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StatisticsResultsBet history
  • FAI Cup
    • 4 September
    • Drogheda United
      Galway
    • Waterford
      Sligo Rovers
    • 5 September
    • St Patrick's Athletic
      Bohemian Dublin
    • 6 September
    • Derry City
      Dundalk

FAI Cup available for betting at 1xBet in Saudi Arabia

The FAI Cup stands as the premier annual knockout football tournament in the Republic of Ireland, sanctioned by the Football Association of Ireland. Forty-four teams enter the fray each year, mixing League of Ireland sides with qualifiers from lower tiers to chase a single trophy. Shamrock Rovers hold the record with 26 titles and remain the reigning champions after their 2025 victory over Cork City. A winner secures entry into the UEFA Europa League alongside a spot in the President of Ireland's Cup. Bettors can find pre-match and live markets on this event at 1xBet.

Premier knockout tournament organized by the Football Association of Ireland

The FAI Cup serves as the premier annual knockout tournament in Irish football, organized directly by the Football Association of Ireland. It brings together 44 teams for a single-elimination run where one loss ends the campaign. Shamrock Rovers enter the 2026 edition as defending champions after securing their 26th title in 2025.

That dominance sets a high bar for any outsider looking to bet on FAI Cup outright markets. Only Dundalk approaches that level of success with 12 trophies, while Shelbourne and Bohemians share 7 wins each. Derry City remains unique as the sole Northern Irish club to lift the trophy, adding a cross-border angle to the fixture list.

Recent finals show how quickly fortunes shift in this format, from Drogheda United's shock win in 2024 to St Patrick's Athletic drawing a record crowd of 43881 fans in 2023. The winner earns a spot in the UEFA Europa League, making late-round stakes particularly volatile when underdogs push through. Consistency matters less here than surviving one bad night against a stronger opponent.

How the FAI Cup format works across forty four teams

The FAI Cup operates as a straight knockout tournament under the Football Association of Ireland, running through the 2026 season. Forty-four teams enter the fray, mixing League of Ireland sides with qualifiers from lower tiers. There are no group stages or points tables to climb; a single loss ends the campaign immediately. That binary nature defines the outright market dynamics for anyone backing a contender early.

Shamrock Rovers arrive as defending champions after securing their 26th title in 2025, while Dundalk sits second on the all-time list with 12 wins. The history book shows how quickly fortunes shift, with Drogheda United taking the trophy in 2024 against heavy favourites. Non-league entries often cause upsets because they have nothing to lose and everything to gain from a giant-killing run. These variables make FAI Cup betting markets volatile compared to league play where form accumulates slowly over weeks.

The winner earns entry into the UEFA Europa League alongside a spot in the President of Ireland's Cup, adding weight to every late-round tie. Attendance peaked at 43,881 during the 2023 final, proving that neutral venues can still draw massive crowds for decisive matches. Derry City remains unique as the only club from Northern Ireland to lift this specific trophy since its inception back in 1923. The following table breaks down the participating squads and their historical standing within this Irish domestic cup competition.

Table 1 — FAI Cup teams

Team

Country

Titles

Shamrock Rovers

Republic of Ireland

26

Dundalk

Republic of Ireland

12

Shelbourne

Republic of Ireland

7

Bohemians

Republic of Ireland

7

Derry City

Northern Ireland

6

Past champions including record holder Shamrock Rovers

The FAI Cup operates as a knockout tournament involving 44 teams under the Football Association of Ireland. Shamrock Rovers hold the record with 26 titles, having defended their crown in 2025 against Cork City. That dominance shapes the outright market significantly.

Dundalk sits second on the all-time list with 12 trophies, while Shelbourne and Bohemians share seven each. Derry City remains the sole Northern Irish club to win the competition, securing victories in 2012 and 2022. Recent finals show how quickly fortunes shift; Drogheda United took the trophy in 2024 after beating Derry City.

The event draws massive crowds when top sides meet late in the bracket. A record 43,881 fans attended the 2023 final between St Patrick's Athletic and Bohemians at the Aviva Stadium. Such scale often drives interest in totals markets for those specific matches.

Understanding FAI Cup history helps identify patterns before placing a stake on future rounds. The table below details every recent champion alongside key statistical records from decades of play.

