24 July 2020

Women’s FA Cup to be completed during next domestic season, with final on October 31

This season’s Women’s FA Cup will be concluded during the 2020-21 campaign, with the final set to be played on October 31.

The competition was suspended before the quarter-finals, which will now be played on the weekend of September 26-27, shortly followed by the semi-finals from September 30 to October 1.

This means that this season’s FA Cup is likely to overlap with next season’s WSL due to the domestic league hoping for a return date of September 5.

No elite women’s football has been played since the coronavirus pandemic began back in March.

The Women’s Super League season was finished prematurely and positions were decided by a points-per-game method.

Kelly Simmons, the FA's director of the women's professional game, said: "A significant amount of work has been going on behind the scenes to ensure the Women's FA Cup can be completed and I am delighted that we have received the necessary approval for its conclusion.

"The Women's FA Cup is a showpiece fixture in the football calendar and because of that there was huge appetite for the three remaining rounds to be played."

No comment has yet been made as to whether fans will be allowed at Wembley Stadium for the FA Cup final.

The government recently announced plans for crowds to return at sporting events in October.

Women’s FA Cup quarter-final draw:

Brighton & Hove Albion v Birmingham City

Everton v Chelsea

Arsenal v Tottenham

Leicester City v Manchester City

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