The 2023–24 FA Youth Cup was the 72nd edition of the competition.
The competition consisted of several rounds and was preceded by a qualifying competition, starting with two preliminary rounds which was followed by three qualifying rounds for non-League teams. The Football League teams entered the draw thereafter, with League One and League Two teams entered in the first round proper, and Premier League and Championship teams entered in the third round proper.
A record 630 clubs were accepted into the competition.[1] The current defending Champions are West Ham United who defeated Arsenal 5–1 at the Emirates Stadium in front of 34,127 fans.[2]
Twenty-four teams from the Fifth Tier National League joined the 116 winners from the previous round in the Second Round of the qualifying. Twenty-two teams from the lowest tier, the Tenth Tier, remain in the competition. The Draw was made on 22 September 2023.[8]
The 70 winners from the Second Round Qualifying compete in this round with the 35 winners progressing to the First Round Proper. Chester-Le-Street United, Croydon, Heather St Johns, and Ingles from the 10th tier were the lowest ranked teams left in the competition. The Draw for the round was made on 6 October 2023.[10]
Forty-five teams from League One and League Two joined the 35 winners from the previous round. Barrow AFC, Crawley Town, and Wycombe Wanderers will not participate in this round as they did not apply to enter the competition. Chester-Le-Street United, from the tenth tier of English football, is the lowest-ranked team left in the competition. The draw was made on 20 October 2023.[11]
Stadium: Boldmere Community Stadium Attendance: 86 Referee: Steven Taylor
Note: Match was originally going to be played November 2, 2023 and November 8, 2023 but was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. Match was moved to Boldmere St. Michaels on November 9, 2023.[15]
Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 678 Referee: Haydn Lavender
Second Round
The 40 winners from the previous round played in this round. Chester-Le-Street United, from the tenth tier of English football, is the lowest-ranked team left in the competition. The draw was made on November 3, 2023.[19]
Stadium: Brisbane Road Attendance: 316 Referee: Lee Markwick
Third Round
Sixty-four teams competed in the third round with the 44 Premier League and EFL Championship clubs appearing in this round along with the 20 winners from the previous round. Barking from the ninth tier was the lowest ranked team left in the competition. The Draw was made on 17 November 2023.[23]
Third-two teams participated in the fourth round proper, with all 32 winners from the previous round participating. The lowest ranked teams left in the Competition were AFC Wimbledon, Gillingham, Grimsby Town, and Swindon Town from the fourth Tier EFL League Two. The Draw was done on 7 December 2023.[24]
Stadium: Robins High Performance Centre Attendance: 169 Referee: Phillip Eddie
Note: The match was originally going to be played on 10 January 2024, but was postponed due to a frozen pitch. It was also supposed to be played 17 January 2024, but was postponed again due to a frozen pitch.
Stadium: Blundell Park Attendance: 969 Referee: Dane McCarrick
Note: Match was originally going to be played on 16 January 2024, but was moved due to death of Grismby Town Player.Then was moved again to due to a frozen pitch.[25]
Fifth Round
Sixteen teams participated in the fifth round proper with the 16 winners from the previous round participating. The lowest ranked team left in the Competition was Swindon Town from the fourth Tier EFL League Two. The draw was made on 12 January 2024.[26]
Stadium: Academy Stadium Attendance: 474 Referee: Matthew McQuillan
Quarterfinals
Eight teams participated in the quarter-finals with all eight winners from the previous round participating. The lowest ranked team left in the Competition was Swindon Town from the fourth Tier EFL League Two. The draw was made on 2 February 2024.[27]
Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 1,337 Referee: Matthew Russell
Semifinals
Four teams participated in the semi-finals with all four winners from the previous round participating. The lowest-ranked teams left in the competition were Bristol City, Leeds United, and Millwall from the EFL Championship. The draw was done on 23 February 2024.[28]