Table 2 — FAI Cup past winners

Season

Champion

Runner-up

2025

Shamrock Rovers

Cork City

2024

Drogheda United

Derry City

2023

St Patrick's Athletic

Bohemians

2022

Derry City

Shelbourne

2021

St Patrick's Athletic

—

2020

Dundalk

—

2019

Shamrock Rovers

Dundalk

2018

Dundalk

Cork City

2017

Cork City

Dundalk

2016

Cork City

Dundalk

2015

Dundalk

Cork City

2014

St Patrick's Athletic

Derry City

Table 3 — FAI Cup records and key facts

Record

Value

Holder

Most titles

Shamrock Rovers (26)

—

Largest ever win

11–0 (Dundalk vs Athlone Town)

Dundalk

Largest ever attendance

43,881

St Patrick's Athletic vs Bohemians (2023)

Key records like largest wins and attendance figures

The FAI Cup operates as a knockout tournament involving 44 teams from the Republic of Ireland and beyond. Shamrock Rovers hold the record with 26 titles, making them the clear benchmark for success in this competition. Their latest triumph came in 2025 when they defeated Cork City to retain the trophy. That dominance shapes how the outright market is priced long before the first whistle blows.

Some results stand out purely because of their scale rather than who lifted the cup. Dundalk produced an 11–0 victory against Athlone Town, which remains the largest margin of defeat ever recorded in the event's history. Such outliers remind bettors that cup ties can produce extreme scores compared to league play. Form matters less here when a giant meets a smaller side early on.

Crowd size also tells a story about which finals capture national attention. The 2023 final between St Patrick's Athletic and Bohemians drew 43,881 spectators, setting a new attendance record for the tournament. That figure dwarfs typical turnouts and signals heightened interest during specific matchups or derbies. Reviewing FAI Cup stats reveals how these peaks correlate with rivalries or underdog runs that reach late stages.

These historical markers provide context for anyone analyzing potential upsets or heavy favorites before placing a stake on upcoming rounds. The data below summarizes those key benchmarks alongside other defining moments from recent seasons.

Table 4 — FAI Cup key facts

Specification

Detail

Sport

Football

Season

2026

Format

Knockout

Teams

44

Governing body

Football Association of Ireland

Title holder

Shamrock Rovers FC

Availability

Saudi Arabia

Languages

English, Arabic

Mobile platforms

iOS, Android

Available betting options for FAI Cup on 1xBet platform

The FAI Cup operates as a straight knockout tournament involving 44 teams, meaning every match is a single-elimination affair. There are no group stages or second chances, so the margin for error disappears instantly. That structure forces the outright market to shift rapidly whenever a giant drops out early.

Pre-match slips usually start with the standard match result, covering home win, draw, or away win. Handicap lines become essential when a top-flight side faces a non-league qualifier from the intermediate tiers. Totals markets ask whether the game will exceed or fall short of a set goal line, while correct score bets demand precision on the final tally.

Double chance options narrow the risk by backing two of three possible outcomes in one stake. Accumulators allow you to chain selections across multiple rounds of the competition into a single wager. The platform also supports live betting once play begins at venues like the Aviva Stadium. Finding value on FAI Cup on 1xBet often comes from tracking how form changes between rounds rather than relying on reputation alone.

Standard match markets including handicaps and totals

The FAI Cup is a knockout tournament involving 44 teams, meaning every tie is a single elimination affair with no room for error. Match result remains the baseline market where backers pick the winner or a draw. Because the format eliminates sides immediately, the handicap market often offers better value than the standard moneyline when one team is clearly stronger. Totals markets focus on whether the combined goal count clears a set line, which can be volatile in cup ties prone to sudden shifts.

  • Match result covers home win, draw, or away win for each tie.

  • Asian and European handicaps adjust the starting score to level uneven matchups.

  • Over/under totals settle based on goals scored regardless of who wins.

  • Correct score bets require predicting the exact final tally of a match.

  • Accumulators allow combining multiple FAI Cup selections into one larger wager.

These options apply across all rounds until Shamrock Rovers or another contender lifts the trophy in 2026.

Competition winner specials and exact outcome calls

The outright market on the FAI Cup asks for a pick of the 44 teams to lift the trophy, with Shamrock Rovers entering as defending champions holding 26 titles. That historical weight often compresses their price relative to the field, though a knockout format means any single slip-up ends the campaign instantly. Exact outcome calls cover the final scoreline or whether a match goes to extra time and penalties. These props settle once the referee blows the final whistle, regardless of how many rounds remain in the wider tournament.

Building accumulator slips with multiple selections

An accumulator lets a bettor combine multiple selections from the FAI Cup into a single wager. Each leg must settle correctly for the ticket to pay out, which raises the potential return significantly. The knockout format creates distinct value opportunities across rounds, especially when underdogs face established sides like Shamrock Rovers or Dundalk.

