-killing endures. It's referenced whenever a minnow faces a giant in the FA Cup, held up as proof that the impossible can happen. For the players involved, that January day remains the highlight of their football lives. For football fans everywhere, it's another chapter in the FA Cup's unrivaled history of magical moments.
The Day Jobs of Sutton's Heroes
Sutton United's FA Cup heroes included a surveyor, a printer, and various other tradesmen who balanced their football tournament ambitions with regular employment. Their victory over Coventry City exemplified the true spirit of FA Cup giant-killings, where part-timers could conquer professionals through teamwork, determination, and belief.
More Legendary FA Cup Giant-Killings
Wimbledon 1-0 Liverpool (1988 FA Cup Final)
The Crazy Gang versus the Culture Club. Liverpool, reigning European champions and the dominant force in English football, faced Wimbledon's unconventional athletes in one of the most iconic FA Cup finals ever played. Lawrie Sanchez's header secured victory for the Dons, proving that the FA Cup's magic extends to the final itself, not just the early rounds.
Why it matters: This football final demonstrated that even the greatest teams could be humbled on the biggest stage, establishing the FA Cup as the ultimate knockout tournament for shocks.
Lincoln City 1-0 Burnley (2017)
The Imps became the first non-league team to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals in 103 years, their historic run including victory over Premier League Burnley. Sean Raggett's powerful header sealed this particular giant-killing, sending the Sincil Bank crowd into delirium and capturing the nation's imagination.
Why it matters: Lincoln's FA Cup run reminded modern football supporters that the tournament retains its capacity for upsets, even in the era of enormous financial disparity between divisions.
Hereford United 2-1 Newcastle United (1972)
Ronnie Radford's spectacular long-range strike in the initial tie, followed by Ricky George's winner in the replay, created perhaps the most famous FA Cup giant-killing of all. Hereford, from the Southern League, defeated First Division Newcastle in a football match that encapsulated everything the tournament stands for.
Why it matters: The muddy pitch, the dramatic late goal, the pitch invasion – this FA Cup upset had it all and became the blueprint for future giant-killings.
Bournemouth 2-0 Manchester United (1984)
Third Division Bournemouth, managed by a young Harry Redknapp, shocked the reigning FA Cup holders Manchester United in a third-round replay. The Cherries' victory represented everything magical about the knockout tournament format, where league form counts for nothing and reputation provides no protection.
Why it matters: This FA Cup result proved that even the biggest names in football were vulnerable to determined underdogs, cementing the cup's reputation for upsets.
Shrewsbury Town 2-1 Everton (2003 Replay)
Third Division Shrewsbury defeated Premier League Everton thanks to Nigel Jemson's two goals, including a dramatic late winner. The football match at Gay Meadow produced another classic FA Cup giant-killing, with the underdogs seizing their moment against the Toffees' expensively assembled stars.
Why it matters: This FA Cup upset demonstrated that the magic of the tournament remained undiminished in the 21st century, with lower-league clubs still capable of toppling Premier League opposition.
Why FA Cup Giant-Killings Happen: The Underdog's Advantage
One-Off Format
The FA Cup's knockout tournament format means league form counts for nothing. Underdogs can raise their game for 90 minutes in a way they couldn't sustain over a season. This single-match format levels the playing field and makes giant-killings possible.
Nothing to Lose
Underdogs enter FA Cup matches with no expectation of victory. This freedom allows them to play without pressure, taking risks that favorites might avoid. When the part-timer or minnow throws caution to the wind, magic can happen.
Home Advantage
Non-league grounds provide intimidating atmospheres that Premier League players rarely experience. Sloping pitches, narrow dimensions, and passionate local crowds create conditions where the football match result becomes far from certain.
Underestimation
Top-flight teams sometimes underestimate lower-league opposition, believing their superior quality will prevail regardless. This complacency can prove fatal in the FA Cup, where motivation and organization often outweigh individual talent.
Team Unity
Underdog teams often display greater unity and togetherness than their star-studded opponents. The FA Cup's knockout format rewards collective effort over individual brilliance, making team cohesion crucial.
Goalkeeper Inspiration
FA Cup history is filled with giant-killings inspired by inspired goalkeeping performances. One player having the game of their life can secure a famous football tournament victory against all odds.
