English soccer club Maidstone United’s origin story already was a twirling tale of rebirth, relegation and promotion. That tale added one of its most interesting twists Saturday, as the sixth-tier club stunned Ipswich Town, 2-1, in the FA Cup to reach the competition’s final 16 for the first time.
The FA Cup, the world’s oldest domestic soccer competition, is known for its egalitarian format, which enables amateur and semiprofessional teams across England and Wales to vie for a trophy against Premier League powerhouses — if they can reach them.
A total of 732 clubs entered this year’s tournament, which opens with lower-level teams playing in preliminary rounds.