Biggest upsets in FA Cup history

The FA Cup is known for delivering magical moments year after year, and upon the start of the 2024/25 FA Cup campaign, we take a look at five upsets that shook the footballing world.

5) Burnley 0-1 Lincoln (2017)

Heading into the fifth round, Lincoln had the opportunity to become the first non-league side to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup since 1914, and that is exactly what they did.

Burnley had an XI littered with experience. However, clearly not enough.

A deep corner was guided back into a Burnley six-yard box that was filled with claret and sky blue shirts. Despite this, it was a green shirt who got their head to the ball in the form of Sean Raggett.

Lincoln's central defender headed the ball past Tom Heaton who, despite his best efforts, could not keep the header out.

History was made as Lincoln progressed into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

4) Sutton United 2-1 Coventry City (1989)

Arguably the most impressive result on the list is Sutton United's 2-1 win over Coventry City.

Sutton were playing in the Conference League (the top division of non-league football), while Coventry were in the top-flight of English football, having won the FA Cup just two seasons prior to this result.

Tony Rains and Matthew Hanlan scored the vital goals at Gander Green Lane as Sutton became the first non-league side to beat top-tier opposition in the FA Cup for a number of years.

The Yellows held this feat for almost a quarter of a century, until National League side Luton defeated Norwich in the competition in 2013.

3) Wrexham 2-1 Arsenal (1992)

1991 First Division winners Arsenal were seeking more silverware the following season, and most likely thought that Wrexham weren't going to get in the way of their pursuit for the FA Cup.

With just under 10 minutes to go at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham (who were bottom of the fourth tier at the time) needed a miracle to advance into the next round.

With the ever-present magic of the FA Cup, a miracle was served. Mickey Thomas dispatched an outstanding free kick from 25 yards out, just minutes before Steve Watkin sent the Red Dragons into the lead.

They held onto their 2-1 lead and recorded a win they only could have dreamt of before the game.

2) Wigan 1-0 Man City (2013)

Wigan's 2013 FA Cup final victory remains one of the most remarkable stories in English football.

The Latics had failed to win a major trophy in the 81 years preceding the final, and facing a side who had won the cup just two years prior to this contest, not many anticipated what was about to happen.

Shaun Maloney's perfectly weighted corner found the head of Ben Watson, who guided the ball into the top left corner. Watson's goal was enough to hand Wigan their first ever FA Cup trophy.

Astonishingly, relegation from the Premier League that season meant that FA Cup winners Wigan would be playing European football in the Championship the following season.

1) Chelsea 2-4 Bradford (2015)

When the draw for the fourth-round was made, it was assumed that Chelsea would advance to the next round without breaking a sweat.

Despite a comfortable Chelsea win expected, Jose Mourinho fielded a strong side, including the likes of Didier Drogba, Oscar, Gary Cahill and Mohamed Salah.

Cahill and Ramires fired the Blues into a 2-0 lead, before Jon Stead hit back in the 41st minute. While Bradford's goal may have been a first-half scare for Chelsea fans, at this stage, it was only expected to be a consolation.

Bradford, however, had other ideas. Nerves grew inside Stamford Bridge as Chelsea failed to take the game out of Bradford's reach by adding a third goal. Instead, it was the Bantams who next found the net.

As Chelsea aimed to save face by netting a winner, they left the game wide open for Bradford. Bradford took advantage of this and scored not once, but twice, to earn the club a famous 4-2 win and produce one of the competition's biggest upsets, defeating a side 49 places above them in the football pyramid.