Chelsea F.C. and Manchester City F.C. meet at Wembley Stadium today in the 2026 FA Cup final, with both clubs carrying enormous pressure into one of the biggest matches of the English football season.
Chelsea arrive at Wembley under interim manager Calum McFarlane following the departure of Liam Rosenior a few weeks ago. McFarlane, previously part of Chelsea’s academy setup, has unexpectedly guided the club to the FA Cup final during a turbulent period behind the scenes.
Despite the instability, Chelsea have managed to produce several important cup performances on their route to Wembley.
The Blues defeated Leeds United 1–0 in the semi-final thanks to an Enzo Fernández goal, while goalkeeper Robert Sánchez produced key saves to preserve the victory. Chelsea’s run to the final also included wins against Charlton Athletic, Hull City, Wrexham, and Port Vale.
Still, concerns surrounding Chelsea remain significant.
The London club are currently enduring poor domestic form and have struggled badly defensively in recent weeks. Multiple reports note that Chelsea have failed to win several major matches late in the season, while uncertainty around the managerial position continues dominating discussion around the club.
Reports from England suggest Chelsea are already preparing to appoint Xabi Alonso as their next permanent manager shortly after the final, increasing the sense that today’s match could mark the end of another short-lived era at Stamford Bridge.
Manchester City, meanwhile, arrive at Wembley chasing more history under Pep Guardiola.
City have become the first club in English football history to reach four consecutive FA Cup finals, underlining the extraordinary consistency Guardiola has maintained during his time at the Etihad Stadium.
Although City lost the previous two finals against Manchester United and Crystal Palace respectively, they enter today’s match as clear favorites after another strong season domestically. Guardiola’s side have already lifted the League Cup and remain firmly involved in the Premier League title race alongside Arsenal.
The City manager admitted before the final that preparation time has been limited because of the club’s packed fixture schedule.
Pep Guardiola has made a total of five changes to the Citizens side that beat Crystal Palace 3-0 in the Premier League on Wednesday, boosted by the return of Rodri who has missed the last five games with a groin issue.
Goalkeeper James Trafford, Nico O'Reilly, Jeremy Doku and Erling Haaland are also brought in to the first XI, while Gianluigi Donnarumma, Savinho, Phil Foden, Josko Gvardiol and Rayan Ait-Nouri all make way – the latter two are not even in the matchday squad.
O’Reilly, who scored a brace in Man City’s EFL Cup final triumph in March, is recalled to play at left-back, joining Marc Guehi, Abdukodir Khusanov and Matheus Nunes in a four-man defence.
Rodri will link up in centre-midfield with captain Bernardo Silva, while Omar Marmoush retains his starting spot and is set to operate in a central attacking role behind central striker Haaland, who is hoping to score in his first final for City at the 10th time of asking.
In-form Doku returns to start on the left flank as Antoine Semenyo continues on the right wing, but playmakers Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden will begin as substitutes.
There is no place in City’s squad for Nico Gonzalez, who was also absent against Crystal Palace having previously scored a late long-range winner in the semi-finals against Southampton.
As for Chelsea, interim head coach Calum McFarlane has made just two changes to the team that played out a 1-1 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League last weekend.
Robert Sanchez is fit to start in goal at the expense of Filip Jorgensen after recovering from a head injury, while captain Reece James has replaced Andrey Santos and is set to begin as a central midfielder alongside Moises Caicedo.
Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Jorrel Hato all retain their starting spots in defence, while Marc Cucurella is expected to operate in an advanced left-flank position after impressing in the same role at Anfield last time out.
Former Man City youngster Cole Palmer is set to continue on the right side of attack as Enzo Fernandez - the semi-final hero against Leeds United - starts in a central role behind 20-goal striker Joao Pedro.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have been boosted by the news that Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho have both recovered from muscle problems to be selected as substitutes this afternoon, though there is no place in the squad for Romeo Lavia.
Chelsea starting lineup: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Hato; James, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Cucurella; Pedro
Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Tosin, Chalobah, Essugo, Andrey Santos, Neto, Garnacho, Delap
Manchester City starting lineup: Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodri, Bernardo, Semenyo, Marmoush, Doku; Haaland
Subs: Donnarumma, Dias, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Kovacic, Cherki, Savinho, Foden
