The FA Cup 2025-26 final heads to Wembley Stadium on Saturday, May 16, with the semi-finals scheduled for April 25-26. Manchester City and Chelsea emerge as the dominant forces in the outright winner market, while surprise packages Southampton and Leeds United remain live outsiders. Defending champions Crystal Palace were eliminated in the third round. The tournament showcases the best of English football competing for the country’s most historic domestic trophy, with the final broadcast live on BBC and TNT Sports.
Event Preview
Manchester City hold commanding favourites status, reflecting their strong run to the semi-finals. Pep Guardiola’s side defeated Liverpool 4-0 in the quarter-finals and face Southampton in the semi-final on April 25 at Wembley.
Chelsea occupy second place in the outright winner market. The Blues produced a dominant 7-0 quarter-final victory over League One side Port Vale and face Leeds United in their semi-final on April 26. Chelsea’s clinical finishing and recent form make them genuine contenders to reach the final.
Southampton pulled off a shock 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the quarter-finals and now face Manchester City in the semi-final. Despite their long-odds status, Southampton’s run demonstrates cup football’s unpredictability. Leeds United similarly impressed, beating West Ham on penalties, and head into their Chelsea semi-final as underdogs.
Crystal Palace, the defending champions who claimed a historic 1-0 victory over Manchester City in last season’s final thanks to Eberechi Eze’s first-half goal, were eliminated in the third round by sixth-tier Macclesfield. Liverpool’s early exit following their 4-0 quarter-final defeat to City, and Arsenal’s elimination by Southampton, have removed two other heavyweight contenders from the competition.
FA Cup Winner Betting Odds
| Team | BC.Game | 20bet | Melbet |
| Manchester City | 1.53 | 5.50 | 1.53 |
| Chelsea | 4.00 | 4.50 | 4.00 |
| Leeds United | 11.00 | 21.00 | 11.00 |
| Southampton | 26.00 | 126.00 | 26.00 |
Start Time
The FA Cup Final kicks off at 4:30pm BST on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Wembley Stadium. The match is broadcast live on BBC One and TNT Sports in the United Kingdom.
- Central European Summer Time (CEST): 5:30pm
- Eastern Daylight Time (EDT): 11:30am
- Pacific Daylight Time (PDT): 8:30am
- India Standard Time (IST): 9:00pm
- Australia Eastern Standard Time (AEST): 1:30am (May 17)
Manchester City enter Wembley as firm favourites following their semi-final victory over Southampton, while Chelsea’s pedigree and cup record make them genuine contenders. Track the latest odds and team news closely before placing your outright winner bets. Follow TipsGG for comprehensive event previews, live odds comparisons, and expert betting insights throughout the FA Cup 2025-26 campaign.