Chelsea and Manchester City set for FA Cup final showdown at Wembley
Manchester City seek to end a run of two consecutive final defeats, while Chelsea aim to break a six-match losing streak in domestic cup deciders.
Chelsea and Manchester City are scheduled to meet in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on 16 May 2026. The fixture marks a significant moment for both clubs, with Manchester City appearing in their fourth consecutive FA Cup final and Chelsea looking to end a prolonged period of disappointment in domestic cup competitions.
Manchester City have lost the previous two editions of the final to Crystal Palace and Manchester United. The club is now seeking to secure a domestic double, having reached this stage of the competition for the fourth time in a row. Despite a strong historical record, having won 21 of their last 23 FA Cup fixtures, the team remains wary of Chelsea’s resilience in high-stakes matches.
Chelsea are aiming to end a streak of six consecutive losses in domestic cup finals. Their last major domestic cup victory occurred in the 2017/18 season under Antonio Conte. The West Londoners previously lost three straight FA Cup finals between 2020 and 2022, adding defeats in the 2019, 2022, and 2024 Carabao Cup finals to their record of recent cup heartbreak.
The two clubs have a history of meeting in major finals, having previously clashed in the 1986 Full Members' Cup, the 2019 League Cup, and the 2018 Community Shield. Their most recent high-profile encounter was the 2021 Champions League final, which Chelsea won 1-0 with a goal from Kai Havertz. That victory remains the last time Chelsea defeated Manchester City, as the Blues have gone winless in 13 competitive matches against Guardiola’s side since that final, losing 10 of those games.
Predicted lineups for Manchester City include James Trafford in goal, having been preferred over Gianluigi Donnarumma during the domestic cup runs. Erling Haaland is expected to return to the starting lineup, while winger Jeremy Doku has rejoined the squad after being rested midweek. Defender Josko Gvardiol is unlikely to start due to a broken leg sustained against Crystal Palace, with Nico O’Reilly expected to fill the defensive void.
The specific starting lineups for both teams remain subject to change, particularly regarding the fitness and selection of key players. Guardiola has emphasised the need for clinical finishing to avoid another disappointment under the Wembley arch, while Chelsea will look to leverage their recent success in European competition to overturn their poor recent form against their rivals.
