The Emirates FA Cup semi-finals take place on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 April 2026 at Wembley Stadium, with four clubs competing for a place in the showpiece final. Southampton, Chelsea, Manchester City, and the winner of the West Ham United vs Leeds United quarter-final will contest the two semi-final ties, following a draw conducted on 5 April 2026. The semi-finals promise compelling storylines, from Championship side Southampton’s remarkable giant-killing run to Manchester City’s pursuit of a record-extending FA Cup triumph.
What Are the FA Cup Semi-Finals?
The FA Cup semi-finals represent the penultimate stage of the world’s oldest knockout football competition. First contested in 1871-72, the Emirates FA Cup remains one of the most prestigious domestic cup tournaments in global football, famed for its capacity to produce upsets and underdog stories. The semi-finals reduce the field from four to two, with each tie played as a single match at a neutral venue. Extra time and penalties are used to decide drawn matches, with no replays at this stage of the competition.
The 2025-26 edition has already delivered memorable moments. Southampton, currently competing in the Championship, stunned Premier League leaders Arsenal 2-1 in the quarter-finals at St Mary’s, with Shea Charles scoring a dramatic late winner. Chelsea dispatched Port Vale 7-0 at Stamford Bridge, while Manchester City swept aside Liverpool 4-0, inspired by an Erling Haaland hat-trick. The fourth semi-finalist will be the winner of West Ham United vs Leeds United, with that quarter-final concluding on 5 April.
When Are the FA Cup Semi-Finals?
The two semi-final matches are scheduled across the final weekend of April 2026:
- Semi-Final 1: Saturday 25 April 2026, with a 5:30pm BST kick-off expected
- Semi-Final 2: Sunday 26 April 2026, kick-off time to be confirmed
Exact kick-off times and the allocation of fixtures to each day will be confirmed by The Football Association following the semi-final draw. Broadcast scheduling typically determines which match is played on Saturday evening and which takes the Sunday slot.
Where Are the FA Cup Semi-Finals?
Both semi-finals will be held at Wembley Stadium, the 90,000-capacity home of English football in north-west London. The new Wembley, which opened in 2007, has hosted every FA Cup semi-final since the 2007-08 season, a move that initially drew criticism from traditionalists who felt the venue should be reserved exclusively for the final. The decision has since become an established part of the competition’s fabric.
Wembley’s iconic arch, spanning 315 metres across the stadium roof, has become synonymous with the biggest occasions in English football. The ground features a natural grass pitch and a fully enclosed bowl design that generates an intense atmosphere. The highest attendance for an FA Cup semi-final at the new Wembley stands at 88,141, set during Everton’s penalty shootout victory over Manchester United in April 2009. Semi-final attendances typically range from 75,000 to 87,000, depending on the clubs involved and their respective allocations.
Key Contenders
Manchester City enter the semi-finals as strong favourites. Pep Guardiola’s side demolished Liverpool 4-0 in the quarter-finals, with Erling Haaland continuing his prolific scoring form with a hat-trick. City are seeking to reach a fourth FA Cup final in five years and will be determined to reclaim the trophy after their shock defeat to Crystal Palace in the 2025 final.
Chelsea signalled their intent with a ruthless 7-0 dismantling of Port Vale. The Blues have won the FA Cup eight times and will fancy their chances of adding a ninth. Their squad depth and attacking firepower make them dangerous opponents for any side remaining in the competition.
Southampton are the story of this year’s FA Cup. Playing in the Championship, the Saints have already eliminated Premier League leaders Arsenal, with Ross Stewart and Shea Charles scoring in a memorable 2-1 quarter-final victory. Their run echoes the great FA Cup traditions of lower-division sides defying the odds, and Southampton fans will descend on Wembley dreaming of replicating their famous 1976 FA Cup triumph, when they defeated Manchester United as a second-tier club.
West Ham United or Leeds United will complete the semi-final line-up following their quarter-final meeting on 5 April. Both sides bring FA Cup pedigree, with West Ham winners in 1964, 1975, and 1980, while Leeds last lifted the trophy in 1972.
