What is the FA Cup?
The FA Cup is the oldest football competition in the world, dating back to 1871. Every club in England can enter — from the biggest Premier League teams to tiny non-league sides. It’s a straight knockout: lose once and you’re out. The final is played at Wembley Stadium in London and is one of the most iconic days in the football calendar.
Want to know more? See our FA Cup Explained page.
The 2025/26 Final: Man City 1-0 Chelsea
Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley on 16 May 2026 to win the FA Cup, completing a domestic double alongside their EFL Cup win earlier in the season.
The match was tight and tense for 70 minutes until Antoine Semenyo — who had started the season at Bournemouth before joining City in January — received a low cross from Erling Haaland and flicked it into the net with a delightful finish. It was the decisive moment in a game City controlled without ever quite looking comfortable.
For manager Pep Guardiola, it was his third FA Cup as City manager, and his 20th major trophy in 10 years at the club. He lifted the trophy knowing it would be his last piece of silverware before leaving in the summer.
Chelsea's Season in Context
Chelsea‘s FA Cup final defeat capped a miserable season in which they went through multiple managers. They had been the previous year’s FIFA Club World Cup champions but fell apart in the Premier League, finishing 10th. Liam Rosenior was sacked in April, and the club announced Xabi Alonso — the World Cup-winning Spanish midfielder who managed Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid — as the new manager from 1 July 2026.
