Emirates FA Cup Final will be officially known as Heads Up Final, a significant move dedicated to Heads Up initiative, with lead partner Emirates donating their title to the mental health campaign.
Heads Up campaign was launched at the FA Community Shield and has been visible across all levels of football in England throughout the course of the 2019-20 season.
English FA said that the campaign is aiming to raise awareness, spark conversation and give support for those in need.
“We’re going to really use the Final as a moment to promote good, positive mental health for everyone,” English FA president, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William said.
“It’s quite timely bearing in mind what we’ve all been through with this pandemic. I think there’s going to be, sadly, a lot of repercussions from this in society, not just in football, in terms of people’s mental health. Hopefully the FA Cup can be a bit of a pivot that people can rally around.”
Chair of the Heads Up campaign, Godric Smith said it will help raise the mental health awareness to the next level and reaching more people in football.
“We’re extremely grateful to the FA and to Emirates for this unprecedented gesture of support. Dedicating the final of football’s most iconic domestic cup competition to Heads Up is a huge statement about the importance of mental health and their commitment to it.
“Given the many different impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever that we talk about our mental health and help support one another, and the Heads Up FA Cup Final will hopefully generate many more of those conversations amongst fans and the football community.”
English FA has announced plans to restart the competition with the rescheduled quarter-finals set to be played on 28 and 29 June, with the final scheduled for 1 August.
All remaining matches including the final will be played behind closed doors.