FA Cup

Chelsea vs Manchester City — FA Cup Final, 16 May 2026

Kick-off is at 2pm (BST) on Saturday 16 May 2026 at Wembley Stadium, London. The match is the 2025-26 Emirates FA Cup Final. Wembley holds around 90,000 for football, making it the largest single-match occasion in the English domestic calendar.

Can you still get tickets?

Both clubs distributed their allocations through season ticket holders and members first. Official allocations are sold out. Your realistic option now is the secondary market — verified resale platforms with buyer protection. Prices on resale typically run well above face value for a Wembley final, and they tend to rise as the date approaches, so buying earlier is usually cheaper than waiting.

Club Wembley hospitality packages are also available, with some experiences at upwards of £4,000 per person. If you want a premium seat with hospitality included, that's the official route through Wembley's own site.

When buying on the secondary market, check that the platform offers a buyer-guarantee policy and that tickets are listed as mobile or print-at-home transfers. Avoid private sales on social media — there's no recourse if something goes wrong.

Getting to Wembley

• Wembley Park (Metropolitan and Jubilee lines) is the closest tube station, roughly a 10-minute walk to the stadium.
• Wembley Central (Bakerloo line and London Overground) is a slightly longer walk but often less crowded after the match.
• Marylebone station runs direct rail services to Wembley Stadium station, which sits right next to the ground.
• Driving is not recommended — parking near the stadium is extremely limited on final day and road closures are common.
• Arrive at least 90 minutes before kick-off. Turnstile queues for a full Wembley build up quickly from about 12:30pm.

You won't need to print a ticket if it's a mobile transfer — just make sure your phone is charged. Wembley does not allow large bags (over 25cm x 30cm), so travel light.

Form and head-to-head

Manchester City beat Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on 12 April 2026 in the Premier League. Before that, the two drew 1-1 at the Etihad in January 2026. City have won four of the last five competitive meetings, with one draw.

Chelsea reached the final by beating Leeds United 1-0 in the semi-final on 26 April 2026. Enzo Fernandez scored, turning in a Pedro Neto cross. Robert Sanchez made several important saves to hold the lead. It's Chelsea's 17th FA Cup Final appearance and their sixth in ten seasons.

Manchester City are aiming to win the competition for a fourth consecutive year. Chelsea are looking for their first major trophy under their current project.

What to expect on the day

Wembley's food and drink options are spread across multiple concourse levels. Queues get long in the 30 minutes before kick-off, so sort that out early. The club ends are usually allocated with Chelsea at the tunnel end and Manchester City at the opposite end — check your ticket for your specific block.

If you're travelling from outside London, same-day trains back after a 2pm kick-off are manageable. The final whistle typically falls around 4pm, and most mainline services run late into the evening.