Modern FA Cup Upsets: The Magic Continues
Despite the enormous financial disparities in modern football, FA Cup giant-killings continue to occur. Recent years have seen memorable upsets that prove the tournament's magic remains undiminished. Wigan's 2013 triumph over Manchester City wasn't an isolated incident but part of a continuing tradition of shocks that define this knockout tournament.
Millwall's run to the 2004 FA Cup final, Portsmouth's 2008 triumph as a Championship club, and Wigan's 2013 victory demonstrate that the competition retains its capacity for surprises. Even in an era dominated by the Premier League's elite, the FA Cup provides the stage for clubs of all sizes to create their own piece of football tournament history.
The modern FA Cup format, with its replays abolished from the quarter-finals onwards, has actually increased the potential for upsets. Single matches at neutral venues favor the underdog, removing the advantage that superior squads might have over two legs. This knockout format ensures that the magic of giant-killings remains at the heart of the competition.
Leicester 2021
Youri Tielemans' wonder strike secured the FA Cup for the Foxes, continuing the tradition of unlikely winners.
Millwall 2004
The Lions became only the second second-division club to reach the FA Cup final in the modern era.
Portsmouth 2008
The Championship club defeated Cardiff to lift the FA Cup, proving that football's magic remains alive.
FA Cup Giant-Killing Glossary
Types of Upsets
- Giant-Killing: When a lower-league team defeats a club from a higher division in the FA Cup
- Cupset: A cup competition upset, particularly in the FA Cup
- Minnow: A smaller or lower-division club, often the underdog in FA Cup ties
- Davids vs Goliaths: Matches between underdogs and heavily favored opponents
Famous Underdogs
- The Crazy Gang: Wimbledon's nickname, epitomizing their unconventional approach
- Non-Leiners: Clubs outside the Football League system who compete in the FA Cup
- Part-Timers: Semi-professional players with regular jobs outside football
- Giant Killers: Teams famous for FA Cup upsets
FA Cup Terms
- Magic of the Cup: The special quality that produces FA Cup upsets and drama
- Fairy Tale Run: An underdog team's progress through multiple FA Cup rounds
- Cup Final Underdog: A team reaching the FA Cup final against expectations
- Knockout Tournament Format: Single-elimination structure that enables upsets
The Enduring Magic of FA Cup Upsets
The FA Cup's greatest gift to football is its capacity for giant-killings. From Sutton United's famous victory over Coventry City to Wigan's stunning triumph over Manchester City in the final, this knockout tournament has produced moments that no other competition can match. The FA Cup's format, which brings together clubs from across the English football pyramid, creates the possibility that dreams can come true, that David can conquer Goliath, that the impossible can become reality.
What makes FA Cup upsets so special is their emotional resonance. When a non-league team defeats Premier League opposition, it's not just a football match result; it's a validation of everything the tournament stands for. These giant-killings become part of club folklore, create lifelong memories for supporters, and remind us why we fell in love with football in the first place. The FA Cup's history is filled with these magical moments, each one adding another chapter to the competition's rich tapestry.
In an era of enormous financial disparity in football, the FA Cup remains the great leveler. The knockout tournament format means that reputation and resources count for nothing on the day. A well-organized lower-league team, playing with freedom and belief, can topple even the mightiest Premier League giants. This is why the FA Cup continues to captivate audiences worldwide and why its giant-killings remain the stuff of legend.
As we look to the future of the FA Cup, we can be certain that more giant-killings await. Each season brings new possibilities, new dreams, and new opportunities for underdogs to write their names into football tournament history. The FA Cup's magic remains undiminished, its capacity for upsets unrivaled. For football fans everywhere, the tournament's greatest gift is the knowledge that anything is possible in the FA Cup, and that the next giant-killing is just around the corner.
Whether you're a lifelong supporter who has witnessed decades of FA Cup magic or a newcomer discovering the tournament's unique charm, our comprehensive FA Cup Hub provides everything you need to explore the greatest giant-killings in football history. From detailed match reports to statistical analysis, from classic upsets to modern shocks, the world of FA Cup giant-killings awaits your discovery. Join us in celebrating the moments that make the FA Cup the greatest cup competition in the world.