FA Cup semi-finals: Can Southampton or Leeds shock Man City & Chelsea? | OneFootball

The 2025/26 FA Cup semi-finals promise intrigue, as two Premier League heavyweights face two clubs chasing their first trophy in this competition in 50 years.

With defending champions Crystal Palace out of the way, the FA Cup will crown a new champion in May, with three Premier League teams chasing cup glory.

Southampton remain the only non-Premier League side left in the competition, standing as the sole Championship representatives aiming to make a memorable run to the FA Cup final.

Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at both semi-final ties.

Manchester City vs Southampton

Manchester City issued a warning to other FA Cup contenders with a statement 4-0 triumph over reigning Premier League holders Liverpool in the quarter-finals.

Pep Guardiola’s charges ran riot at the Etihad Stadium on the back of their 2-0 win over Arsenal in the League Cup final last month, getting a step closer towards securing their first domestic cup double since 2018/19.

The Cityzens have since won this competition just once, faltering at the final hurdle in the last two seasons, including a shocking 1-0 defeat to Palace in the 2024/25 showpiece.

Nevertheless, their semi-final dominance can inspire confidence ahead of a ‘David vs Goliath’ clash against second-tier Southampton, who stunned runaway Premier League leaders Arsenal in the previous round.

Goals from Ross Stewart and Shea Charles on either side of half-time saw the Saints beat the Gunners 2-1 at St Mary’s Stadium, propelling the South Coast club into the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in five years.

Manager Tonda Eckert, who became only the third Southampton manager to win his first four games in the FA Cup after George Goss in 1925 and Alan Pardew in 2009/10, will look to upset the odds again when the Saints take on Man City at Wembley.

Another unlikely success for the Championship side is not out of the realm of possibility, given that their only win against the Cityzens since December 2020 came in the 2022/23 League Cup quarter-finals.

This high-stakes showdown will be broadcast live on the BBC, giving fans nationwide the chance to witness the FA Cup semi-final drama.

Chelsea vs Leeds United

Chelsea put third-tier Port Vale to the sword in their quarter-final tie, running out 7-0 winners at Stamford Bridge to book a tasty-looking semi-final date against Leeds United.

It was a perfect way for Liam Rosenior’s side to put a stop to a dreadful four-game losing streak in all competitions and respond to an embarrassing Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

Vying for their first title since 2018, the Blues head into this one-off tie as favourites, even though they’ve failed to beat the Whites in both Premier League meetings this season (D1, L1).

Meanwhile, Leeds are gearing up for their first semi-final appearance in football’s oldest cup competition in 39 years, as they squeezed past West Ham United in the last eight.

Unfazed by dropping a two-goal lead inside 90 minutes, Daniel Farke’s side emerged victorious from a penalty shoot-out to secure a place at Wembley.

According to the Daily Mirror, police are on high alert for Leeds’ mouth-watering clash against Chelsea due to the historic rivalry between the two sides.

The West London giants got the better of the Yorkshire outfit when they locked horns in the 2023/24 FA Cup last-16, with Conor Gallagher’s 90th-minute winner inspiring them to a dramatic 3-2 victory at the Bridge.

However, they’ve seen gone back-to-back matches against the Whites without winning, ominously conceding at least two goals on both occasions. On that basis, Rosenior would be naive to underestimate the Premier League relegation candidates.

How To Watch FA Cup Games in 2025/26

Live FA Cup games on TV are shown on BBC and TNT Sports (via HBO Max) in the UK.

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