11 Biggest Upsets in FA Cup History [Ranked]

11. Plymouth Argyle 1 Liverpool 0

Fourth Round, 2025

Just a day after Manchester City narrowly avoided an FA Cup upset with a 2-1 win over Leyton Orient, Liverpool weren’t as fortunate. Their fourth-round clash against Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle turned into a shock exit.

Fielding a heavily rotated squad, Arne Slot’s side fell to a 53rd-minute penalty, coolly converted by Ryan Hardie. With key players like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold absent, Liverpool’s lack of experience was glaring.

At the time, the Reds were sitting six points clear at the top of the Premier League and had already secured their place in the Champions League Round of 16. Meanwhile, Plymouth were battling relegation in the second tier. Despite Slot’s squad rotation, few expected anything other than a Liverpool victory—until the unthinkable happened.

10. Stoke City 2 Blyth Spartans 3

Fourth Round, 1978

Just six years earlier, Stoke City were celebrating a League Cup triumph and competing in a UEFA Cup tie against Ajax. But by 1978, fortunes had shifted dramatically. The Potters were enduring their first season outside the top flight in 15 years, and things only got worse when they suffered a stunning FA Cup defeat to non-league Blyth Spartans—the last remaining non-league side in the competition.

The match had already been postponed twice due to a waterlogged pitch, but when it finally went ahead, Blyth were more than ready for the occasion. Terry Johnson fired them into a first-half lead, but second-half strikes from Viv Busby and Garth Crooks appeared to have restored order for Stoke. However, the drama wasn’t over. Steve Carney bundled home an equalizer to reignite Blyth’s hopes before Johnson volleyed in a dramatic winner just two minutes from time, sending the traveling supporters into raptures as Spartans marched into the fifth round.

9. Oldham Athletic 3 Liverpool 2

Fourth Round, 2013

Liverpool showed their respect for Oldham by naming a strong lineup featuring Luis Suárez, Jordan Henderson, and Daniel Sturridge. On paper, there was little reason for concern against a League One side that had lost seven of their previous eight matches. But the FA Cup has a way of defying expectations, and Oldham seized their moment.

Matt Smith struck twice, either side of a fine solo effort from Suárez, giving the underdogs a 2-1 lead and sending Boundary Park into a frenzy. Reece Wabara extended Oldham’s advantage, but Joe Allen’s goal for Liverpool ensured a tense finale. The home side had to endure some nervy moments—none more so than when Steven Gerrard rattled the crossbar—but they held on for a famous victory.

Their reward was another home tie against Merseyside rivals Everton, where they forced a replay before ultimately bowing out at Goodison Park. Yet their stunning triumph over Liverpool remains one of the great FA Cup upsets.

8. Sutton United 2 Coventry City 1

Third Round, 1989

This giant-killing only grows in significance with time. Coventry, a Division One side and FA Cup winners just 18 months earlier, were expected to breeze past non-league Sutton United. But the hosts had other ideas.

Tony Rains put Sutton ahead before halftime, sending shockwaves through the competition. Coventry responded with a moment of quality, as David Phillips finished off a superb counter-attack to level the score early in the second half. However, the fairytale wasn’t over yet—Matthew Hanlan volleyed Sutton back in front, and the underdogs held on for a historic victory.

For over two decades, this remained the only instance of a non-league team defeating a top-flight side in the FA Cup until Luton Town repeated the feat against Norwich City in 2013. Sutton’s reward for their heroics? A humbling 8-0 defeat to Norwich in the fourth round. But their famous win over Coventry remains one of the competition’s greatest ever upsets.

7. Wrexham 2 Arsenal 1

Third Round, 1992

Wrexham welcomed reigning English top-flight champions Arsenal to the Racecourse Ground in the third round of the FA Cup—a tie that seemed destined to go only one way. Propping up the Division Four table, the Welsh side were expected to be swept aside, and when Alan Smith gave Arsenal the lead, a rout appeared inevitable.

But in true FA Cup fashion, the underdogs had other ideas. With just 10 minutes left, Mickey Thomas produced a stunning free-kick to bring Wrexham level, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. Then, in dramatic fashion, Steve Watkin pounced to score a late winner, completing one of the competition’s greatest ever shocks.

A story worthy of Hollywood, Wrexham’s triumph remains legendary, even earning a place in the documentary Welcome to Wrexham. It’s a moment that club owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney would surely be proud of.

6. Manchester United 0 Leeds United 1

Third Round, 2010

Leeds United had endured a turbulent few years, suffering relegation five seasons prior and finding themselves in the third tier of English football. Their decline meant their fierce rivalry with Manchester United had been put on hold—until the magic of the FA Cup brought them together once again.

Dubbed the tie of the round, the match carried immense historical weight, with a staggering 42 league places separating the two sides. Yet, in true cup upset fashion, Jermaine Beckford’s infamous goal secured a stunning victory for Leeds at Old Trafford. The result was particularly historic, marking the first time Manchester United had ever been eliminated in the FA Cup Third Round. Even more remarkably, it was the first time under Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign that his team had been defeated by a lower-division side—a testament to the magnitude of Leeds’ triumph.

