Four players that could decide the 2026 FA Cup Final

One of the hightlights of the footballing calendar, the FA Cup Final takes place this weekend as Manchester City take on Chelsea at Wembley. 

City are looking to bag a second piece of silverware of the season, having already won the Carabao Cup, while opponents Chelsea can salvage something from a season that is wasting away by lifting the famous trophy. 

Pep Guardiola's men go in as favourites against a Blues' side under the charge of interim boss Calum McFarlane, but which players could be the difference makers under the arch on Saturday afternoon? 

Erling Haaland 

An easy pick, yes. When you have one of the game's deadliest strikers in your ranks, who's banged in 26 goals already this season, of course, he'll be key. 

Yet, the game comes with extra significance for the Norweigan, who's yet to really impact a major final since joining the club in 2022. 

In fact, his record is pretty dire, compounded his performance in last year's final against Crystal Palace, where the forward was pretty anonymous. 

There isn't much missing from Haaland's collection in Manchester, but a cup final goal and performance we all know he has in his locker is something we're yet to see. Could Saturday be the time? 

Cole Palmer 

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There is much riding on Cole Palmer's 2026 this week. For a player who's become one of the poster boys of English football, this season hasn't been too kind for the England man. 

He's struggled for form and fitness and a succession of system changes under different managers, but there's still time to make his mark on the campaign. 

Palmer isn't fazed by a big occasion, and he'll come up against his former club this weekend looking to put on a show and condemn City to a third straight FA Cup final loss. 

And let's face it, with England's World Cup squad announced next week, he could really do with a big performance. Phil Foden, also take note. 

 

Antoine Semenyo 

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January transfers are often tricky customers and it's not always an easy transition mid-season, but Semenyo has blown that notion out of the water since moving to Manchester in the winter window. 

Having started the season on fire at Bournemouth, the Ghanaian international has simply continued in the same vein at City, making him one of the stars of the season. 

He's netted nine times since the start of the year, and looked completely at home in Sky Blue, despite it being a big step up from his time on the South Coast. 

With Wembley's big pitch just begging for Semenyo to move his burners into, he could cause major problems for Chelsea on whichever flank he's deployed. 

Reece James

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The Chelsea skipper made his latest return from injury as a substitute against Liverpool and could not make his first start for the club since mid-March. 

Which is good news for the Blues, who always feel like a more solid outfit with the England man as part of their back four or inverted into midfield. 

In fact, the West Londoners haven't won a single game in his adsence, so his return is timely given the occasion, the opposition, and England's squad announcement next week. 

There's no doubt he'll be kept busy by City's frontline, but his presence gives Calum McFarlane's men a much better hope of keeping Pep Guardiola's talented attack at bay.

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