England’s oldest football competition reaches its climax this spring, with the Emirates FA Cup final just two weeks away. The tournament, which began its “proper” rounds on October 31 2025, has worked its way through qualifying and knockout stages to arrive at a blockbuster showdown between two Premier League giants. Whether you’re checking scores, tracking your team’s path, or planning where to watch on TV, here’s everything you need to know about the current state of the competition.
Full Name: Football Association Challenge Cup ·
Sponsor: Emirates ·
Format: Annual knockout ·
Organizer: The Football Association ·
Final Date: Saturday 16 May
Quick snapshot
- Chelsea vs Manchester City final confirmed for May 16 2026 (The Football Association)
- Final kicks off at 3.00pm at Wembley Stadium (Sky Sports)
- No games scheduled May 4 2026 — final is May 16 (The Football Association)
- Exact broadcast schedule for non-final matches
- Confirmed player lineups for Chelsea vs Manchester City final
- Whether Chelsea reached final via Leeds United match — sources differ on timing
- FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on May 16 2026
- Live coverage on TNT Sports 1, BBC One, iPlayer, and HBO Max
- Real-time scores and updates available at thefa.com
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Competition Name | Emirates FA Cup |
| Official Site | www.thefa.com/competitions/thefacup |
| Live Scores | BBC Sport and Sky Sports |
| Final Venue | Wembley Stadium |
| Final Date | May 16 2026 |
| Final Kick Off | 3.00pm |
FA Cup matches today
For those checking on May 4 2026, there are no Emirates FA Cup games scheduled today — the tournament is in a lull between the semi-finals and the grand finale. According to the official fixture calendar maintained by The Football Association (official governing body), all eyes now turn to the May 16 final at Wembley Stadium. The “proper” rounds, which mark when bigger clubs enter the competition alongside qualifiers, began on October 31 2025, with the draw and fixture list managed through the official FA channels.
Upcoming fixtures
The standout fixture on the horizon is the final itself: Chelsea versus Manchester City on Saturday May 16 2026 at Wembley Stadium, kicking off at 3.00pm. Sky Sports (sports broadcaster) has confirmed this fixture in their official schedule. Reports from LiveScore (live scores provider) indicate Chelsea may have progressed through a match against Leeds United to reach the final, though the exact timing of that result varies across sources.
The final date of May 16 2026 is confirmed by The Football Association. One source — Goal.com — listed May 15, which appears to be an error; the governing body’s official schedule should be treated as the authoritative source.
Live updates
For real-time updates throughout the tournament, The Football Association (official live scores service) provides the most direct path to official match data. Additional coverage comes from Flashscore (real-time scores and fixtures), which aggregates results, standings, and head-to-head comparisons. Both platforms offer the kind of authoritative, up-to-the-minute information that makes checking scores straightforward.
FA Cup results
As the tournament has moved through its later stages, several results have shaped the quarterfinal picture. ESPN (sports broadcaster and news outlet) has been tracking the outcomes closely, providing match reports and analysis for each fixture.
Latest match outcomes
In one of the more dramatic quarterfinal encounters, Brighton beat Newcastle United 2-1 in extra time, with Danny Welbeck scoring deep into the additional period to send Brighton into the next round. Both teams finished with 10 men after red cards. ESPN (sports reporter) captured the moment, noting it was a game that showcased the FA Cup’s capacity for late drama even at the highest levels.
Crystal Palace advanced with a 3-1 victory over Millwall, though the match was marred by a facial injury to Jean-Philippe Mateta after a collision with Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts. ESPN (sports news coverage) reported that Mateta was discharged from hospital following the incident, and the game drew attention to player safety discussions within the competition.
Danny Welbeck scored deep into extra time to send Brighton into the FA Cup quarterfinals with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Newcastle United.
