We are here with our 2026 FA Cup Final Preview and predictions, as Chelsea will be facing Pep Guardiola's Manchester City at Wembley in a blockbuster clash on Saturday, May 16, 2026. The 2026 FA Cup Final brings together two English football giants as Chelsea and Manchester City prepare for a high-stakes clash at the end of a dramatic season. With silverware, pride, and momentum on the line, both teams enter the final carrying strong hopes, tactical intrigue, and star power. The occasion promises an intense battle between two sides aiming to finish their campaign on a memorable note.
Chelsea Team News
Chelsea will head into the FA Cup final without rising Brazilian star Estevao, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season after picking up a hamstring injury during the defeat against Manchester United. Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez remains a concern following a heavy collision earlier this month, and his fitness will be checked closer to kickoff.
There is better news for Chelsea in attack, with Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto expected to return after missing recent matches through minor injuries. Club captain Reece James has also recovered from his hamstring problem and could lead the team at Wembley.
Manchester City Team News
Manchester City have very few injury concerns ahead of the final. Rodri is the only major doubt as he continues to recover from a groin issue. Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki, and Jeremy Doku are all likely to return to the starting XI after being rested recently, while James Trafford is expected to start in goal ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Predicted Lineups
Chelsea Predicted XI
Jorgensen; Reece James, Colwill, Hato, Chalobah; Santos, Caicedo, Cucurella; Fernandez, Palmer, Pedro.
Manchester City Predicted XI
Trafford; O’Reilly, Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi; Silva, Gonzalez, Cherki; Semenyo, Doku, Haaland.
Head-to-Head Record (H2H)
Recent meetings between Chelsea and Manchester City have been closely contested, with City taking four points from a possible six in their two Premier League encounters this season. Their overall rivalry remains remarkably balanced, reflecting years of competitive battles between two of English football’s biggest clubs.
Chelsea wins: 71
Manchester City wins: 69
Draws: 42
Date, Kick-off Time and Venue
Chelsea vs Manchester City is set to kick off at 3pm BST/7:30pm IST on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
The FA Cup final will be played at Wembley Stadium in London.
Chelsea vs Manchester City Match Prediction
If you purely look at the form of both the teams in the Premier League, Chelsea have been on a shockingly poor run while Manchester City have been quite dominant. On the sole basis of form, City should be absolutely destroying Chelsea in this game. One of the most shocking facts about Chelsea's horrible form is that they have failed to win in their last 7 league appearances. That is simply unbelievable for a side who were in a title race during an early phase of the season and was also guaranteed to qualify for the Champions League. Now they look unlikely to qualify for the Champions League, and might miss out on Europe altogether if they continue their poor form in the league. In short, they are a club in crisis at the moment.
Manchester City, on the other hand, are in great form in comparison, and recently just won 3-0 against Oliver Glasner's Crystal Palace in the Premier League despite Pep Guardiola playing a weaker side with several star players rested. The likes of Erling Haaland, Nico O'Reilly, and Jeremie Doku are in excellent form as well at the moment. Thus, all signs point towards an easy win for Pep Guardiola's side here.
One of the few positives for Chelsea is that Reece James might return for this game, and he's not only one of their best players, but also a rare leader in their side who could inspire them to victory. Additionally, a look back at football history will show us form necessarily doesn't matter when it comes to clashes between big sides and results could go in either way. This game is also a do or die fixture for Chelsea, as winning the FA Cup will also give them a route to the Europa League, which would be massive in their current circumstances. Overall, It's advantage Pep Guardiola's Man City, but don't completely rule Chelsea out from claiming a shock victory.
2026 FA Cup Final Predicted Score: Chelsea 1-4 Manchester City
