Let's start with the basics. The FA in the FA Cup stands for the Football Association, which is in charge of football—or soccer, as Americans call it—in England. The FA's roots trace all the way back to 1863, and the organization is responsible for everything from furthering opportunities to play the game to regulating the rules on the field. The FA Cup began in 1871 and included 15 teams, a small number compared to the hundreds of teams that have participated in the competition more recently.

To get a sense of the FA Cup, you should keep in mind that football is an extremely popular sport in England. To give you some perspective, there are over 35,000 football clubs and roughly 2,000 games played in England. One of the most action-packed events for football enthusiasts, the FA Cup Final consists of 14 rounds. Here's the schedule for the 2010-2011 FA Cup:

•    August 2010: Extra Preliminary Round, Preliminary Round
•    September 2010: First Round Qualifying, Second Round Qualifying
•    October 2010: Third Round Qualifying, Fourth Round Qualifying
•    November 2010: First Round Proper, Second Round Proper
•    January 2011: Third Round Proper, Fourth Round Proper
•    February 19, 2011: Fifth Round Proper
•    March 12, 2011: Sixth Round Proper
•    April 16-17, 2011: Semi-Final
•    May 14, 2011: Final

As of now, the team with the most victories in FA Cup history is Manchester United, with 11 wins, closely followed by Arsenal, with 10 wins. So mark your calendars for the remaining competitions and be sure to cheer extra loud on May 14th!

The action takes place at Wembley Stadium, just a short trek from any hotel in London.

What: The FA Cup Final
When: May 14, 2011 (Preliminary Rounds started in August, 2010)
Where: Wembley Stadium
URL: http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/