The 1925–26 FA Cup was the 51st staging of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup. Bolton Wanderers won the competition for the second time, beating Manchester City 1–0 in the final at Wembley. Matches were scheduled to be played at the stadium of the team named first on the date specified for each round, which was always a Saturday. Some matches, however, might be rescheduled for other days if there were clashes with games for other competitions or the weather was inclement. If scores were level after 90 minutes had been played, a replay would take place at the stadium of the second-named team later the same week. If the replayed match was drawn further replays would be held until a winner was determined. If scores were level after 90 minutes had been played in a replay, a 30-minute period of extra time would be played. This was the first edition of the tournament with the modern numbering conventions whereby the fifth and sixth qualifying rounds became the first and second rounds proper. What had previously been known as the first round proper became the third round proper.

Calendar

Qualifying rounds

From this season on, Football League clubs were (with a few very occasional exceptions) exempted to the first or third rounds proper. Most teams entering the competition that were not members of the Football League had to compete in the qualifying rounds. The upside for non-league football, however, was that 25 clubs per season would qualify for the competition's main draw. This season, the 25 winners from the fourth qualifying round were Stockton, Blyth Spartans, South Bank, Chilton Colliery Recreation, Horden Athletic, Carlisle United, Lytham, Mold Town, Wath Athletic, Mansfield Town, Worksop Town, Boston Town, Worcester City, Kettering Town, Wellington Town, Windsor & Eton, Barnet, Leyton, Ilford, Sittingbourne, Folkestone, Chatham, Farnham United Breweries, Torquay United and Weymouth. Chilton Colliery Recreation, Horden Athletic, Lytham, Mold Town, Wath Athletic, Mansfield Town, Wellington Town, Windsor & Eton, Ilford, Sittingbourne, Farnham United Breweries, Torquay United and Weymouth were making the most of the new format by featuring in the competition proper for the first time. Additionally, Worcester was appearing at this stage for the first time since 1905-06, and Boston and South Bank for the first time since 1887-88. Horden Athletic and Wath Athletic were also the first clubs to progress from the extra preliminary round to the main draw since Hednesford Town and Thornycrofts (Woolston) in 1919-20 (although, with the change in format, Horden and Wath played two fewer matches than the other clubs). Horden defeated Thornley Albion, Craghead United, White-le-Head Rangers, Wingate Albion Comrades, Shildon and Scarborough along the way, while Wath Athletic overcame Brodsworth Main Colliery, Cudworth Village, Denaby United, Mexborough Athletic, York City and Rushden Town. Neither club progressed past the first round proper.

First round proper

At this stage 40 clubs from the Football League Third Division North and South joined the 25 non-league clubs who came through the qualifying rounds. Millwall, Bristol City, Crystal Palace and Plymouth Argyle were given byes to the third round, while four Second Division sides, Barnsley, Darlington, Oldham Athletic and Swansea Town were entered at this stage. To bring the number of teams up to 76, seven non-league sides were given byes to this round. These were: Clapton and Southall were the champion and finalist from the previous season's FA Amateur Cup competition. In receiving byes to the first round proper of this season's Cup tournament, the clubs were reviving a convention last implemented by the Football Association in 1905-06 with Oxford City. 38 matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 28 November 1925. Seven matches were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture, of which four went to another replay, and one of these went to a third.

Second round proper

The matches were played on Saturday, 12 December 1925. Four matches were drawn, with replays taking place in the following midweek fixture.

Third round proper

40 of the 44 First and Second Division clubs entered the competition at this stage, along with Third Division South teams Millwall, Bristol City, Crystal Palace and Plymouth Argyle. Also given a bye to this round was amateur side Corinthian. Chilton Colliery Recreation and Boston Town were the last clubs from the qualifying rounds to feature in the competition. The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 9 January 1926. Nine matches were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture, of which one went to a second replay.

Fourth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 30 January 1926. Three games were drawn and went to replays in the following midweek fixture.

Fifth round proper

The matches were scheduled for Saturday, 20 February 1926. There were two replays, played in the next midweek fixture.

Sixth round proper

The four quarter-final ties were scheduled to be played on Saturday, 6 March 1926. There was one replay, between Nottingham Forest and Bolton Wanderers, played in the following midweek fixture. This then went to a second replay the week after.

Semifinals

The semi-final matches were played on Saturday, 27 March 1926. Both matches ended in 3–0 victories for Manchester City and Bolton Wanderers, who went on to meet in the final at Wembley.

Final

The 1926 FA Cup final was contested by Bolton Wanderers and Manchester City at Wembley. Bolton won by a single goal, scored by David Jack.

Match details