FA Cup Final 2026: Everything to know ahead of Chelsea vs Man City
The oldest cup competition in world football reaches its climax at Wembley Stadium on Saturday when Chelsea face Manchester City in the 145th FA Cup final. Kick-off is at 3pm BST. It is a fixture loaded with narrative: a club chasing their first domestic silverware since 2018 against a side who have achieved an unprecedented fourth consecutive final appearance — and are pursuing, potentially, a domestic treble.
🏆 FA CUP FINAL 2026 IS SET! 🇺🇧
— 365Scores (@365Scores) April 26, 2026
🔵 Chelsea take down Leeds
🔵 Man City await
Two Premier League giants. One trophy. Wembley is about to be electric. ⚡
Who lifts the cup? 👀 pic.twitter.com/pYSMY0gMDb
The FA Cup final awaits
The Road to Wembley
Manchester City’s route to the final has been relentless. They opened their campaign by demolishing League One side Exeter City 10-1, before dismantling Liverpool 4-0 in the quarter-finals — a tie best remembered for Erling Haaland’s hat-trick, which served as a reminder of just how lethal City can be when they are fully switched on. The semi-final, however, was a different story entirely. Championship side Southampton led 1-0 with ten minutes remaining, Finn Azaz having fired a stunning long-range strike past James Trafford. City’s response was devastating: Jérémy Doku equalised almost immediately, and Nico González then unleashed a thunderbolt from distance to seal a 2-1 comeback win. Eight extraordinary, breathless minutes that underlined this City side’s refusal to accept defeat.
Chelsea’s path has been almost exclusively against lower-league opposition, which makes Saturday all the more significant as a test. Under Liam Rosenior — who was ultimately sacked in April after five defeats without scoring — the Blues beat Charlton 5-1, hammered Hull 4-0, and edged past Wrexham 4-2 after extra time. Under interim manager Calum McFarlane, Chelsea dismissed Port Vale 7-0 in the quarter-finals before holding their nerve in a tense 1-0 semi-final win over Leeds United at Wembley, Enzo Fernandez’s header in the first half proving to be enough. Saturday is only their second Wembley appearance of the campaign, and comfortably the most difficult.
The Bigger Picture for Both Clubs
The stakes could hardly be more different for the two sides. Manchester City enter the final with the title race still very much alive: a 3-0 midweek win over Crystal Palace, built on a Phil Foden masterclass, trimmed Arsenal’s lead to two points going into the final two league games. City have already won the EFL Cup this season, beating Arsenal in the final through goals from Nico O’Reilly. Should they win on Saturday and go on to clinch the Premier League, they would complete a domestic treble — an achievement only they have managed in the English game. Guardiola, typically, has shown no sign of taking either challenge lightly, rotating smartly in midweek to preserve his best players for Wembley.
For Chelsea, the framing could not be more stark. Ninth in the Premier League on 49 points, this cup final is the club’s only realistic route to silverware and a significant determinant of European qualification. The FA Cup winners earn a Europa League place; if Chelsea lift the trophy, they are back in continental football regardless of where they finish in the league. A club of Chelsea’s size and investment enduring a season without European competition would represent a damning verdict on a turbulent campaign that has seen two managerial changes and Chelsea’s worst run of league form in over a century. Everything, essentially, is riding on 90 minutes at Wembley.
The Key Battles
The tactical duel that will define the final is straightforward to identify, if not to execute: Chelsea must limit Manchester City’s supply to Erling Haaland, and they must make their own chances count. One source says it better than any tactical breakdown could: Haaland has played in nine finals for City without scoring. That record is not simply bad luck — it reflects both the elevated defensive attention he attracts in major occasions and a slight hesitancy that replaces his usual clinical assurance in one-off games. Chelsea will be acutely aware of this. If they can keep Haaland quiet, the psychological pressure on City mounts significantly.
The other danger City present is arguably more difficult to neutralise: Jérémy Doku. The Belgian winger has been directly involved in eight goals across the last two FA Cup seasons, leading all Premier League players with five assists and 40 dribbles in that time. He is the kind of player who can make a full-back’s afternoon a living nightmare, and Chelsea’s defensive shape on the left flank will need to be disciplined and organised from the first whistle. Rayan Cherki is also expected to start in behind Haaland after being rested against Crystal Palace, and his creative unpredictability adds another layer of complexity for McFarlane’s backline.
Chelsea’s attacking threat is more fragile given their injury situation. Estevao is ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, while Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho — two of their most effective wide players — have both been carrying knocks and are rated as doubtful. Garnacho, intriguingly, scored for Manchester United in the 2024 FA Cup final against this same City side, and his potential involvement adds an irresistible subplot. Enzo Fernandez is Chelsea’s most reliable attacking outlet: he has been involved in six goals across nine FA Cup appearances for the club, and his semi-final header against Leeds showed that when the moments matter, he delivers. The Argentine is the fulcrum around which Chelsea’s best-case scenario is built.
Managers and Motivation
The contrast in managerial authority could not be wider. Guardiola is preparing for what may be his final act as City manager at Wembley — a venue where he has orchestrated some of the defining moments of his City tenure. McFarlane, by contrast, has been in charge for three weeks, stepping in after Liam Rosenior’s dismissal, and has managed only four games as senior head coach. His calmness in the semi-final build-up and his intelligent man-management of the injury situation have drawn respect, but this is a different order of magnitude entirely.
City have lost the last two FA Cup finals — to Manchester United in 2024 and Crystal Palace in 2025 — and there is a genuine incentive to avoid making it three in a row. Guardiola will not need to motivate this squad, but the record will be on their minds.
FAQs
When is the 2026 FA Cup final?
Saturday 16 May 2026, kick-off at 3pm GMT at Wembley Stadium.
Who is playing in the 2026 FA Cup final?
Chelsea vs Manchester City.
How can I watch the 2026 FA Cup final in the UK?
The match is live on BBC One and TNT Sports, with streaming available on BBC iPlayer and HBO Max.
Have Chelsea and Manchester City met in an FA Cup final before?
No — Saturday is the first FA Cup final meeting between the two clubs, though they have met at Wembley seven times as a neutral venue across various competitions.
Has Erling Haaland ever scored in an FA Cup final?
No. Haaland has played in nine finals for Manchester City without scoring, including eight games at Wembley. Saturday represents his latest chance to change that record.
By Nicky Helfgott / @NickyHelfgott1 on Twitter
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