2026 FA Cup Prize Money For Men and Women – TV and Gate Receipts Bonus
- Think Football Ideas
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
The FA Cup has always been more than a trophy. It’s a stage where dreams collide with reality, where giant clubs chase glory and underdogs chase history.
And in 2026, the prize money adds another layer to the drama, enough to turn a single match into a season-defining moment for some clubs.
This year, the men’s champions will pocket £2.1 million, a modest rise from last season. The women’s winners? £430,000, unchanged from 2025. The gap between the two competitions remains glaring, sparking debate, headlines, and calls for change.
But for the players on the pitch, the round-by-round payouts, TV bonuses, and gate receipts can mean far more than a headline number, they can transform clubs, careers, and the very mood of a matchday.
The Big Prize: Who Walks Away Richest?
At the very top, the men’s FA Cup winner will leave with £2.1 million, while the runners-up still earn £1.06 million. In the women’s game, the champion pockets £430,000, with the runner-up receiving £108,000.
Numbers tell one story, but the drama tells another. For smaller clubs, reaching the later rounds can be transformative.
A Premier League tie for a lower-league side isn’t a test of skill, it’s a potential financial lifeline, a moment where one lucky draw can fund a season’s ambitions or even secure the club’s future.
Round-by-Round Riches: How Far Can a Win Take You?
Each round brings more than mere glory. Here’s a glimpse of how prize money stacks up in 2026:
Men’s FA Cup Prize Fund
1st Round: Winners £47,750 / Losers £15,800
2nd Round: Winners £79,500 / Losers £21,200
3rd Round: Winners £121,500 / Losers £26,500
4th Round: Winners £127,000
5th 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
Women’s FA Cup Prize Fund
1st Round: Winners £6,000 / Losers £1,500
2nd Round: Winners £8,000 / Losers £2,000
3rd Round: Winners £35,000 / Losers £9,000
4th Round: Winners £54,000 / Losers £13,000
5th 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
The step-up between rounds is often dramatic, and the financial leap can be as shocking as a giant-killing on the pitch.
Televised Glory: When a Camera Adds Cash
For clubs, a TV slot is almost as valuable as a win. This season, ten men’s FA Cup third-round ties will be shown live on linear TV (BBC or TNT Sports). Each club featured earns an extra £80,000, a neat bonus that turns a single afternoon into a small fortune.
Non-linear streaming matches on Discovery+ still pay out £40,000 per club. And for the women, the first and second rounds are now televised for the first time in FA Cup history, thanks to TNT Sports and Channel 4. Beyond exposure, the cash injection is a vital reward for competing on a national stage.
The Gate Receipts Bonus: Dreams for the Underdogs
FA Cup magic isn’t solely about the top-flight stars. Lower-league clubs chasing a dream can also find fortune in the gate. Under FA rules, the total receipts - after hosting costs - are split 45% to each team, 10% to the FA.
For clubs like Exeter City, a trip to a Premier League stadium could mean £250,000–£400,000 for showing up. That’s transformative money: the sort that can pay player wages, upgrade facilities, or fund a cup run that might otherwise be impossible.
The Disparity Debate: Men vs Women
It’s impossible to ignore the difference in prize pots. The men’s FA Cup totals £23.5 million, while the women’s competition offers £6.14 million. Lewes FC director Ben Hall called the gap “a reflection of the work still to be done,” and many fans and players agree.
While the women’s game is gaining visibility and TV coverage, the numbers still tell a story of inequality, one that continues to spark conversation as the sport grows.
No Room for Replays: Extra-Time Drama
The FA Cup no longer has replays after the qualifying stage. Any tied game goes straight to extra time, and if needed, penalties.
The change adds drama, stakes, and urgency. Every goal matters, every mistake is magnified, and every club knows that progression comes with both sporting glory and financial reward.
FA Cup: More Than Prize Money
Numbers are only part of the story. FA Cup money can change a season, but the real magic is the theatre of it all: the roar of the crowd, the underdogs rising, the pressure of a televised tie.
Every round is a chance for a club to dream bigger, play bolder, and occasionally, to leave a mark that lasts far longer than any cheque could buy. In 2026, the FA Cup prize money explains the stakes, but the matches themselves define the legend.
Every round is a chance for a club to dream bigger, play bolder, and occasionally, to leave a mark that lasts far longer than any cheque could buy.
The matches themselves create memories that last forever - ask Macclesfield fans, who are still buzzing after their 2-1 win over holders Crystal Palace at the Leasing.com Stadium.
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