Man City to Make It Third Time Lucky in Saturday’s FA Cup Final?

by Roy Brindley, 15 May 2026

Manchester City are clear favourites to win Saturday’s FA Cup final, but the team could net a hat-trick of losses in the Wembley showdown.

Erling Haaland, who watched Man City’s mid-week victory over Crystal Palace from the bench, is odds-on to score on Saturday. © Getty Images

Key Facts:

• Chelsea and Manchester City will contest Saturday’s FA Cup final.
• Manchester City, contesting its fourth successive final, is odds-on to take the title.
• Bookies’ odds indicate Erling Haaland will score, but history suggests otherwise.
• BBC One and TNT Sports will broadcast the match live.

Two of English football’s modern heavyweights, Chelsea and Manchester City, will meet at Wembley Stadium this Saturday to determine who is the 2026 FA Cup champion. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, chasing a domestic double after already winning the League Cup, are the bookies’ favourite.

Remarkably, this will be the first FA Cup final meeting between the two clubs. With Chelsea reaching the FA Cup final five times between 2017 and 2022 and Manchester City contesting its fourth successive final, both teams have outstanding records in the competition.

In the Premier League, 28 points separate second-placed Manchester City and ninth-placed Chelsea. The London team has endured a grim spell in the top tier of English football, winning just one match in three months and losing seven of their last nine games.

Manchester City’s negative is its record of being beaten as the betting favourite in the FA Cup final. That was the case in 2024, when Manchester United prevailed, and 12 months ago, when Crystal Palace, as 9/4 underdogs, stunned The Citizens with a decisive first-half goal.

Will 2026 Be Another 2-1 Year?

11/5 to lift the trophy and 3/1 to win the match in 90 minutes’ normal time’, The Blues are similarly priced to upset Manchester City for a third consecutive year. City are quoted 7/10 for a victory within regular match time, and the best online betting sites offer 2/5 on them taking the title outright.

Only twice since 2014 has an FA Cup final been drawn after 90 minutes: 2016, when Manchester United scored in extra time to beat Crystal Palace 2-1, and 2022, when Liverpool beat Chelsea in a penalty shootout. This Saturday The ‘draw in normal time’ scenario is 3/1.

There are a vast number of betting options on the famous competition’s final. The FA Cup was first played in 1872. Correct score betting is one of the most popular markets, and history suggests a 2-1 scoreline is one of the more likely outcomes.

Five times since 2016, the FA Cup final has ended 2-1, and, curiously, three of those matches involved Manchester City. Ladbrokes and other UK betting firms quote Manchester City 2-1 victory on 13/2 odds. Chelsea are 14/1 to win 2-1.

And an interesting footnote for correct-score and over/under goal bettors is that, in the same 10-year period, only once has more than three goals been scored in an FA Cup final. The line on over/under goals this weekend is 13/8 on over 3.5 goals and 4/9 about fewer. Both teams to score is priced 7/10.

Haaland Expected to Score Despite Poor Record

If there are Manchester City goals, bookmakers predict Erling Haaland will be responsible for at least one. The Norwegian has been a nightmare for defenders this season, scoring 50 times for club and country. Amongst his tally is a hat-trick against Liverpool in the quarter-finals of this competition.

The ‘Terminator’ was rested for Wednesday’s clash – and subsequent victory – over Crystal Palace in the Premier League. Now bookmakers believe he is 4/7 to score a goal, 9/2 to provide an assist or 4/9 to produce either a goal or assist.

History suggests that those odds are poor. Haaland has scored four goals in six encounters with Saturday’s opponents, but he has also failed to score or register an assist in the three FA Cup finals he has contested as a Manchester City player.

How Can I Watch the FA Cup Final?

The FA Cup final 2026 will be played on Saturday, 16 May 2026, with a 3 pm local time kick-off. UK television coverage is shared between TNT Sports and BBC One. TNT Sports is available on HBO Max and can be streamed directly to smart TVs. The game can also be watched online on BBC iPlayer.