The 2017–18 FA Cup qualifying rounds open the 137th season of competition in England for The Football Association Challenge Cup (FA Cup), the world's oldest association football single knockout competition. A total of 737 teams were accepted for the competition, an increase of 1 from the previous season's 736. The large number (645) of non-League clubs entering the tournament, from (Levels 5 to 10) in the English football pyramid, required the competition to start with six rounds of preliminary (2) and qualifying (4) knockout matches. The 32 winning teams from the fourth qualifying round progressed to the First round proper, where League teams tiered at Levels 3 and 4 entered the competition. Calendar and prizes The calendar for the 2017–18 FA Cup qualifying rounds, as announced by The Football Association. Extra preliminary round The Extra Preliminary round draw was held on 7 July 2017. Fixtures were played on Friday 4, Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 August 2017; replays were completed on Wednesday 16 August 2017. 370 teams, from Level 9 and Level 10 of English football, entered at this stage of the competition. The round included 76 teams from Level 10 of English football, the lowest ranked clubs to compete in the tournament. Preliminary round The Preliminary round draw was also held on 7 July 2017. Fixtures were played on Friday 18, Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 August 2017; replays were concluded Monday 28 August 2017. 320 teams took part in this stage of the competition: 185 winners from the Extra preliminary round and 135 entering at this stage from the six leagues at Level 8 of English football; Guernsey decided not to participate in the FA Cup this season. The round included 28 teams from Level 10, the lowest-ranked teams still in the competition. First qualifying round The First qualifying round draw was held on 21 August 2017. Fixtures were played on Friday 1, Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 September 2017. All replays were completed by Wednesday 6 September 2017. 232 teams took part in this stage of the competition: 160 winners from the preliminary round and 72 entering at this stage from the three leagues at Level 7 of English football. The round included nine teams from Level 10, the lowest-ranked teams still in the competition. Second qualifying round The Second qualifying round draw was held on 4 September 2017. Fixtures were played on Saturday 16 and Sunday