Manchester City won their eighth FA Cup title after a narrow 1–0 victory over Chelsea at Wembley in the 2026 final, a match decided by fine margins and tactical discipline.
The first half was cautious and evenly balanced, with Chelsea focusing on defensive organisation and trying to limit City’s passing rhythm, while Pep Guardiola’s side controlled possession but struggled to create clear chances against a compact back line.
In the second half, City gradually raised the tempo, moving the ball quicker and using sharper attacking combinations to unsettle Chelsea’s defensive shape. The decisive moment came around the 70th minute when a flowing attacking move involving Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki broke through Chelsea’s defence, allowing Antoine Semenyo to finish clinically and give City the lead. After going behind, Chelsea pushed forward in search of an equaliser and showed more attacking intent in the closing stages, but they lacked precision in the final third and were repeatedly denied by City’s organised defence.
Despite sustained late pressure, Manchester City managed the final minutes with composure and control to secure the victory, completing another FA Cup triumph and reinforcing their dominance in English football while Chelsea were left to reflect on missed opportunities in a tight and competitive final.
