The Football Association has reportedly proposed a series of significant changes to the Women’s FA Cup as part of a wider review of the competition.
The plans, which are not yet final, would reshape how the tournament is structured and aim to increase revenue and long term growth within the women’s game.
According to the Guardian, communication sent to clubs by the FA on Monday reveal that the proposals could come into effect as early as next season, although a consultation process is still ongoing. The FA also stressed that no final decisions have been taken at this stage.
What are the proposed changes to the FA Cup?
One of the most eye-catching proposals is the introduction of seeded teams. Under the plans, the top four clubs from the previous Women’s Super League season would be seeded in the competition.
As per The Guardian, the FA reportedly described this as a “temporary adjustment, reflecting the current developmental stage of the women’s pyramid” and says it would help deliver consistent high quality matches in the later rounds.
Another major change would see the removal of a traditional draw after the last 32. Instead the FA wants to introduce what it calls a road to Wembley bracket.
From the last 32 onwards teams would be placed into a fixed bracket which would map out their potential route to the final in advance, in a similar style to the World Cup.
The proposals also suggest a revised schedule for the latter stages of the competition. The FA has reportedly proposed holding a round every other weekend for three rounds from the last 32 to the quarter-finals inclusive.
An entry tier review for lower league sides has also been tabled with a focus on enhancing minimum stadium standards.
What have the FA said?
In a statement to the Guardian, an FA spokesperson recognised the “need to evolve the competition and strengthen its commercial potential”.
“This would enable us to reinvest more funding into both the competition itself and the wider women’s football ecosystem, which is vital for long-term, sustainable growth,” the statement added.
While a review of the current format has been completed, no decisions on any changes have been made.
Opposition to the proposals
There are opposition to plans over the potential seeding of the top four clubs in the WSL.
Staff at lower league clubs reportedly told The Guardian they would oppose the move due to concerns it could reduce the chances of Women’s National League sides reaching the latter stages.
If the table were to remain the same, and changes were to come in place, both Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Arsenal would be seeded for next season’s FA Cup.
Consultations are due to run through March, with a final submission expected to go to the FA in April.
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Women’s League Cup changes
The report on the FA Cup comes after the news that there will be changes to the Women’s League Cup.
Under the changes, teams who qualify for the Champions League won’t be able to play in the League Cup. There will also be a Swiss-style league phase, similar to the current Champions League format.
