2001 FA Cup Final won the cup seven times previously (in 1930, 1936, 1950, 1971, 1979, 1993 and 1998) and were beaten in the final six times. By comparison, Liverpool were making their 12th appearance in a FA Cup final. The club won the cup five times (in 1964, 1974, 1986, 1989, 1992) and lost six finals, most recent of which against Manchester United in 1996. Arsenal and Liverpool had previously met thirteen times in the FA Cup, including four replays. Arsenal had a slender advantage in those meetings, winning five times to Liverpool's four. Both clubs were involved in the longest ever semi-final
2016 Iraq FA Cup Final for the 2017 AFC Cup. Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya were also set to face the winners of the league, Al-Zawraa, in the 2016 Iraqi Super Cup, but it was eventually cancelled. Al-Zawraa played in a record 16th Iraq FA Cup final. They had previously won a record 14 finals, most recently in the 2000 Iraq FA Cup final against the same team that they will be facing this final, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, with a 4–3 penalty shoot-out win after a 0–0 draw.<ref name="Iraq 1999/2000 - RSSSF"></ref> Their only prior loss in the final was in 1988, losing 4–3 by a penalty shoot-out, after