Why Premier League Giants Are Losing Interest in the FA Cup?

Top English clubs are deprioritizing the FA Cup due to a jam-packed schedule of over 70 matches per season, lower prize money ($2.7M vs. $135M in UCL), and reduced fan and sponsor interest. Managers rotate squads to avoid fatigue, while fans now prefer league and European games, risking the FA Cup’s future relevance.

When the oldest football tournament in the world starts losing its charm, questions naturally arise. The FA Cup, once the pride of English football, is steadily declining in importance among Premier League giants like Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal. The reason? A combination of fixture overload, financial disparity, and waning fan and sponsor interest.

Top clubs now play over 70 matches a season, including the EPL, UEFA competitions, and international fixtures. With the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup expanding to 32 teams and 63 matches, managers are forced to rotate squads, often using backups in FA Cup ties. Recent upsets like Middlesbrough knocking out Manchester United (2022) and Plymouth ousting Liverpool (2025) reflect this trend.

Financially, the FA Cup doesn’t compare. The 2024-25 winner earns around $2.7 million, while a Champions League group stage spot guarantees at least $21.5 million. Premier League winners take home over $80 million in prize money alone. Fan engagement is falling too. Attendance has dropped, with matches like Southampton vs Bournemouth drawing less than half the stadium’s capacity. Unless prize money increases or schedules ease, the FA Cup risks becoming a symbolic competition, loved for tradition but sidelined in reality.