5. Norwich City 0 Luton Town 1

Fourth Round, 2013

In today's football landscape, this result might not have carried the same shock factor. But back in 2013, it was a monumental upset. Norwich City were an established Premier League side, while Luton Town were toiling away in the Conference, making their FA Cup fourth-round clash a true David vs. Goliath encounter. Virtually no one gave the non-league side a chance.

The game remained evenly contested, with Luton holding their own throughout. Then, in the 80th minute, Scott Rendell struck, sending the Hatters into dreamland. His goal proved decisive, making Luton only the seventh non-league side since World War II to reach the FA Cup's fifth round.

The upset shattered long-standing records—it was the first time in 24 years that a non-league club had knocked out a top-flight team and the first time a Premier League side had ever fallen to non-league opposition. While Luton’s remarkable rise through the leagues in the years since may have softened the shock factor, their triumph that day remains one of the FA Cup’s greatest giant-killings.

4. Chelsea 2 Bradford City 4

Fourth Round, 2015

At the time, Chelsea were sitting atop the Premier League under José Mourinho in his second spell at the club, cruising toward another league title. Their fourth-round FA Cup tie against League One side Bradford City seemed like a formality, and early signs suggested just that, as first-half goals from Gary Cahill and Ramires put the Blues in control.

Jon Stead’s superb strike gave Bradford a glimmer of hope, but few believed the comeback was truly on. That changed when former Chelsea academy player Felipe Morais stunned Stamford Bridge by equalizing. Suddenly, belief surged through the visitors, and Andrew Halliday completed the turnaround, putting Bradford ahead for the first time in the match.

Chelsea responded with late pressure, with Didier Drogba and Kurt Zouma both going close, but it was Bradford who had the final say. Stead turned provider for Mark Yeates, who sealed an astonishing 4-2 victory and one of the biggest FA Cup shocks in history. The Bantams’ giant-killing run continued as they eliminated another Premier League side, Sunderland, in the fifth round before finally bowing out to Reading in the quarter-finals.

3. Hereford 2 Newcastle United 1

Third Round, 1972

A result that remains etched in FA Cup folklore. Hereford United’s victory over Newcastle United is widely regarded as one of the greatest upsets in the competition’s history—not just for the result itself, but for the resilience and determination it took to get there.

After holding Newcastle to a 2-2 draw at St James’ Park, the Southern League side forced a replay, only for it to be postponed three times due to torrential weather. When the match finally went ahead, the pitch was in dreadful condition—thick with mud and barely playable—which may have worked in Hereford’s favor.

Despite the tricky surface, Newcastle looked to have edged through when Malcolm Macdonald’s header gave them an 82nd-minute lead. But Hereford were not done. In a moment of pure magic, Ronnie Radford unleashed a thunderous 30-yard strike to send Edgar Street into pandemonium, triggering a wild pitch invasion—even though extra time was still to come.

Ricky George then sealed the famous comeback with a well-taken finish, securing Hereford’s place in the next round. While George’s goal clinched the victory, it is Radford’s wonder strike that remains immortalized, replayed year after year as a defining moment in FA Cup history.

2. Manchester City 0 Wigan Athletic 1

Final, 2013

Just over a year after Sergio Aguero's legendary goal secured Manchester City’s first Premier League title, the club found themselves in another high-stakes moment—this time, as overwhelming favorites in the FA Cup final against a struggling Wigan Athletic side battling relegation.

City were expected to cruise to victory, but the buildup to the match was clouded by speculation that Roberto Mancini was set to be replaced by Manuel Pellegrini. That uncertainty seemed to affect City’s performance, and Wigan, despite riding their luck, sensed an opportunity.

City’s frustrations grew as Pablo Zabaleta was sent off late in the game, handing Wigan a glimmer of hope. Then, in the dying moments, Ben Watson rose to meet a corner and powered a header into the net—sealing one of the most shocking FA Cup final upsets in history.

Wigan’s triumph was short-lived in some ways, as their relegation from the Premier League was confirmed just a week later. Meanwhile, City wasted no time in making changes, with Pellegrini’s arrival marking the end of Mancini’s tenure. But regardless of what followed, Wigan’s victory remains one of the FA Cup’s most unforgettable moments.

1. Liverpool 0 AFC Wimbledon 1

Final, 1988

At first glance, this might not seem like a monumental upset—Wimbledon were seventh in the First Division, while Liverpool sat at the top. The gap wasn’t massive, at least on paper. But in reality, this was a shock like no other.

Wimbledon, known for their physical, no-nonsense style, had bulldozed their way up the football pyramid, earning the nickname "The Crazy Gang." Liverpool, on the other hand, played an elegant, attacking brand of football and had dominated the 1980s. Kenny Dalglish’s side had stormed to the league title and were expected to complete the double with an FA Cup triumph.

Wimbledon had other plans. Lawrie Sanchez’s first-half header put them ahead, and despite Liverpool’s relentless efforts, they couldn’t find a way through. Dave Beasant then made history as the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in a Wembley FA Cup Final, denying John Aldridge from the spot.

As the final whistle blew, BBC commentator John Motson delivered the now-iconic line: "The Crazy Gang have beaten the Culture Club." It was, and still is, the greatest FA Cup upset of all time.