The Football Association has announced the Vitality Women's FA Cup will return this season.
Aston Villa Women will enter at the Fourth-Round stage and have been drawn against Manchester City.
This tie will take place on Sunday, April 18 at The Academy Stadium in Manchester (ko 2pm).
The following statement has been released by the FA in relation to the return of this season's competition:
The Football Association (The FA) is pleased to confirm that following the Government’s recent roadmap announcement which will see the safe return of grassroots football from 29 March, the 2020/2021 Vitality Women’s FA Cup will recommence at the end of this month.
The competition was paused in January at the Second Round after the country went into its third lockdown, with all ‘non-elite’ football suspended as a result.
With the recent announcement that the suspension will be lifted in a few weeks, The FA is in a position to reschedule the first four rounds of the competition – with one tie still to be played in the First Round and 17 in the Second Round, before the Third and Fourth Rounds can be played.
The rescheduled dates – subject to ongoing Government guidance as we follow the roadmap out of lockdown - are as follows:
- First Round – 31 March 2021
- Second Round – 4 April 2021
- Third Round – 11 April 2021
- Fourth Round – 18 April 2021
To ensure clubs can plan and prepare for their upcoming ties, the draws for the Third and Fourth Round have been made.
The FA must also acknowledge FIFA’s support for completing the later rounds of the competition. Conversations concerning a date for the Fifth Round, which will be completed this season, are ongoing. Following the Fifth Round, up to three rounds, including the Final held at Wembley Stadium connected by EE, can be completed next season, with dates to be confirmed.
More information to follow.
Vitality Women's FA Cup - Fourth Round draw
1. Leicester City v Liverpool
2. Middlesbrough/Hull City/Stoke City/Wem Town v Sheffield United
3. Birmingham City v Coventry United
4. Burnley/Fylde/Sunderland/Sheffield v Manchester United
5. Everton v Durham
6. Manchester City v ASTON VILLA
7. Watford/MK Dons/Wolverhampton Wanderers/Nottingham Forest v Blackburn Rovers
8. Huddersfield Town/Brighouse Town/Newcastle United v West Bromwich Albion/Lincoln City/Loughborough Foxes/Derby County
9. Reading v Tottenham Hotspur
10. Cardiff City/Oxford United/Billericay Town/Ipswich Town v Charlton Athletic
11. Arsenal v Portsmouth/Cheltenham Town/Crawley Wasps/Gillingham
12. Chelsea v London City Lionesses
13. Lewes v Southampton/Plymouth Argyle/Keynsham Town/Yeovil United
14. Brighton & Hove Albion v Bristol City
15. West Ham United v Hounslow/Leyton Orient/Chichester & Selsey/Kent Football United/Enfield Town
16. Crystal Palace v London Bees