One slip can cover match results, goal totals or handicaps from different ties in the same competition. Risk increases with every added selection, but so does the upside if all legs hit. This market thrives during the later stages of the FAI Cup when fewer teams remain and lines tighten around likely finalists.

In play action and early cash out features

Live betting on the FAI Cup lets you place wagers while the match unfolds, reacting to momentum shifts in real time. The knockout nature of the competition means a single goal can flip the board instantly. Early cash out allows you to settle a bet before full time, locking in returns or cutting losses based on how the game develops. Markets stay active until the final whistle drops. This feature suits those watching closely and wanting control over their stake during tight contests.

Steps to place your first bet on FAI Cup in Saudi Arabia

Registration at sa.1xbet.com takes only a few minutes to open an account. Once funded, the full sportsbook becomes available for the FAI Cup. New users often check how to bet on FAI Cup before their first wager lands.

The process is straightforward and mirrors every other football competition listed on the site. Follow these steps to get your stake in play:

  1. Register on sa.1xbet.com or log in to your existing account.

  2. Make a deposit using bank cards, e-wallets or cryptocurrencies.

  3. Open the Football section and navigate to the FAI Cup tournament page.

  4. Select a market such as match result, totals or the outright winner.

  5. Enter your stake amount into the bet slip provided on screen.

  6. Confirm the bet to lock in your selection and await settlement.

A sports welcome bonus may be available on that first deposit, depending on current terms. The 1xBet app also covers pre-match and live betting from a phone if you prefer mobile access over desktop browsers.

Welcome offers and acca boost promotions available now

New accounts at 1xBet can access a sports welcome bonus on their first deposit. The offer changes over time and carries its own conditions, so checking the latest terms is essential before staking. That initial boost helps cover early slips on the FAI Cup or other major leagues.

Accumulators see a rising bonus as more legs are added to the ticket. Every selection must win for the bet to settle, but the acca boost increases the potential return significantly with each extra pick. This mechanic is central to how a savvy bettor approaches multi-leg wagers on the competition.

Cashback returns a share of net losses to eligible accounts, softening the blow of an unlucky run. Free bets also appear through selected promotions, allowing a stake without risking the account balance directly. These tools define what makes the FAI Cup 1xBet bonus package useful for regular players tracking Irish football.

Payment methods mobile app access and support channels

Funding an account on 1xBet Saudi Arabia is straightforward, with bank cards, e-wallets and cryptocurrencies all available for deposits and withdrawals. Limits vary by the chosen method, so checking the specific caps before staking is wise. The sportsbook has handled these transactions securely since 2007.

Mobile access runs through the dedicated 1xBet app, which covers both pre-match and live betting from a phone. The Android download sits around 46, while iOS users grab their version directly from the site. It's localised for each market to match regional needs.

Support channels stay open around the clock via live chat for immediate issues or email for deeper account queries. An FAQ section handles common questions about betting rules and payments without needing a ticket. Help is always available when a bet hangs in the balance.

Back your favorite team in the premier irish competition today

The FAI Cup operates as a straight knockout tournament involving 44 teams from across the Republic of Ireland. Because a single defeat eliminates a side, the outright market often shifts dramatically after every round. Shamrock Rovers enter the 2026 campaign as defending champions, holding a record 26 titles since their last win in 2025.

History shows that dominance usually clusters around a few clubs, yet shock results remain common in this format. Dundalk sits second with 12 trophies, while Shelbourne and Bohemians have each lifted the cup 7 times. Even Derry City, based in Northern Ireland, has claimed 6 victories despite being the only non-Republic club to succeed here.

Betters looking to place bet FAI Cup find value in both pre-match singles and accumulators built around early-round upsets. The stakes rise significantly as the field narrows toward the final at the Aviva Stadium. Recent finals have drawn massive crowds, with the 2023 decider recording an attendance of 43881 fans watching St Patrick's Athletic beat Bohemians.

The knockout nature ensures that form over a single weekend matters more than long-term consistency. Markets for match result, totals and handicaps cover every tie leading to the trophy presentation. Follow the FAI Cup action and back your preferred team on every stage of this Irish classic at 1xBet today.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format of the FAI Cup?

The 2026 FAI Cup follows a strict knockout structure involving 44 football teams competing under the governance of the Football Association of Ireland.

Who holds the current FAI Cup title entering the 2026 season?

Shamrock Rovers FC enters the tournament as the reigning champion from the previous cycle.

Which betting markets are available for the FAI Cup on 1xBet?

Bettors can access standard match result options including 1X2, goal total lines such as Over/Under, and outright winner markets for the entire knockout tournament.