FA Cup Final 2026: Chelsea vs Man City — Wembley Preview, Lineups and How to Watch

The 2026 FA Cup final kicks off today at 3pm BST at Wembley Stadium. Manchester City vs Chelsea. The 145th edition of the oldest cup competition in world football. A match loaded with storylines that go far beyond the 90 minutes: Pep Guardiola potentially taking his final bow at Wembley after 10 years at City; Erling Haaland, with nine Wembley final appearances to his name, yet to score in a single one; Chelsea under their U21 boss Calum McFarlane in what may be the most unusual managerial situation in FA Cup final history; and City chasing a domestic treble after the Carabao Cup triumph in March. BBC One and TNT Sports have the match live. Kick-off is three hours away. Here is everything you need to know.

The Five Storylines That Make This FA Cup Final Unmissable

1. City’s Record Fourth Consecutive Final

No club in FA Cup history has ever appeared in four consecutive finals. Manchester City do it today. Their route to this point has been relentless: a 10-1 demolition of Exeter City in the third round, a 4-0 dismantling of Liverpool in the quarter-finals featuring a Haaland hat-trick, and a last-gasp 2-1 comeback win over Southampton in the semi-finals. City arrive at Wembley as hot favourites at 33/50 on the market, and rightly so given their record of 21 wins from their last 23 FA Cup matches under Guardiola.

The complication is their recent final record. City have lost the last two FA Cup finals — to Manchester United in 2024 and, painfully, to Crystal Palace in 2025. Three consecutive final defeats would be a record of the worst kind. That context is in every City player’s mind today, and Guardiola won’t need to mention it. They will feel it.

2. Haaland Has Never Scored in a Final

The most remarkable statistical subplot of today’s FA Cup final is Erling Haaland’s record in major finals. In nine previous finals for Manchester City — including those two recent FA Cup final defeats — he has scored zero goals. Zero from nine. The Norwegian has been the most prolific goal-scorer in English football for three seasons running, averaging over 30 Premier League goals per campaign. He has scored a Wembley hat-trick this season in the FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool. In finals, something shuts off. Today is his 10th final opportunity. The football world is watching to see whether the pattern breaks.

3. Guardiola’s Potential Last Act

Pep Guardiola made headlines yesterday by publicly insisting he will not leave Manchester City before his contract ends. “I swear I’m not leaving,” he told reporters, directly addressing the growing narrative that today’s FA Cup final could be his Wembley farewell. The statement is important context for today’s match. A manager who has built one of the greatest dynasties in English football history, leading his team out at Wembley for a record 24th time, chasing what would be his 14th major trophy at the club. Whether or not today is truly his last Wembley final, the occasion carries the weight of a career being assessed in real time.

4. Chelsea’s Improbable U21 Boss

On the other side of the technical area, Calum McFarlane takes charge of an FA Cup final having been a senior head coach for precisely three weeks. The Chelsea U21 coach was elevated to interim charge after Liam Rosenior’s dismissal and has managed four matches — a semi-final win over Leeds and three Premier League draws. He becomes the youngest head coach in FA Cup final history. The contrast with Guardiola, who has won 35 major trophies and led his teams to a record 24 Wembley appearances, is almost comically stark. McFarlane’s calmness in press conferences has drawn genuine respect. His tactical reading of City in January, when Chelsea drew 1-1 at the Etihad with better xG than the hosts, shows intelligence. But this is a different order of magnitude entirely.

5. City’s Treble Hunt

Manchester City won the Carabao Cup in March with a victory over Arsenal at Wembley. If they win today, they hold the domestic cup double. If Arsenal then drop points in one of their final two league games, allowing City to overtake them on points, the domestic treble — Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup — becomes possible. ESPN’s Rob Dawson predicts City 3-1, noting “City have got a settled team and are playing well. Chelsea, on the other hand, are all over the place.” The treble is the prize behind the prize today.

Confirmed Lineups: Chelsea vs Manchester City

The most notable selection news is Rodri. Guardiola confirmed he will assess the Ballon d’Or winner this morning before confirming whether he starts. Rodri has been managing a groin problem across the final weeks of the season. If he plays, City’s midfield control becomes almost unassailable. If he doesn’t, Nico Gonzalez or Phil Foden steps in from the bench. For Chelsea, the absence of summer signing Estevao Willian (knee), Jamie Gittens (hamstring), and Jesse Derry (head) limits McFarlane’s options from the bench, but the projected starting XI is as strong as the club can field right now.

How the FA Cup Final Will Be Won and Lost

Chelsea’s best-case scenario runs through Cole Palmer. The England midfielder, when in his best form, is one of the five most dangerous players in the Premier League. His relationship with Enzo Fernández — who has been outstanding in Chelsea’s FA Cup run, scoring in both the semi-final and the Liverpool draw — could give City’s midfield a technical problem in the first half if Chelsea press intelligently and use Palmer’s movement to create space between City’s defensive lines.

City’s best-case scenario runs through exactly what it always runs through: Bernardo Silva controlling the tempo, Haaland being positioned at the right moment for the ball to arrive, and the wide threats of Doku and Semenyo creating the overloads that pull defensive structures apart. City beat Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge last month. They have gone unbeaten in 13 consecutive meetings against the Blues across all competitions. The weight of that head-to-head record sits on Chelsea’s shoulders from the first minute.

The opening 20 minutes at Wembley will be the key. If City establish their rhythm early and the Haaland drought continues through the first third of the game, Chelsea’s crowd support from their fans could give them something to hold onto. If City score first — as they have done in four of their last five Wembley appearances — the final becomes an exercise in damage limitation for McFarlane’s side.

