Facebook To Show FA Cup Opener

Facebook is set to broadcast the opening match of this season’s FA Cup
with Budweiser between Ascot United and Wembley FC live on the social
networking site.

The two non-league sides meet on Friday night in an extra preliminary-round of the competition.

The stream will be funded by the FA Cup’s new sponsors Budweiser, and is the first broadcast of its kind anywhere in sport.

The tie could normally expect to attract a crowd of around 90 fans – according to media reports – but will now have the possibility of reaching a potential global audience of 700m people.

Budweiser marketing director Ian Newell said: ‘Budweiser is committed to bringing the world’s most prestigious knockout competition closer to the fans. What better way to demonstrate this than by broadcasting the very first kick to a global audience via Facebook?’

‘This is the first time an FA Cup tournament fixture has been broadcast live on the social network, which is great news for football fans and clubs alike’.

Ascot, who play their football in the Hellenic League, take on Combined Counties side Wembley at the Racecourse Ground in one of 204 extra preliminary-round fixtures.

763 clubs will compete in this year’s FA Cup, with an extra-preliminary round, a preliminary round, and four qualifying rounds for some teams before the first round proper takes place the weekend of 12th November.

Premier League sides will join the competition in the third round at the beginning of January 2012.

The final will take place on 5th May 2012 at Wembley Stadium – less than two miles from Wembley FC’s home ground.