The draw for the 2025-26 FA Cup semi-finals has been confirmed. Following the upset against Arsenal, Southampton will be rewarded with a showdown with Manchester City at Wembley Stadium later this month. Josep Guardiola’s side have appeared in the last three FA Cup finals, but have won just one, losing the last two in a row.
In the other semi-final, eight-time champions Chelsea, who have not won the competition since 2018, will face Leeds United in a grudge match. Los Blancos defeated West Ham on penalties to reach the semi-finals for the first time in 39 years, and the two clubs rekindle their heated rivalry under the iconic arches of the National Stadium.
City beat Premier League rivals Liverpool 4-0 on Saturday to book their place in the last four. A hat-trick from Erling Haaland and a chip from Antoine Semenyo sent the Reds into a clash at the Etihad Stadium.
City have finished runners-up in each of the past two seasons and are looking to play in their fourth successive FA Cup final since last lifting the iconic trophy in 2023.
Chelsea have also lost the last three finals since winning the title in 2018, but reached the semi-finals with a 7-0 win over League One strugglers Port Vale. Six different Blues got on the scoresheet in a one-sided game.
Later that day, Southampton overpowered Premier League leaders Arsenal at St Mary’s with Shay Charles scoring the winner in the 85th minute. Victor Gyokeres had canceled out Ross Stewart’s opener before Charles secured a complete upset of the Championship Saints.
In the final quarter-final, Leeds reached the semi-finals for the first time since 1987 in dramatic fashion at the London Stadium. Tanaka’ao’s finish and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s penalty gave the Whites the lead going into the final moments.
However, after 11 minutes of stoppage time, Matheus Fernandes halved the deficit in the 93rd minute and Axel DiSasi leveled the score in the 97th minute, sparking an eventful scene.
West Ham’s Tati Castellanos had two goals ruled out for offside in extra time, but errors by Jarrod Bowen and Pablo saw Leeds win 4-2 on penalties.
