Why Macclesfield FC shock win over Crystal Palace is the biggest FA Cup upset of all time

Kyle Bonn

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Why Macclesfield FC shock win over Crystal Palace is the biggest FA Cup upset of all time image

Even in an era of European football dominated by massive transfer fees, super agents and unlimited funds from nation-state ownership, the "Magic of the FA Cup" has never been more alive.

The 145th edition of the oldest football tournament in the world arrived in early 2026 with a bang, as Premier League clubs were given a reminder that nothing can be taken for granted no matter the opponent.

Already, Championship newcomers Wrexham had downed Nottingham Forest the previous day, as the first top flight fell in this year's third round. It didn't take long for Wrexham's place as giant-killers to be trumped by an all-time upset.

In the early window of Saturday's third round kickoffs, sixth-tier side Macclesfield FC sparked what can only be described as the greatest upset in FA Cup history as they knocked off a top-flight club, and brought records crashing down along with it.

AllSportsPeople details why Crystal Palace's defeat mark them as the biggest upset in the long and storied history of the competition.

MORE: The 11 biggest upsets in FA Cup history

Macclesfield FC stun Crystal Palace in FA Cup

Non-league side Macclesfield FC stunned Crystal Palace in the third round of the 2025/26 FA Cup, winning 2-1 at home in a result that sent shockwaves through English football.

A goal from Paul Dawson in the 43rd minute put the hosts up 1-0 before halftime, and a second from Isaac Buckley-Ricketts on the hour mark was enough to offset a 90th minute consolation by Yeremy Pino of Palace.

The Premier League side started a largely second-choice lineup, as manager Oliver Glasner rotated his best players amidst a long and arduous season. Still, there were plenty of top players in this squad who should have been easily able to brush aside their non-league opponents. The likes of Pino, Marc Guehi, and Chris Richards were deployed from the start for Palace, while backup striker Christiantus Uche and experienced goalkeeper Walter Benitez started in net.

Still, Palace not only found themselves beaten on the scoreline, but also on the stat sheet as they were out-shot by Macclesfield 13-12, despite holding 72 percent possession throughout the game.

Why Macclesfield FC win over Crystal Palace is biggest FA Cup upset

There are a number of reasons why this victory for Macclesfield FC is the greatest FA Cup upset of all-time.

First and foremost, just by the raw numbers, it is the biggest upset ever in the history of the competition. One hundred-seventeen places separated the teams in the English football pyramid, the biggest gap ever between teams in a matchup where the lower-ranked team walked away victorious.

Beyond that, however, there were even further storylines to feast upon in this match.

Macclesfield FC were unlikely to even be in this position. The club is the reformed version of Macclesfield Town, initially founded in 1874 but liquidated in 2020 after multiple years of financial issues. The remaining assets were purchased the following year by local businessman Robert Smethurst, who established Macclesfield FC, which entered the English pyramid in the ninth tier.

They were promoted in consecutive seasons in 2022 and 2023, and again in 2025 as they reached the National League North.

The club is coached by John Rooney, the younger brother of Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney. John Rooney began his career with Macclesfield, making 41 appearances for the club between 2008 and 2010. He would also finish his career there, this time with Macclesfield FC, scoring 26 goals in 67 appearances until retiring in 2025 to coach the side.

There was an emotional element to this historic result too. Just weeks prior, on December 17, Macclesfield FC player Ethan McLeod was killed in a motor vehicle accident while driving home from a match. At around 10:40 p.m. Local time, McLeod's Mercedes collided with a barrier on the M1 near Northampton.

Following the victory, the players and manager all spoke about how they felt McLeod's presence throughout the match, and McLeod's parents joined the squad in the post-match dressing room celebrations.

This result was also the first time since 1908 that a non-league side has knocked out the defending champions of the competition, with Palace having lifted the trophy in the previous season.

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