FA Cup 2026 Final Picks & Predictions
Emirates FA Cup 2026 final betting picks - Manchester City vs Chelsea predictions
The FA Cup has delivered another season of drama, and only two clubs remain for you to bet on at Stake. Manchester City and Chelsea will face off at Wembley in the final, and you can get the latest soccer betting odds on the match right here at Stake Sportsbook.
City are playing in their fourth consecutive final, becoming the first club ever to do so. They’re looking for an eighth FA Cup title after losing to Manchester United in 2024 and Crystal Palace last season. Chelsea are in their 17th final and are chasing a ninth trophy, but they’ve lost their last three appearances at this stage.
Who will win the FA Cup final - our winner predictions
Manchester City are our pick to win the 2026 FA Cup final. Pep Guardiola’s side already have the EFL Cup in the cabinet this season and could complete a domestic cup double at Wembley. They’ve been ruthless on the way to the final, with a 10-1 win over Exeter in the third round and a 4-0 quarter-final victory over Liverpool, where Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick. City have also won 21 of their last 23 FA Cup matches, with their only two defeats in that run coming in the 2024 and 2025 finals.
Haaland will be the key man. The Norwegian is in devastating form in the cup, but he’s still searching for his first goal in a final for City after coming up short in his previous appearances at Wembley. If he gets going early, Chelsea will struggle to live with him.
Chelsea have had a much tougher road, both in the competition and in the Premier League. They cruised through the earlier rounds, putting seven past Port Vale and four past Hull City, before grinding out a 1-0 semi-final win against Leeds thanks to Enzo Fernández. The final will be a much sterner test, particularly against a City side that has gone 13 games unbeaten against the Blues across all competitions since the 2021 Champions League final.
Their attacking output has been impressive in the FA Cup, with 21 goals scored across the tournament. However, Chelsea have failed to score in each of their last four Wembley finals, and their recent Premier League form has been patchy. Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández will need to be at their best to break City’s defensive setup.
Final score prediction: 2-1 for Manchester City in regular time
Manchester City season performance recap
Manchester City entered the FA Cup in the third round and barely broke a sweat in the early stages. After demolishing Exeter City 10-1, they beat Salford 2-0 in the fourth round and edged past Newcastle United 3-1 at St James’ Park in the fifth round.
The knockout stages have shown why City remain the team to beat. The 4-0 quarter-final win over Liverpool was their most complete performance of the season, with Haaland’s hat-trick adding to a goal from Antoine Semenyo. The semi-final against Southampton was tougher than expected, but late goals from Jérémy Doku and Nico González saw City come from behind to win 2-1 and book their place at Wembley.
Chelsea season performance recap
Chelsea’s FA Cup run started with a 5-1 win away at Charlton Athletic, with Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernández and Jorrel Hato all on the scoresheet. Neto then bagged his first Chelsea hat-trick in a 4-0 win at Hull City.
The fifth round produced the biggest scare of their campaign. Wrexham took Chelsea to extra time before Josh Acheampong forced the game beyond 90 minutes. The Blues recovered to win and were rewarded with a 7-0 quarter-final demolition of Port Vale at Stamford Bridge. In the semi-final, Enzo Fernández scored the only goal of the game against Leeds United to send Chelsea to their first FA Cup final since 2022.
What is the Emirates FA Cup?
The FA Cup is the world’s oldest soccer competition and one of English football's most prestigious and coveted trophies. Compared to other competitions, it’s unique, as it’s open to every team in the English football pyramid. That means hundreds of teams take part.
Named after the Football Association (FA), the tournament runs every season, giving clubs from across the country a chance to compete at Wembley Stadium and lift the famous trophy. Winners of the competition also earn the right to play in next season’s UEFA Europa League.
Emirates FA Cup history and past winners
The English Football Association (FA) was founded in 1863 to create unified rules for the sport of soccer. Before that point, the rules of the game depended on where in the UK it was being played, which made organizing matches very chaotic. After the FA was founded, it set about establishing a nationwide competition.
