#womens-fa-cup

#womens-fa-cup

The Football Association has outlined plans for a significant overhaul of the Women's FA Cup that would fundamentally change how the competition is drawn and ultimately who benefits from it. Central to the proposal is the introduction of seeding for the first time. The top four teams from the previous season's Women's Super League would be kept apart in the draw, theoretically preventing them from facing each other until the latter stages.

Several official supporters' clubs have hit out at a proposed new format for the Women's FA Cup, stating the changes will ruin the "magic" of the competition and mean the "rich will only get richer". The Football Association has suggested a 'road-to-Wembley bracket', which would map out a team's route from the last 32 onwards. There would also be an introduction of seeds in the draw, with four spots awarded to the top four teams from the previous Women's Super League season.

Image source, Getty Images Holders Chelsea will take on Manchester United in the fifth round of the Women's FA Cup - a repeat of last year's final. The Blues beat United 3-0 in that game at Wembley to secure their sixth triumph in the competition and a domestic treble. Liverpool will host Everton in a Merseyside derby after both sides enjoyed resounding victories in the fourth round.

Women's Super League leaders City cruised to a 6-0 win at third-tier Bournemouth, after Khadija Shaw opened the scoring with a thumping 19th-minute header. Three further goals - a Lauren Hemp drive and a double from Laura Coombs - settled the contest before half-time, with substitute Vivianne Miedema netting twice after the break as City stretched their unbeaten run to 16 games in all competitions.

Brighton manager Dario Vidosic will take a period of leave for family reasons, the club have confirmed. As a result, he will miss Brighton's Women's FA Cup fourth-round tie with Nottingham Forest on Sunday (13:00 GMT). Assistant head coach Chris Roberts, supported by first-team coach Arthur Brammer, will take interim charge for the foreseeable future. Roberts has previous experience as interim manager, fulfilling the role while at Everton at the end of the 2021-22 season.

James, ranked at no.23 among the world's best women's players, faces an uphill battle for fitness ahead of the Euros, starting in less than 50 days.

Chelsea's final Premier League home game of the season against Manchester United has been moved to 16 May to avoid a clash with the Women's FA Cup final.