Chelsea vs Manchester City: FA Cup Final Preview, Team News & Prediction

The final of the 2025/26 FA Cup takes center stage at Wembley Stadium today as Chelsea battle Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are chasing the second leg of a potential domestic treble, having already secured the Carabao Cup. After surviving a scare against Southampton in the semi-finals, City face a Chelsea side looking for redemption. Under interim head coach Calum McFarlane, the Blues advanced to the final by beating Leeds United 1-0 and hope to hand City a third consecutive FA Cup final defeat.

Match Logistics & TV Coverage

Feature	Details
Competition	FA Cup Final
Date	Saturday, May 16, 2026
Kick-off	3:00 PM BST
Venue	Wembley Stadium, London
TV (UK)	BBC One (Free-to-air from 1:00 PM) / TNT Sports 1 (From 9:00 AM)
Live Stream (UK)	BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app / HBO Max app & website

Team News: Key Returns for Both Sides

Chelsea:

Goalkeeper Boost: Robert Sanchez is confirmed fit and available to return to the starting XI after recovering from a head injury sustained against Nottingham Forest.
Injury Blow: Talented Brazilian youngster Estevão is out for the rest of the season and the upcoming World Cup due to a severe hamstring injury.
Squad Returns: Captain Reece James has recovered from a hamstring problem and could lead the team out, while Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto are expected to be available following minor knocks.
Sidelined: Jamie Gittens and Jesse Derry remain out.

Manchester City:

Rodri Watch: Midfielder Rodri is a major doubt after missing the last five games with a groin issue, though he has returned to light training.
Fresh Stars: Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki, and Jeremy Doku are all expected to return to the starting lineup after being rested in midweek against Crystal Palace.
Cup Keeper: James Trafford is slated to start between the posts for the final.

Head-to-Head (H2H) & Match Odds

This Season: City took four points out of six from Chelsea in their Premier League encounters.
All-Time Record: Chelsea (71 wins), Manchester City (69 wins), Draws (42).
Match Odds (To Lift the Trophy via Betfair):
- Manchester City: 4/11
- Chelsea: 21/10

Match Prediction

While Manchester City recently dropped points against Everton in a tight Premier League title race, their attacking efficiency remains devastating. Chelsea have shown noticeable improvement under McFarlane—grinding out results against Leeds and Liverpool—and thrive in the underdog role. However, City’s motivation to avoid a third straight FA Cup final loss, combined with a well-rested Haaland, should give them the edge to secure the trophy.

Predicted Score: Manchester City 2-1 Chelsea