Everything you need to know about the FA Cup and the way in which it has transformed itself into one of the most followed football competitions worldwide.
The FA Cup is one of the oldest football tournaments in the world. Even though the crowd is always running behind many other football tournaments, there are a bunch of people who still enjoy the thrills only the FA cup could bring to life. It started all the way back in 1871 in England. Clubs from different leagues compete against each other in a knockout style. The biggest uniqueness of the FA Cup is that it allows each and every team of varied standards to compete with each other. Even amateur clubs can play against the big teams. The finals are watched by fans in over 200 countries nowadays. But how did this 140+ year old tournament become so popular worldwide?
From radio broadcasts to the internet, many things helped spread its fame across the globe. Read on to see how this famous competition came to bring football supporters together no matter where they live!
The Crowd’s Favorite
The FA Cup is like a magnet bringing football fans across the world together. Every year, it kicks off with hundreds of clubs competing in England – from big powerhouse teams down to tiny amateur sides. Part of what makes it so special is that any club, no matter the level, can enter for a shot at glory.
Football fans eagerly wait to bet on the FA Cup football league so that they could entertain themselves beyond the pitch. Fans can’t get enough of the drama and upsets the FA Cup brings. Seeing a non-league side knockout a Premier League giant is what the tournament is all about. Or when lower division teams go on a Cinderella run all the way to the semifinals and finals. It’s like March Madness in soccer form!
Even people who don’t closely follow football get drawn into the excitement. Friends having watch parties for the early upset matches. Coworkers gather around someone’s phone to stream games at work. Grandparents, parents and kids yelling and cheering together in the living room on Cup weekends. And it’s not just England – the whole world tunes in for the FA Cup! From Asia to Africa to the Americas, fans wake up at odd hours just to catch the matches live. Pubs and bars everywhere overflow with people on Cup final day. Many countries broadcast the games on TV and stream them online, so anyone can join in the experience.
Part of the magic is also the history and prestige. Some clubs have lifted the trophy over 10 times since it began in 1871! There are legendary winning moments that fans pass down through generations. Moments like Ricky Villa’s goal for Spurs in ’81 or Sutton United’s shock win in ’89. The FA Cup just has a special feeling you can’t find in any other tournament.
Early Awareness Through Overseas Matches
Even in the early 1900s, people outside of England had heard about the FA Cup. Famous clubs like Sheffield United and Chelsea travelled to places like South America and Africa. They played exhibition matches against local teams there. These tours helped make more people aware of the tournament. They saw the FA Cup as the top competition in English football.
By the 1950s, fans in Asia started following it too. FA Cup matches were broadcast on Radio Hong Kong for the first time. People there could listen to the 1953 final at home. In the next decades, radio broadcasts eventually reached other parts of Asia too.
Live TV Broadcasts Reach Worldwide Audiences
Radio helped grow interest, but live TV truly spread the FA Cup abroad. The BBC first showed the finals on television in 1937. But only UK viewers could watch for many more years. In the 1960s, the BBC finally partnered with broadcasters overseas.
Fans as far as Australia, Ireland and Canada could view the 1968 final live on TV. When Africa aired the famous ‘Matthews Final’ in 1953, it made front page news there. By the 1970s, people in over 100 countries could watch the FA Cup finals as they happened. These live broadcasts cemented its status as football’s greatest knockout tournament.
Big Brand Sponsors & Marketing
As football marketing grew, the FA Cup became attractive to global brands. Companies like Canon, Littlewoods and Budweiser have sponsored the tournament before. But it was the Esso Oil’s deal in 1980 that really boosted international promotion.
Esso launched a major ad campaign called ‘World of Football’. Posters in 50+ countries showed stars like Maradona in FA Cup moments. This helped casual fans everywhere learn about the event. Esso ads during televised matches also reached worldwide audiences.
The Internet Age – Live Streaming Everywhere
In recent times, the FA Cup has become a truly global event thanks to the internet. Where fans could once only watch based on geography or TV deals, now anyone can view online. Millions tune in via live streams or channels like ESPN and Sony.
It’s easy to watch digitally from anywhere now. The 2019 final between Man City and Watford reached 700 million households. And the 2021 final had over 180 countries watching Liverpool beat Chelsea! Fans across Asia, Africa, the Americas, Australia and more wake up early or gather at bars to watch.
Social media has also united global supporters. Clubs promote watch parties to followers everywhere. From Jakarta to Rio to Sydney, the FA Cup is an event closely followed by football fans all over the world on social media platforms. There are always discussions about the competition among the fans all around.
Bringing the World Together
For over 100 years, the FA Cup has used football to unite diverse cultures. Its rich history appeals to hardcore fans and casual viewers globally. Today, people from all backgrounds come together in person or online to experience the drama.
No other football competition has created such a wide worldwide fanbase. The FA Cup has become a celebratory event among the game of football. That’s the beauty of tournaments like the FA Cup.
