City secure domestic double with FA Cup triumph over Chelsea

Manchester City have secured a domestic cup double after defeating Chelsea 1-0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium. The victory, confirmed on 16 May 2026, adds to the club’s earlier Carabao Cup triumph in March and marks the 16th major trophy under manager Pep Guardiola. The win keeps City’s pursuit of a domestic treble alive as they remain two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal with two games remaining.

Antoine Semenyo, who joined the club from Bournemouth in January, scored the only goal of the match in the 72nd minute with a flicked finish. The 26-year-old became the first Ghanaian player to score in an FA Cup final and was named player of the match. His performance has drawn comparisons to Sir Alex Ferguson’s historical scepticism regarding January signings, with Guardiola noting that the club secured both Semenyo and defender Marc Guehi due to specific contractual opportunities.

Chelsea adopted a defensive strategy, sitting back to absorb pressure and looking to counter-attack. While they managed to contain City for much of the first half, Semenyo’s improvisation broke the deadlock. He described the goal as a moment of quick reflexes, stating that he had to improvise as the ball came to him. The strike has been praised by pundits as a moment of sheer quality that defined an otherwise forgetful showpiece.

Defender Marc Guehi, who joined from Crystal Palace for £20m, also featured in the final. He became just the fourth player to feature for different winning teams in consecutive FA Cup finals, having won the trophy with Palace the previous season. New Football Association rules permitted his participation for City following his transfer. Guehi described the victory as equally significant to his first trophy, particularly after a difficult season for the club.

The match also served as a farewell appearance for captain Bernardo Silva and John Stones, both of whom are leaving the club at the end of the season. Guardiola indicated that immediate celebrations would be deferred, with plans to honour the team alongside the women’s squad and hold a parade in Manchester after the final Premier League fixture against Aston Villa.