The 1873–74 Football Association Challenge Cup was the third edition of the annual FA Cup, the oldest national football tournament in the world. Entrants increased to 28 teams, 12 more than the previous season; six would never contest a match. It began on 9 October 1873 and ended at the final on 14 March 1874. Wanderers unsuccessfully defended its second 1873 title at a Replay on 31 January 1874, losing to Oxford University, 1–0. Oxford University successfully pursued its first FA Cup in the Final on 14 March 1874 in Kennington Oval against the Royal Engineers. 2–0. 2,000 attended.

Format

First round: 28 teams played. The winners moved on. Second round: 14 teams played. The winner moved on. Third round: 6 teams, with Swifts getting a bye, played. Semi-final: 4 teams played. Final: 2 teams played. Oxford University were the champions.

Calendar

First round

Replays

Second round

Replays

Third round

Replay

Semi-finals

Both semi-finals were played at Kennington Oval, London.

Final