Emirates FA Cup: South Africa's Premier Football Knockout Tournament

When it comes to pure football drama in South Africa, nothing beats the Emirates FA Cup, South Africa's oldest and most prestigious domestic football knockout competition, open to teams from every level of the national league system. Also known as the South African FA Cup, it’s the tournament where minnows dream big and giants stumble — and that’s exactly why fans show up.

The Premier Soccer League, the top tier of professional football in South Africa, whose clubs dominate the later rounds of the Emirates FA Cup teams like Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Orlando Pirates don’t just play for trophies — they play to silence doubters, boost morale, and keep their seasons alive when league form falters. But the real magic happens when a lower-league side pulls off a shock win. Remember when a third-division team beat a PSL giant 3-1 in extra time? That’s the Emirates FA Cup. It doesn’t care about budgets or rankings. It cares about heart, grit, and one moment of brilliance.

The tournament runs from early summer through to late autumn, with matches played across the country — from dusty fields in the Free State to packed stadiums in Johannesburg. Every round brings new stories: a goalkeeper saving three penalties, a 17-year-old winger scoring his first professional goal, a coach who’s been waiting 20 years for this shot at glory. It’s not just football. It’s community. It’s identity. And it’s the only competition where a club from Kroonstad can, theoretically, lift the trophy and become national heroes.

What you’ll find here are the matches that mattered, the upsets that shocked the nation, and the players who made history on this stage. From last-minute winners to controversial red cards, from underdog runs to title defenses, this collection captures the raw, unfiltered spirit of the Emirates FA Cup — no fluff, no filler, just the games that defined South African football.