Manchester City secured their eighth FA Cup title on Saturday, overcoming Chelsea by a solitary goal in a match that saw the London club struggle to assert offensive pressure. Chelsea managed only one shot on target throughout the fixture at Wembley Stadium.
Manchester City's victory, their eighth FA Cup triumph, was sealed with a narrow margin, highlighting Chelsea's persistent offensive difficulties.
The final, played on May 16, 2026, at 3 PM UK time, pitted Manchester City against Chelsea at the iconic Wembley Stadium. City entered the contest as strong favourites, a sentiment underscored by their dominant head-to-head record against Chelsea in recent encounters. This FA Cup final marks the first time these two clubs have met in the competition's championship match.
Manchester City's path to this final saw them reach a significant milestone, becoming the first team to contest four consecutive FA Cup finals. Their record in the competition is notable, having won 21 of their last 23 ties. However, their recent finals history includes defeats in 2024 and 2025, both against Manchester United and Crystal Palace respectively. Chelsea, on the other hand, was appearing in their 17th FA Cup final, with eight wins and eight losses in their previous 16 final appearances.
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Chelsea's performance in finals has been a point of concern. The club has endured a dry spell at Wembley, having not lifted a trophy there in six years. Their recent record in domestic finals is particularly stark, with six consecutive losses across both the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. Despite these trends, Chelsea's interim boss, Calum McFarlane, had expressed confidence in his team's ability to "upset the odds" and deliver a cup shock.
In terms of team news, predicted lineups suggested formations such as Manchester City's 4-2-3-1, featuring players like Sánchez, James, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella, Santos, Caicedo, Palmer, Fernández, Neto, and Pedro for Chelsea. Manchester City's lineup was anticipated to include Trafford, Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly, Silva, Foden, Semenyo, Cherki, Doku, and Haaland.
Recent form indicated Manchester City's consistent offensive output, with notable wins against Crystal Palace and Brentford. Chelsea's form, however, showed a more mixed picture, including a draw against Liverpool and a loss to Nottingham Forest, alongside a crucial FA Cup win against Leeds in the semi-finals. Notably, Manchester City had previously defeated Chelsea 3-0 in a Premier League fixture the previous month.
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Following the final, reports indicated that Chelsea is expected to appoint Xabi Alonso as their new manager, a move that will be closely watched for its potential stylistic fit with the club's ambitions.