— ESPN (sports reporter covering FA Cup)
Qualifying rounds results
Aston Villa reached the quarterfinals for the first time in 10 years after a 2-0 win over Cardiff City, with Marco Asensio scoring both goals. ESPN (match analysis) noted this as a significant milestone for a club that had not advanced to the quarterfinals in a decade. Manchester United also progressed past Fulham in a fifth-round match at Old Trafford on Sunday evening, per ESPN (fixtures coverage).
For clubs like Aston Villa, reaching the quarterfinals after a decade away carries more than just prestige — it signals a shift in competitive ambition that the FA Cup format is designed to surface.
FA Cup table
The FA Cup operates as a straight knockout competition rather than a traditional league table, but Flashscore (real-time scores and standings) tracks progression through each round to show where teams stand in the tournament tree. Sky Sports (monthly schedule and scores) also provides a round-by-round view of fixtures and results.
Current standings
With the final set between Chelsea and Manchester City, the tournament tree has effectively narrowed to two remaining clubs. Goal.com (fixtures and results tracker) confirms this positioning, with both clubs having navigated through their respective rounds to reach Wembley.
Round progression
The progression from earlier rounds saw significant clubs enter at the third-round stage, when Premier League teams typically join the competition. LiveScore (comprehensive results tracker) documents this flow, showing how clubs like Brighton and Aston Villa advanced through each round before reaching the quarterfinals.
FA Cup matches today on TV
For viewers in the UK, the final on May 16 2026 will be broadcast live across multiple platforms. The Football Association (official broadcaster listing) has confirmed live coverage on TNT Sports 1, BBC One, and iPlayer, with Sky Sports (TV schedule publisher) also confirming the fixture. International viewers in the US can access coverage through HBO Max and Flashscore USA (real-time scores).
Broadcast schedule
The final fixture — Chelsea vs Manchester City on May 16 at 3.00pm — will be the primary broadcast event. According to The Football Association (official fixture publisher), no other FA Cup matches are scheduled for May 4, so the current TV focus is entirely on the buildup to Wembley.
Streaming options
Beyond traditional TV, ESPN (streaming and live coverage) offers digital access alongside LiveScore (highlights and commentary), which provides in-game updates for those unable to watch live. The FA’s own platform at thefa.com remains the definitive source for official match information.
The availability of multiple broadcast options — from free-to-air BBC One to subscription platforms — reflects the FA’s strategy of maximizing viewership while maintaining commercial partnerships through TNT Sports and Sky Sports.
Man Utd FA Cup fixtures today
Manchester United remain active in the FA Cup conversation, having hosted Fulham in a fifth-round match at Old Trafford on a Sunday evening, as reported by ESPN (fixtures and match coverage). While the club has not reached the final — that spot belongs to Chelsea and Manchester City — United’s progress through the rounds demonstrates continued interest in the competition among Premier League clubs.
Manchester United schedule
The exact path and results for Manchester United beyond the fifth round would be visible through Flashscore (fixtures and results) and Sky Sports (scores and schedule). ESPN (comprehensive match news) provides the most detailed coverage of United’s FA Cup run, including team news, referee appointments, and potential injury concerns heading into subsequent rounds.
Team-specific results
For fans tracking Manchester United specifically, Goal.com (fixtures and match results) allows filtering by team, making it easier to follow a single club’s journey through the tournament. The same functionality is available on Flashscore (team-specific tracking).
Timeline
Proper rounds begin — bigger clubs enter the competition
LiveScore
Fifth round matches — Crystal Palace vs Millwall (3-1), Aston Villa vs Cardiff (2-0), Manchester United vs Fulham
ESPN
Quarterfinal: Brighton beat Newcastle United 2-1 in extra time
ESPN
Chelsea vs Leeds United — sources indicate Chelsea progression to final
LiveScore
Final: Chelsea vs Manchester City at Wembley Stadium — 3.00pm kick off
The Football Association
Confirmed
- FA Cup final is May 16 2026 at Wembley Stadium
- Chelsea vs Manchester City — confirmed by The Football Association
- Final kick off at 3.00pm
- Live on TNT Sports 1, BBC One, iPlayer, HBO Max
- Brighton beat Newcastle 2-1 in quarterfinal
- Crystal Palace beat Millwall 3-1
- Aston Villa beat Cardiff 2-0
- Proper rounds started October 31 2025
- No FA Cup games scheduled for May 4 2026
- Mateta discharged from hospital after Millwall injury
Unconfirmed
- Exact player lineups for final — unavailable until closer to match day
- Precise path details for Chelsea reaching final — sources indicate Leeds United match but timing unclear
- Broadcast details for non-final matches in current period
- Minor date discrepancy: Goal.com listed final as May 15 vs May 16 — likely error
The ‘proper’ rounds, when bigger clubs join, started on October 31st, 2025, with the final match scheduled for May 16th, 2026, at Wembley Stadium.
