The 2024–25 FA Cup kicked off on August 3, 2024, with the Extra Preliminary Round. The First Round Proper began on November 2, 2024, featuring 48 League One and League Two teams.
The final is set for May 17, 2025, at Wembley Stadium, the legendary site of England’s oldest football competition.
Top Premier League teams, including Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal, are expected to enter in the Third Round Proper in January 2025.
In Ireland, You can watch the FA Cup in Ireland for free on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. Sportsnet also offers FA Cup coverage with a premium subscription.
However, these services are restricted to their specific regions. Using a VPN like ExpressVPN will allow you to access them in Ireland.
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When & Where is FA Cup 2024-25 Happening?
- Date: August 3, 2024 – May 17, 2025
- Venue: Different venues around the UK. The final will be played at Wembley Stadium, in London.
- Platforms: Premier Sports, BBC iPlayer, ITVx
How to Watch FA Cup in Ireland for Free
ITV & BBC iPlayer are the two free UK-based services that have the official rights to stream different FA Cup matches on their platforms.
Here are the steps you need to follow to watch the FA Cup in Ireland for free via ITV:
Step 1: Subscribe to a safe VPN service (ExpressVPN is our #1 choice)
Step 2: Download and install the ExpressVPN app on your device
Step 3: Open the VPN app and connect to a UK server
Step 4: Visit the ITV website
Step 5: Click on Live and select itv1, itvx, or itv4 to watch FA Cup matches
Step 6: Sign in if you already have an account or Register to create one
Step 6: Set up your profile
Step 7: Start Streaming!
3 Ways to Watch FA Cup in Ireland
The FA Cup will be on various free and premium broadcasters. You can access any of them with the help of a VPN like ExpressVPN.
1. BBC iPlayer (Free)
BBC iPlayer is a UK-based free streaming service that will broadcast 18 matches per season from the season 2021 to 2025.
You can stream all of these matches live in Ireland on BBC iPlayer with the help of a VPN like ExpressVPN. The VPN will give a valid UK IP address to access BBC iPlayer.
Read more: How to watch BBC iPlayer in Ireland
2. ITV (Free)
ITVX is a freemium streaming service that has the rights to broadcast the FA Cup in the UK for free.
However, it is geo-blocked outside the UK, so you will need a reliable VPN like ExpressVPN to access ITVX.
Read More: How to Watch ITVX in Ireland
3. Premier Sports
Premier Sports is a group of pay television sports channels available in Ireland. It is the home of the Emirates FA Cup and broadcasts ALL the big games in Ireland.
You can access Premier Sports with Virgin TV, with Sky Sports for €10/mo for 6 months & NOW TV for €11.99.
How to Watch FA Cup in Ireland on Mobile Phone
You can enjoy all the thrilling FA Cup live in Ireland via free & premium services’ websites and apps mentioned in the blog with the help of ExpressVPN.
You can enjoy all the big games of the FA Cup on Premier Sports via Now TV. Now TV offers an official mobile app for Android and iOS phones.
To stream the game, you must subscribe to its specific sports plan. Follow the steps below to watch the FA Cup in Ireland on mobile:
Step 1: Download the Now TV app from PlayStore or APK
Step 2: Open the app and click on the sidebar
Step 3: Choose Sports Membership
Step 4: Scroll down, select your plan, and click Claim Offer
Step 5: Click Checkout
Step 6: Create your account by clicking Continue to checkout or sign in with your existing one
Step 7: Enter your credentials
Step 8: Choose your payment plan and enter your credentials to subscribe. Enjoy streaming
Step 9: Enjoy streaming!
FA Cup 2024-25 Schedule
Here is the complete schedule for the FA Cup 2024-25:
| Date | Round | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| November 1-4, 2024 | First Round Proper | 48 EFL League One and League Two clubs join |
| November 30 - December 3, 2024 | Second Round Proper | Winners of First Round Proper |
| January 5-8, 2025 | Third Round Proper | Premier League and EFL Championship teams join |
| January 26-29, 2025 | Fourth Round Proper | |
| February 16-19, 2025 | Fifth Round Proper | |
| March 8-11, 2025 | Quarter-finals | |
| April 20-21, 2025 | Semi-finals | Wembley Stadium |
| May 17, 2025 | Final | Wembley Stadium |
Other Football Events to Watch in Ireland
You can watch many other sports events and matches in Ireland with the help of a VPN like
ExpressVPN.
- Watch the FIFA World Cup in Ireland
- Watch UEFA Champions League in Ireland
- Watch Live Football in Ireland
- Watch La Liga in Ireland
- Watch EPL in Ireland
- Watch College Sports in Ireland
FAQs – FA Cup
What significant format changes have been introduced for this season?
Starting from the 2024–25 season, replays have been eliminated from the first round proper onwards.
Additionally, all rounds are scheduled to be played on weekends, with the fourth, fifth, and quarter-final rounds having exclusive weekends free from Premier League fixtures.
When do Premier League and Championship teams enter the competition?
Teams from the Premier League and Championship enter the FA Cup in the third round proper, scheduled for January 11, 2025.
Why were replays removed from the competition starting this season?
Replays were removed to reduce fixture congestion and to ensure player welfare, especially considering the expanded UEFA competitions. This change aims to streamline the competition and provide exclusive weekends for FA Cup matches.
Who won the FA Cup the most?
The UK-based football club, Liverpool which is a professional team that also competes in the Premier League, is top tier in the FA Cup. The club was founded in 1892 and it joined the FA Cup league the following year.
Conclusion
The season 2024-2025 of the FA Cup officially kicked off on August 3, 2024, and the final of the cup will be played on May 17, 2025.
FA Cup’s popularity has grown all over the globe over the years. You can watch the FA Cup in Ireland via free and premium services like BBC iPlayer, ITVX and Premier Sports.
However, you will need a VPN to access some of the geo-restricted in Ireland. We recommend ExpressVPN.
