2024–25 FA Cup qualifying rounds


The 2024–25 FA Cup qualifying rounds opened the 144th edition of the FA Cup, the world's oldest association football single knockout competition, organised by The Football Association, the governing body for the sport in England. 653 teams in the 5th to 9th tier of English football competed across six rounds for 32 spots in the 2024-25 FA Cup first round proper.

Eligibility

The qualifying rounds are the point of entry into the FA Cup for all "non-League" teams—teams below the top four tiers of English football, and therefore outside the English Football League. These teams compete in leagues below the EFL which constitute the National League System. The number of teams entered in the FA Cup overall rose from 732 in 2023-24 to 745 the following season due to an increase in the number of teams in the 9th tier. Because of this increase, teams from 10th tier were no longer accepted into the competition, so the 2024-25 qualifying rounds encompassed all teams that entered from the 5th to 9th tiers—steps 1 to 5 of the National League System.

Extra preliminary round

The draw for the extra preliminary round was made on 5 July 2024.

Preliminary round

The draw for the preliminary round was made on 5 July 2024, following the draw for the extra preliminary round. This round saw the remaining teams from Tier 8 enter the competition.

First qualifying round

The draw for the first qualifying round was made on 19 August 2024. This round saw all teams from step three enter the competition.

Second qualifying round

The draw for the second qualifying round was made on 2 September 2024. This round saw all teams from Tier 6 enter the competition. 16 teams from Tier 9 entered this round as the lowest ranked teams remaining in the competition.

Third qualifying round

The draw for the third qualifying round was made on 16 September 2024. Three clubs from Tier 9 progressed to this round.
Teams in bold advanced to the Fourth qualifying round.
Tier 6Tier 7Tier 8Tier 9

National League North
National League South
Isthmian League Premier
  • Canvey Island
  • Carshalton Athletic
  • Chatham Town
  • Cray Wanderers
  • Dartford
  • Hastings United
  • Horsham
  • Northern Premier League Premier
    Southern League Premier Central
    Southern League Premier South
    Isthmian League North
  • Gorleston
  • Haringey Borough
  • Isthmian League South East
    Northern Premier League Division One North
    • [Hednesford Town F.C.|Hednesford Town F.C.|Hednesford Town]
    • Witton Albion
    Northern Premier League Division One Midlands
    Northern Premier League Division One West
    Southern League Division One Central
    Southern League Division One South
    Combined Counties League Premier North
  • Amersham Town
  • North West Counties League Premier
    Midland League Premier

    Fourth qualifying round

    The draw for the fourth qualifying round was made on 30 September 2024. One club from Tier 9, Bury, progressed to this round.
    Teams in bold advanced to the First round proper.
    Tier 5Tier 6Tier 7Tier 8Tier 9
    National League
    National League NorthAlfreton TownBrackley Town
  • ChesterCurzon Ashton
  • Farsley Celtic
  • Kidderminster Harriers
  • King's Lynn Town
  • Peterborough SportsRushall OlympicScarborough Athletic
  • Spennymoor Town
  • National League South
    Isthmian League Premier
  • Carshalton Athletic
  • Cray WanderersHorsham
  • Northern Premier League PremierGainsborough TrinityGuiseley
    Southern League Premier Central
    Southern League Premier South
    Isthmian League North
  • Gorleston
  • Northern Premier League Division One NorthHednesford Town
    Southern League Division One Central
    North West Counties League Premier
  • Bury
  • Broadcasting

    The qualifying rounds were not covered by the FA Cup's broadcasting contracts held by BBC Sport and ITV, although one game per round was broadcast by the BBC on its media platforms.
    RoundTieBroadcaster
    Preliminary roundAshington v Bishop AucklandBBC Sport
    First qualifying roundCampion v Blyth SpartansBBC Sport
    Second qualifying roundLordswood v SittingbourneBBC Sport
    Third qualifying roundWythenshawe Town v Farsley CelticBBC Sport
    Fourth qualifying roundHednesford Town v GatesheadBBC Sport
    Fourth qualifying roundGateshead v Hednesford TownNational League TV