The BBC is set to broadcast the FA Cup until 2025, marking a new four-year broadcast deal with the Football Association which will grow viewership enormously.

Beginning in the 2021/22 season, BBC Sport will continue its coverage of live fixtures, highlights and online content. Broadcasting up to 18 fixtures per season, this deal will see more coverage of the FA Cup than ever before.

This extended coverage will also see more of the early stage fixtures be shown, with up to six live matches being shown between the first and second rounds.

The FA’s Chief Commercial and Football Development Officer, Mark Bullingham, explained that Manchester United’s fifth-round fixture against Chelsea became the most-viewed domestic match of the season, with more than 8.1 million watching.

He added: “The popularity of the competition goes from strength to strength and continues to draw some of the largest audiences in sport. The Emirates FA Cup is the best and most historic domestic cup competition in the world – and we are delighted to have agreed a new long-term commitment to keep it on the BBC until 2025.”

BBC Sport’s Director, Barbara slater, said: “We are delighted to have secured these FA Cup rights until the 2025/25 season, ensuring the millions that tune into free-to-air TV can continue to enjoy the most famous domestic cup competition in the world. Our FA Cup coverage delivers some of the year’s biggest viewing figures, engages a key younger audience and provides memorable sporting moments than unite a nation.”