The original edition of the FA Cup took place in 1871, with a total of 15 teams and 13 games. However, the competition changed a lot in 1888 as more teams were invited, and the qualifying rounds were first introduced.
The game originally had a rule that any tie game must be replayed, leading to a record 6 replays between Alvechurch and Oxford City in 1971-72 qualification. Multiple replays were eventually scrapped from the competition, and replays are no longer possible from the first round onwards.
Although the tournament is held every season, it has had some breaks due to the First and Second World Wars. The finals and semi-finals of the FA Cup have historically been played at Wembley Stadium, a tradition that began with the 1923 FA Cup final. You can bet on English football, including the FA Cup, at Stake.
The following teams have won the most FA Cup titles throughout history:
Arsenal (14) - Last win in 2020
Manchester United (13) - Last win in 2024
Chelsea (8) - Last win in 2018
Liverpool (8) - Last win in 2022
Tottenham Hotspur (8) - Last win in 1991
Manchester City (7) - Last win in 2023
Aston Villa (7) - Last win in 1957
Where and when is the 2026 FA Cup final being played?
The 2026 FA Cup final will be held at Wembley Stadium in London. The match takes place on Saturday, May 17, with kick-off scheduled for 12pm.
How to bet on the 2026 FA Cup final at Stake
Placing a bet on the FA Cup is simple, and you can use our detailed betting guide for more information. We’ve also got a guide to betting on soccer. Follow these quick steps to get started:
Create your account if you don’t already have one, then make a deposit.
Find the FA Cup final from the upcoming soccer page or use the search bar.
Select the match and then choose a betting market.
Enter your stake in the bet slip and confirm.
Watch the free live stream to enjoy the game.
There are lots of different ways to bet on soccer, and the FA Cup final has plenty of markets to choose from. Some of the most popular include:
1x2 or match winner
Draw no bet
Asian total
Asian handicap
Spread
Double chance
1st goal
Correct score
Both teams to score
Halftime/fulltime
Game and player props
Same-game parlay
Outright bets
Live stream the FA Cup final at Stake
The FA Cup final is available to watch free on Stake.com. You can log in and enjoy the live stream of Manchester City vs Chelsea by selecting the live stream icon on the match page. Our free live streams make it easier to follow the action and make the most of live betting markets.
FA Cup final betting odds, payouts and promotions
Before you sign up and start betting, make sure you understand how odds work and how to calculate the payouts of your winning bets. You can use the odds to calculate how much you’ll win, and it’s possible to switch between decimal, fractional, and American to choose the format you prefer to use.
Stake is the best place to bet on soccer, including the FA Cup. Not only do we offer competitive odds, but we also make it easy to sign up and start placing bets with your preferred cryptocurrency at Stake or local currency. Use any of our accepted payment methods and then store your crypto, such as BTC, ETH, USDT, and SOL in our Stake vault for safety.
Once you’ve joined, you’ll also be able to benefit from our extensive sports betting promos. You can also bet on all the biggest soccer tournaments at Stake, including the 2026 International Soccer Tournament.
FA Cup final betting tips and strategies
Research each bet - Every bet you place should be backed up by data and careful research. Check the recent form of each side and the head-to-head record. City have gone 13 games unbeaten against Chelsea in all competitions, while Chelsea have failed to score in their last four finals at Wembley. These trends are useful for shaping your predictions.
Make the most of live odds - Live betting provides a great opportunity to find value even if you can’t find good odds pre-match. As the game is in-play, the odds will be updated in real time based on what happens on the pitch. You can bet throughout the game, and it’s even possible to check live stats and view the live stream as you bet.
Follow the news - Stay up to date with the latest team news to learn about injuries, suspensions and lineups. This information is useful for making betting predictions, giving you a better idea of each team’s chances on the day.
Stake VIP Club and responsible betting
As you bet at Stake Sportsbook, you’ll also be able to level up your account to unlock rewards thanks to our Stake VIP Club. Check out the VIP FAQ page to find out how to benefit from regular rakeback, frequent reloads, and your own VIP host. Don’t forget to follow our Stake Smart guidelines and bet responsibly while betting on soccer.