— LiveScore (live scores provider documenting tournament timeline)
The FA Cup’s format means that for a few weeks each spring, clubs at every level of English football compete for the same prize. Whether it’s Premier League giants at Wembley or semi-professional clubs in qualifying rounds, the knockout structure keeps every match consequential.
The path to the final has been anything but quiet. From Brighton’s extra-time drama against Newcastle to Aston Villa’s milestone quarterfinal appearance after a decade away, the 2025/26 competition has delivered the kind of storylines the FA Cup was built to create. The May 16 final at Wembley — Chelsea versus Manchester City at 3.00pm — represents the tournament’s highest stage, with coverage available across major UK broadcasters and streaming platforms.
What is the FA Cup?
The FA Cup — short for Football Association Challenge Cup — is England’s oldest and most prestigious national football competition. Open to clubs at all levels of English football, it operates as a single-elimination knockout tournament. The competition is organized by The Football Association, with the current sponsor being Emirates.
How many rounds are in the FA Cup?
The FA Cup typically features eight knockout rounds: four qualifying rounds followed by the first round proper, second round proper, third round (when Premier League and Championship clubs enter), fourth round, fifth round, quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final. The “proper” rounds — when bigger clubs join — begin in October.
When is the FA Cup final?
The FA Cup final for the 2025/26 season is scheduled for Saturday May 16 2026 at Wembley Stadium. The match between Chelsea and Manchester City kicks off at 3.00pm and will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1, BBC One, iPlayer, and HBO Max.
Which teams qualify for the FA Cup?
All clubs in the English football pyramid are eligible to enter the FA Cup, starting with qualifying rounds where lower-league teams compete for spots in the “proper” rounds. Premier League and Championship clubs enter at the third round proper, alongside the top-performing lower-division clubs.
What is the difference between FA Cup and Carabao Cup?
The FA Cup is the older and more prestigious competition, organized by The Football Association and open to all levels of English football. The Carabao Cup (formerly EFL Cup) is organized by the English Football League and only includes clubs from the Premier League and Championship divisions. The FA Cup carries greater historical significance.
Where can I buy FA Cup tickets?
Tickets for FA Cup matches, including the final at Wembley Stadium, are typically available through the competing clubs’ websites and the official FA ticketing platform. The Football Association manages final ticket allocation, with a portion reserved for each finalist club and the remainder sold through general ballot.
Who are the FA Cup winners history?
Arsenal holds the record for most FA Cup wins with 14 titles. Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea are among the most successful clubs in the competition’s history. For the 2025/26 season, the final will be contested between Chelsea and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium.
For fans of either Chelsea or Manchester City, the decision ahead is straightforward: tune in to BBC One, TNT Sports 1, or stream via iPlayer on May 16, or miss one of the season’s defining matches. For neutral viewers, the Wembley showdown offers a clash between two clubs with contrasting styles and ambitions — making it appointment viewing regardless of which side you support.
Related reading: 2025 Melbourne Cup Field: Runners, Jockeys, Barriers & Results
Broadcasters like BBC, TNT Sports, and ITV dominate the FA Cup TV schedule for the 2025/26 season’s key matches and live updates.
Priya Mitchell leads fact-checking, source verification and corrections at Oz Monitorly.