The FA Cup, which is the oldest football competition in the world, brings together teams from all levels of English football in a thrilling knockout format. The 2025–26 edition was the 145th time the competition had been held.

That tournament began with qualifying rounds on 1 August 2025, with the proper competition (involving 124 teams) starting on 31 October 2025. Crystal Palace entered as the defending champions, having beaten Manchester City in the 2025 Final for their first FA Cup title, but they were eliminated in the third round by sixth-tier National League North side Macclesfield.

The 2026 FA Cup Final took place on 16 May at Wembley Stadium, London. Manchester City won it for the eighth time, defeating Chelsea 1‑0 to complete the domestic cup double.

Quarter-finals

The quarter-finals were played across the weekend of 4–5 April 2026.

Home Score Away
Manchester City 4–0 Liverpool

Chelsea

 7–0

Port Vale
Southampton 2–1 Arsenal
West Ham United 2–2 (2–4 pens) Leeds United

An Erling Haaland hat-trick and a goal from Antoine Semenyo saw Manchester City brush aside eight-time winners Liverpool. Chelsea recorded their largest FA Cup win since 2011 with a 7–0 rout of League One side Port Vale. Southampton produced a shock, beating Arsenal 2–1 at St Mary's, while Leeds United reached the last four for the first time in 39 years, edging West Ham 4–2 on penalties after a dramatic 2–2 draw at the London Stadium.

Semi-finals

Both semi-finals were played at Wembley Stadium on 25–26 April 2026.

Team 1 Score Team 2
Manchester City 2–1 Southampton
Chelsea 1–0 Leeds United

Manchester City came from behind to beat Championship side Southampton 2–1, with goals from Jérémy Doku and Nico González cancelling out Finn Azaz's opener, reaching a record fourth consecutive final. Chelsea overcame Leeds United 1–0 thanks to a lone strike from Enzo Fernández.

The Final

The 2026 FA Cup Final was played at Wembley Stadium on 16 May 2026.

Team 1 Score Team 2
Manchester City 1–0 Chelsea

In a tight and tense final, Manchester City won the only major trophy of the day through a moment of magic from Antoine Semenyo, who flicked home Erling Haaland's low cross in the 72nd minute. The 1–0 victory gave City their eighth FA Cup title and a fourth consecutive final appearance, completing the domestic cup double after also winning the 2026 EFL Cup.