While the decision was made to end the Barclays FA Women’s Super League and FA Women’s Championship campaigns in the best interests of the women’s game due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FA had been exploring various options to allow for the FA Women’s Cup to be completed, having reached the quarter-final stage before the country went into lockdown.
An application was made to FIFA for special dispensation to complete the competition with football’s world governing body giving its approval.
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The final three rounds will be concluded in the early part of the 2020/21 season, with holders City set to face Leicester City - the sole FA Women’s Championship representatives - away in the quarter-finals.
The last eight ties will be played three weeks into the new season on the weekend of 26/27 September, with the semi-final due to follow the same week on 30 September/1 October.
As has been the tradition since 2015, the Final will be played at Wembley Stadium.
It will take place on Saturday 31 October, with the kick-off time to be announced in due course.
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 within The FA for the three remaining rounds to be played.
“We welcome the opportunity for a champion to be crowned at Wembley Stadium at the end of October.”
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With government guidelines still uncertain as to the level of fans permissible in stadiums, The FA will refund all ticket holders for the postponed final in May.
For those with tickets, refunds will be processed automatically to all ticket buyers within 14 working days. Refunds will only be made to the lead booker and onto the original payment card used. Ticket holders do not need to contact The FA directly in this instance to request a refund.
The FA will continue to follow government guidance on fans returning to stadiums. A further announcement will be made closer to the Wembley final on any ticketing arrangements and the opportunity to rebook, should rules change on football being played behind closed doors.
