In England, there are two major tournaments that take place each season, with teams from across the country taking each other on for the chance to play under the famous Wembley Stadium arch and lift either the FA Cup or EFL Cup.
You may already be familiar with these two competitions, but just what is the difference between them both? That is the question that we will be answering today.
The EFL Cup is the English league cup and the FA Cup is the England Football Association cup. The FA Cup is more prestigious than the EFL Cup and features teams from all English leagues, while the EFL Cup only includes teams from the top 4 leagues In England. The formats are very similar.
The History of The FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short is the oldest domestic cup competition in the world. The first edition of this famous cup took place in the 1871-72 season, with it outdating many soccer clubs in England. The FA Cup has taken place every season since (excluding two suspensions during wartime).
The first winners of the FA Cup went by the name of Wanderers who took home the first trophy after beating Royal Engineers 1-0. This first final was actually played at a cricket ground, as this was the most popular sport in England at the time.
Fast forward to the present day and the FA Cup has recently celebrated its 150-year anniversary, with the competition continuing to be played throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic following a short break in play.
The most successful side in the history of the FA Cup is Arsenal, the North London-based club currently has fourteen FA Cup titles to its name. Manchester United have twelve, meanwhile, both Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea each have eight trophies in their cabinets.
Liverpool is the current holders of the FA Cup, after beating Chelsea on penalties following a 0-0 draw.
The Format of The FA Cup
Each season 124 teams (excluding those that have been knocked out in the earlier qualifying rounds) take part in the FA Cup. This can include any club from the tenth division all the way up to the Premier League, meaning that shocks are commonplace in the competition.
In the preliminary Qualifying rounds, there are a total of 645 non-league teams that participate to try and reach the ‘First Round Proper’ as it is known. Only 32 of these sides make it to this stage of the competition each year, making it a major achievement for any of these clubs.
Perhaps the most famous non-league cup run in recent memory was when fifth-tier side Lincoln City reached the Quarter Finals, before being beaten 5-0 by Arsenal in front of 9,000 traveling fans. This is what fans call ‘the magic of the FA Cup’.
There are a total of twelve rounds in the entire competition, where each club is randomly drawn against another. Each side then plays each other for a place in the following round, where the process is repeated until the Final that is played at Wembley Stadium following the conclusion of the league season.
If there is a draw between two clubs in their FA Cup fixture, then a replay will be played to decide the winner. This in essence means that the match is played again at the stadium of the team that was originally away from home. If this match is still level at full-time, then overtime and penalties take place to decide the winner.
Since 2018, there have been no replays from the fifth round onwards to deal with fixture pileups for clubs.
If a side wins the FA Cup, they are automatically granted a place in the UEFA Europa League Qualifying rounds. This is a major incentive for clubs that have not qualified for European competition via the traditional league route.
The History of The EFL Cup
The EFL Cup is the shortened title of the English Football League Cup, another yearly competition that takes place in England. This competition is separate to the FA Cup, with success in that having no impact on how well a side performs in the EFL Cup.
First held in the 1960-61 season, the EFL Cup was originally conceived as a method of consolation for teams to play for had they already been eliminated from the FA Cup. It also helped them generate more money from playing more matches.
The competition was controversial when it first came into existence, as some in the media believed that it would strain an already tense relationship between the EFL and the FA.
It took some time for the EFL Cup to be taken seriously as a major domestic trophy in its own right. It must be noted that there is still less prestige in winning the EFL Cup than there is in winning the FA Cup today.
Currently, the most successful team in the history of the EFL Cup is Liverpool. The Reds have a total of nine titles to their name with Manchester City now having eight of their own.
In recent years, the competition has been dominated by the Sky Blues with them winning the cup five times in the last seven seasons. Aston Villa, Manchester United and Chelsea all have five EFL Cup’s on their honors list.
The current holders of the EFL Cup are Liverpool, the Merseyside team beat Chelsea on penalties (like they did in the FA Cup) to take home their ninth title.
Whilst the EFL Cup is less well-known for its ‘giant killings’, some of the most famous matches in the competition saw MK Dons beat Manchester United 4-0 in 2014 and Notts County defeat Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 in 1994.
The team that I support, Tranmere Rovers have also had some success in the competition. The Super White Army as we are known reached the final in the year 2000, where we were defeated by a considerably stronger Leicester City team 2-1.
The Format of The EFL Cup
Unlike the FA Cup, the EFL Cup is not open to clubs as low as the tenth division. The EFL Cup is only open to clubs that play in the English Football League pyramid, meaning that a total of 92 clubs play in the competition each season. If you are relegated from the EFL, then you can no longer play in the EFL Cup.
The competition begins in the First-Round, which usually takes place in the opening weeks of the English soccer season.
At this stage, there are no Premier League teams in the draw. Premier League clubs that have not qualified for European competition join in the Second-Round and those that are in Europe join at the Third-Round stage.
