FA Cup final: Manchester City edge Chelsea 1–0 to lift cup

Manchester City secured the 2026 FA Cup crown after a narrow 1–0 victory over Chelsea in a tense and fiercely contested final at Wembley Stadium, with Antoine Semenyo’s second-half strike proving decisive.

Watched by a crowd of 83,337 spectators, Pep Guardiola’s men displayed composure and resilience to overcome an energetic Chelsea side and add another major domestic trophy to their collection.

City controlled possession for large spells in the opening half and looked the more threatening side early on. Erling Haaland came closest to breaking the deadlock before the interval, unleashing a powerful effort that was brilliantly kept out by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez.

Haaland later found the back of the net, but his effort was ruled out for offside as City continued to pile pressure on the London club.

Chelsea initially struggled to carve out clear-cut chances but gradually grew into the contest through the creativity and influence of Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernández and João Pedro, who began to test City’s defensive structure with sharper movement and passing combinations.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 72nd minute. Antoine Semenyo latched onto a loose ball inside the penalty area and produced an audacious back-heel finish that slipped beyond Sánchez, sending the City supporters into celebration and handing Guardiola’s side the crucial advantage.

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Chelsea responded with urgency in the closing stages, throwing bodies forward in search of an equaliser. Pedro Neto nearly levelled the tie with a fierce drive that forced an outstanding save from City goalkeeper James Trafford. Fernández and Liam Delap also squandered late opportunities as City’s defence stood firm under sustained pressure.

Tensions rose further when referee Darren England waved away two Chelsea penalty appeals in the second half, decisions that sparked frustration among the Blues’ players and supporters.

City almost doubled their advantage late on when Matheus Nunes burst into the box and struck the post, but Semenyo’s moment of ingenuity ultimately proved enough to seal the triumph.

The victory represents another milestone for manager Pep Guardiola, whose side once again demonstrated their experience and mental strength on English football’s grandest domestic stage, lifting the FA Cup after a final defined by fine margins and high drama.