Crystal Palace are the defending FA Cup holders after their historic 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the 2025 final, courtesy of Eberechi Eze’s first-half strike, but the Eagles were eliminated in an earlier round this season.
How to Watch
The FA Cup semi-finals will be broadcast live across multiple platforms in the United Kingdom and internationally:
United Kingdom: The BBC will broadcast one semi-final live, free-to-air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The second semi-final will be shown live on TNT Sports, available via TNT Sports subscriptions and the discovery+ streaming platform. BBC coverage of the FA Cup forms part of a renewed deal with TNT Sports to maintain free-to-air access to the competition. ITV no longer holds FA Cup broadcast rights.
United States: ESPN holds exclusive US broadcasting rights for the FA Cup through the 2027-28 season. Both semi-finals will be available to stream on ESPN+, with selected matches also airing on ESPN’s linear television channels.
Rest of World: International broadcast partners vary by region. DAZN carries the FA Cup in several European and Asian markets. In Australia, Paramount+ holds the rights. Fans should check local listings or the FA’s official website for territory-specific broadcast information.
History and Records
The FA Cup semi-finals have been a fixture of the English football calendar since the 1871-72 season. For much of the competition’s history, semi-finals were played at neutral club grounds across the country, with Villa Park hosting a record 55 semi-final matches, followed by Hillsborough with 34 and Old Trafford with 22.
The shift to Wembley began tentatively in 1991, when the North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur became the first semi-final played at the old Wembley. From the 2007-08 season onwards, the new Wembley has hosted all semi-finals. Portsmouth’s 1-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion in April 2008 was the first semi-final played at the rebuilt stadium. Since then, the venue has staged some memorable encounters, including Stoke City’s record-breaking 5-0 demolition of Bolton Wanderers in 2011, the largest winning margin in a Wembley semi-final since 1939.
Arsenal hold the record for the most FA Cup triumphs with 14 titles, followed by Manchester United with 13. Among this year’s semi-finalists, Manchester City have lifted the trophy seven times and Chelsea eight times. Southampton’s sole FA Cup triumph came in 1976, making their current run all the more significant for a club with a deep connection to the romance of the competition.
Tickets and Attendance
FA Cup semi-final tickets are distributed primarily through the competing clubs. Each club typically receives an allocation of approximately 30,000 tickets, with the remaining seats allocated to FA members, sponsors, and hospitality guests. Tickets are sold via each club’s official ticketing platform, with priority given to season ticket holders and members. Prices for standard seats generally range from £45 to £80 at face value.
Hospitality packages at Wembley for the semi-finals are available through official providers and typically include premium seating, food and drink, and matchday entertainment. Prices for hospitality start from several hundred pounds per person. Wembley’s Club Wembley membership programme, which guarantees seats for all major events at the stadium, costs between £2,730 and £13,458 annually.
Given the profile of the clubs involved this season, both semi-finals are expected to attract large crowds. Fans are advised to purchase through official channels only, as The FA and the competing clubs warn against buying from unauthorised secondary ticket platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the FA Cup semi-finals take place?
The semi-finals are on Saturday 25 April and Sunday 26 April 2026. Kick-off times will be confirmed following the draw.
Where are the FA Cup semi-finals being held?
Both matches take place at Wembley Stadium in London, which has hosted every FA Cup semi-final since the 2007-08 season.
How can I watch the FA Cup semi-finals?
In the UK, one semi-final is live on BBC One (free-to-air) and the other on TNT Sports. In the US, both matches are available on ESPN+. International coverage varies by region.
Which teams are in the FA Cup semi-finals?
Southampton, Chelsea, Manchester City, and the winner of West Ham United vs Leeds United. The semi-final draw was conducted on 5 April 2026 to determine the two fixtures.
Who won the FA Cup last year?
Crystal Palace won their first ever FA Cup in 2025, beating Manchester City 1-0 in the final at Wembley thanks to a goal from Eberechi Eze.