There are a total of Seven Rounds in the EFL Cup before the Final is played at Wembley Stadium, this match usually takes place in the middle of the domestic season.
Matches take place over 90 minutes and are decided via extra-time or penalties rather than a replay like in the FA Cup. This is due to the fact that matches in the EFL Cup are played mid-week, meaning that clubs that also play in the UEFA Champions League may face fixture pileups in the early parts of the season.
Unlike in the FA Cup, the winners of the EFL Cup gain a place in the Play-Off round for the UEFA Europa Conference League (the newest UEFA club competition). This once again makes this competition a target for clubs that cannot qualify for European competition in their league though.
Well, there you have it! If you have ever wondered what the difference between the FA Cup and EFL Cup is, then you need to wonder no more. Both are amazing competitions in their own rights, with years of soccer history between them and I’m sure that this season will be no different.
The second round of the EFL Cup takes place next week, with some standout fixtures including Stockport County vs Leicester City, Bolton Wanderers vs Aston Villa and Tranmere Rovers vs Newcastle United.
Fa Cup: Top 5 Players Of All Time
Here, we take a look at the top five players who have left an indelible mark on this prestigious tournament.
- Stan Mortensen (Blackpool)
Stan Mortensen remains the only player to have scored a hat-trick in an FA Cup final, a feat he achieved in 1953 in a match now dubbed ‘The Matthews Final’. Despite Blackpool being two goals down with just 35 minutes left on the clock, Mortensen’s incredible performance helped his team emerge victorious with a 4-3 win over Bolton Wanderers. His overall record in the competition is equally impressive, with 29 goals in 26 appearances.
- Ian Rush (Liverpool)
Ian Rush is a legend of Liverpool and the FA Cup. The Welsh striker scored a record 44 goals in the competition, a record that still stands today. His most memorable performance came in the 1986 final when he scored twice to help Liverpool come from behind and beat Everton 3-1. Rush’s predatory instincts and lethal finishing made him a nightmare for defenders, and his impact on the FA Cup is undeniable.
- Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
Didier Drogba has a special relationship with the FA Cup. The Ivorian striker has scored in four different finals, a record in the competition. His goals proved decisive too, helping Chelsea lift the trophy on each occasion. Drogba’s powerful physique, combined with his excellent technical skills, made him a formidable opponent. But it was his ability to deliver on the big stage that truly set him apart.
- Peter Osgood (Chelsea)
Peter Osgood, fondly known as ‘The King of Stamford Bridge’, was a key figure in Chelsea’s early successes in the FA Cup. He scored in every round of the 1970 competition, including the final against Leeds United which Chelsea won after a replay. Osgood’s flair, skill, and goal-scoring prowess earned him a special place in the hearts of the Chelsea faithful and cemented his status as one of the greats of the FA Cup.
- Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)
Ryan Giggs is synonymous with Manchester United’s dominance in English football, and his contributions to their FA Cup successes are significant. His most iconic moment came in the 1999 semi-final replay against Arsenal, where he scored a sensational solo goal that is widely regarded as one of the greatest in the competition’s history. Giggs’ longevity, coupled with his ability to perform at the highest level for so long, makes him a worthy inclusion in this list.
EFL Cup: Top 5 Players Of All Time
Here are the top five players who have left an indelible mark on this prestigious tournament.
- Sir Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool)
Sir Kenny Dalglish is a Liverpool legend who played a crucial role in their dominance during the 1970s and 1980s. He won the EFL Cup four times during his illustrious career with Liverpool. Dalglish was known for his vision, technical skills, and goal-scoring prowess. His contribution to Liverpool’s success in the EFL Cup cements his place among the competition’s all-time greats.
- John Terry (Chelsea)
John Terry is one of only three players to win the EFL Cup Player of the Final award more than once. The former Chelsea captain led his team to victory in the competition twice, in 2005 and 2007. Known for his leadership, defensive skills, and scoring ability from set-pieces, Terry’s performances in the EFL Cup were instrumental in Chelsea’s successes during this period.
- Ian Rush (Liverpool)
Ian Rush is another Liverpool legend who made a significant impact in the EFL Cup. He is the joint top scorer in the competition’s history with 49 goals, a record he shares with Geoff Hurst. Rush’s goal-scoring exploits helped Liverpool win the competition five times during his two spells with the club.
- Vincent Kompany (Manchester City)
Vincent Kompany played a key role in Manchester City’s recent successes in the EFL Cup. The Belgian defender won the competition four times with City and was twice named Player of the Final. Kompany’s leadership, defensive skills, and ability to score crucial goals were instrumental in City’s victories.
- Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Wayne Rooney is one of the most successful players in the history of Manchester United, and his contributions to their EFL Cup successes are significant. Rooney won the competition twice with United, in 2006 and 2010, and his performances in the tournament showcased his goal-scoring ability, vision, and versatility.
