Football’s oldest competition - The teams with the most FA Cup titles in history

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The Football Association Challenge Cup, usually known as the FA Cup, is the oldest football competition in the world. Since 1871, every year (excluding years during world wars) teams from across England and Wales have competed for the prestigious FA Cup trophy. This season’s FA Cup began way back in August with a whopping 732 teams across the country competing for a place in the first round proper which began in November. Now it's semi-final weekend, with four teams on their way to Wembley in a bid for a return to London's capital for the final next month. Holders Manchester City host Chelsea this Saturday, whilst Championship side Coventry take on Manchester United on Sunday. It’s a competition synonymous with football heritage and history, but which teams have won the age-old competition the most? 

The teams with the most FA Cup triumphs

Leading the way in terms of most FA Cup titles is Arsenal, with the Gunners lifting the trophy a record 14 times - the latest under Mikel Arteta in 2020, where they beat Chelsea 2-1 in the final thanks to two goals from former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Under ex-manager Arsene Wenger, the North London team won the FA Cup seven times in his 22 year tenure, also making the Frenchmen the most successful manager in the history of the competition, lifting the trophy in 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2014, 2015 and 2017. 

In second place is the club that has the most Premier League titles in Manchester United with 12 FA Cup triumphs to their name. Their latest victory came back in 2016 under Louis van Gaal, where the Red Devils beat Crystal Palace 2-1 in the final, although Man United were also beaten finalists last season, losing 2-1 to rivals Manchester City. Three teams have eight FA Cups to their names next, but Liverpool pip Chelsea and Tottenham to third place, having won the competition more recently, where they actually beat the Blues in the 2022 final on penalties. Chelsea’s last win came in 2018 against Man United putting them in fourth, whilst Tottenham last lifted the famous cup all the way back in 1991.

Two teams have seven titles - the current champions Man City take sixth spot, whilst Aston Villa who last tasted FA Cup glory back in 1957 are seventh. Pep Guardiola's Sky Blues have won the competition twice in the last five seasons, whilst Villa were last in the final in 2015, where they were ultimately beaten 4-0 by Arsenal. Finally, there are two sides with six titles and neither of them have won it in the last 50 years. Newcastle are eighth having won the FA Cup in 1955, whilst Blackburn are ninth - the last time they won the competition was before the second World War in 1928.