In one of the most remarkable upsets in FA Cup history, non‑league Macclesfield Town stunned reigning champions Crystal Palace 2–1 in the third round of the 2025–26 Emirates FA Cup on Saturday, eliminating a Premier League side despite being 117 places below them in the English football pyramid.
Playing at Moss Rose Stadium, Macclesfield produced a resilient and spirited performance to overcome the elite opposition, becoming the first non‑league team since 1908 to knock out the FA Cup holders.
Macclesfield took a shock lead just before halftime, when captain Paul Dawson headed home from a set‑piece in the 43rd minute, sending the home fans into raptures.
The underdogs doubled their advantage early in the second half. Isaac Buckley‑Ricketts capitalized on poor defensive clearance to steer the ball past Crystal Palace goalkeeper Walter Benítez in the 60th minute, extending the hosts’ lead.
Despite a late response from Crystal Palace, with Yeremy Pino converting a free‑kick deep into stoppage time, Macclesfield held on to secure the 2–1 upset.
The victory sparked jubilant celebrations as Macclesfield fans streamed onto the pitch at full‑time, celebrating a result many pundits are already calling the biggest shock in FA Cup history.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner was left to reflect on a performance he described as lacking quality against a determined underdog side. Meanwhile, Macclesfield manager John Rooney, younger brother of former England and Manchester United star Wayne Rooney, praised his players’ belief and commitment for the historic win.
This is the first time a defending FA Cup champion has been eliminated by non‑league opposition since 1908, highlighting the magic and unpredictability of the oldest domestic cup competition in world football.
Macclesfield’s triumph will see them advance to the Fourth Round, where they will earn a place in the hat for the next draw and likely face another higher‑division opponent as the tournament progresses.