The History: Chelsea’s FA Cup Record vs City’s Wembley Dominance

How to Watch the FA Cup Final Live Today

The 2026 FA Cup final kicks off at 3:00 PM BST (10:00 AM ET) today, Saturday May 16 at Wembley Stadium in London. In the United Kingdom, it is live on BBC One and TNT Sports — making it one of the few major finals available completely free to air. BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website also stream it free. In the United States, ESPN+ carries the FA Cup final. In Australia, Optus Sport has the broadcast rights.

For fans outside the UK who can’t access BBC One, or those in the US and Australia without ESPN+ or Optus Sport, TOP IPTV STREAM carries BBC One, TNT Sports, ESPN+, and every FA Cup final broadcaster globally in HD and 4K — all in one subscription from $15 per month. With 15,000+ channels and 99.9% uptime, today’s FA Cup final, the UEFA Champions League final on May 30, and every major sport for the rest of the summer will be covered. Start a free 24-hour trial right now before 3pm BST kick-off.

FAQ: FA Cup Final 2026 — Chelsea vs Manchester City

What time is the FA Cup final 2026?

The 2026 FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City kicks off at 3:00 PM BST on Saturday May 16 at Wembley Stadium. In the United States it starts at 10:00 AM ET on ESPN+. In Australia the kick-off is at 12:00 AM AEST on Optus Sport. In the United Kingdom, the FA Cup final is broadcast free on BBC One as well as on TNT Sports, with streaming available on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website. For fans outside their home market, TOP IPTV STREAM carries BBC One, TNT Sports, and every FA Cup final broadcaster globally in HD and 4K. Start a free 24-hour trial today.

Has Erling Haaland ever scored in an FA Cup final?

No. Erling Haaland has played in nine previous finals for Manchester City across all competitions at Wembley and has scored zero goals in those appearances. His record of goallessness in major finals is one of the most extraordinary statistical anomalies in modern football, given that he has scored over 30 Premier League goals in each of his three full seasons at the club. He scored a hat-trick against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final this season at the same Wembley Stadium. Today’s FA Cup final against Chelsea is his 10th opportunity to end that record. The market still has City as heavy favourites regardless of whether Haaland scores.

What channel is the FA Cup final on in the UK?

The 2026 FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City airs live on BBC One in the United Kingdom — completely free to air, no subscription required. It is also available on TNT Sports for those with a subscription. BBC iPlayer streams it free for anyone in the UK. Coverage begins ahead of the 3:00 PM BST kick-off. The BBC’s coverage includes pre-match build-up, half-time analysis, and post-match reaction. For UK fans travelling abroad who can’t access BBC One or iPlayer due to geo-restrictions, TOP IPTV STREAM carries the BBC One feed in full HD from any location.

Who is Chelsea’s manager for the FA Cup final?

Chelsea’s interim manager Calum McFarlane takes charge of the 2026 FA Cup final against Manchester City. McFarlane, the club’s Under-21 head coach, was elevated to senior interim charge three weeks ago following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior. He has managed four matches in that period — a 1-0 FA Cup semi-final win over Leeds United and three Premier League draws. Today’s FA Cup final is his first major Wembley final as a head coach. Chelsea are still searching for a permanent manager, with Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola among the leading candidates for the role starting next season.

Are Manchester City chasing a treble in 2026?

Yes. Manchester City are in pursuit of the domestic treble in 2025-26. They won the Carabao Cup in March with a Wembley victory over Arsenal. If they win today’s FA Cup final against Chelsea, they will hold both domestic cups. The Premier League title remains mathematically possible — Arsenal lead by five points with two games remaining but City have three games left — making a full domestic treble possible if City win all their remaining league games and Arsenal drop points. The domestic treble of Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup has only been achieved once in English football history, by Arsenal in 2003.

Prediction: How the FA Cup Final Ends

Manchester City are the heavy favourites and the evidence for that is overwhelming. Thirteen consecutive meetings without defeat against Chelsea. Twenty-one wins from their last 23 FA Cup matches. The most experienced manager in the competition’s modern era facing a first-time final manager. A settled squad against a club still finding its identity under its fifth manager in four years.

But Chelsea’s FA Cup run has been more impressive than the narrative gives credit for. Twenty-one goals in five matches. Enzo Fernández in fine form. Cole Palmer capable of individual moments that can unlock any defence on his day. And the Cup is the Cup — neutral ground, 90,000 supporters, and the specific pressure of a final that makes form from the league season largely irrelevant.

The prediction here: Manchester City 2-1 Chelsea. Haaland finally breaks his Wembley final duck. Guardiola lifts the FA Cup for the fifth time. Chelsea have an Enzo Fernández moment to give the scoreline some respectability. And the conversation about whether this was Pep’s last dance at Wembley dominates the post-match discussion regardless of whether he has sworn otherwise.

Final Thoughts: Be Ready for 3pm BST

The 2026 FA Cup final is everything the oldest cup competition in world football exists to deliver. A four-time consecutive finalist seeking redemption after two straight final defeats. A club with an interim U21 coach at the helm for the biggest match of their season. A striker who has never scored in a final despite being the most prolific goal-scorer of his generation. A manager who may or may not be taking his final bow at the stadium he has made his own. It all happens in less than three hours. Be ready.

Watch the 2026 FA Cup final live in HD and 4K on TOP IPTV STREAM — BBC One, TNT Sports, ESPN+, and every FA Cup final broadcaster globally in one subscription from $15 per month. Start your free 24-hour trial right now and never miss a moment of today’s match or any of the major sporting events still to come this summer, including the Champions League final on May 30 and the FIFA World Cup kicking off on June 11.