Evening Standard
·23 April 2026
Chelsea vs Leeds: FA Cup prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h results, odds

In partnership with
Yahoo sportsEvening Standard
·23 April 2026

Interim head coach Calum McFarlane returns to Blues dugout with place in FA Cup final up for grabs
Calum McFarlane will return to the dugout as crisis-stricken Chelsea face Leeds in the FA Cup semi-final this weekend.
The Chelsea coach is in for his second spell as interim boss this season, stepping up again in the wake of Liam Rosenior’s sacking this week.
Rosenior was relieved of his duties on Wednesday evening after a run of one win in eight matches, though that sole victory came in the previous round of this competition, against Port Vale.
Leeds, meanwhile, are in fine late season form, with recent wins over Manchester United and Wolves cooling their relegation fears considerably.
They have rather laboured in the cup, though, requiring a penalty shootout to progress through two of their four matches en route to this stage.
Daniel Farke’s side has not tasted defeat against Chelsea this season, though, and will hope to go continue that streak under the Wembley arch.
Chelsea vs Leeds is scheduled for a 3pm BST kick-off on Sunday, April 26, 2026.
The match will take place at Wembley Stadium.
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 2pm BST ahead of a 3pm kick-off.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the HBO Max app and website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, with expert analysis from Dom Smith at Wembley.
Chelsea will be without exciting young winger Estevao after he suffered a serious hamstring injury early in last weekend’s loss to Manchester United.
Reece James and Levi Colwill remain sidelined, though the latter is closing in on a return to first-team action after appearing in recent Under-21 matches.
Joao Pedro missed Tuesday’s loss to Brighton after failing a late fitness test and could return here, though it remains unclear if Cole Palmer has recovered from his niggling hamstring injury.
Jamie Gittens and Filip Jorgensen are in danger of missing the rest of the season with injuries of their own.

Back in the dugout: Calum McFarlane
PA
Anton Stach is the only injury absentee for Leeds, with the German’s World Cup involvement in doubt as he recovers from an ankle issue.
Ao Tanaka is back in the fold after appearing to pick up a knock against Manchester United two weeks ago.
The alarm bells are ringing at all levels of Chelsea, and this dismal run seems set to continue.
Rosenior has been relieved of his duties, but the odds of that decision livening up the team’s performances seem slim.
The Blues were dreadful against Brighton, and McFarlane has his work cut out for him to get them back on song before heading to Wembley. We expect the Blues to fall to a fourth straight defeat, though they may nick a rare goal.
Leeds to win, 2-1.

Alejandro Garnacho
Getty
Chelsea are yet to beat Leeds in two meetings this season, with Daniel Farke’s side winning 3-1 at Elland Road and snatching a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.
This will be their first FA Cup meeting since the fifth round in 2023/24, when the Blues progressed after a 3-2 win, sealed by Conor Gallagher’s 90th minute winner.
Chelsea wins: 37
Leeds wins: 39
Draws: 29
Chelsea to progress: 8/15
Leeds to progress: 29/20
Live


Live







































