FA Cup Quarter-Finals 2026: Man City vs Liverpool & More

The FA Cup quarter-finals are here, and English football is buzzing with anticipation. This weekend — April 4–5, 2026 — eight clubs go head-to-head for a place in the semifinals at Wembley, with the showpiece final set for May 16. At the top of the bill is a genuine blockbuster: Manchester City vs. Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium, a match loaded with storylines, stakes, and the kind of drama only the world's oldest cup competition can produce. Whether you're looking for kick-off times, TV details, or a full breakdown of every tie, here is everything you need to know about the 2026 FA Cup quarter-finals.

Manchester City vs. Liverpool: The Headline Act

When the FA Cup quarter-final draw handed us Manchester City hosting Liverpool, it was hard to imagine a bigger fixture. Kick-off is Saturday, April 4 at 12:45pm BST at the Etihad Stadium, and the stakes could not be higher for both sides.

For Pep Guardiola's City, this is about history. Victory would send them to an eighth consecutive FA Cup semi-final — a milestone, as Guardiola himself has noted, that has never been achieved before in the competition's long history. City are also chasing a potential domestic treble this season after winning the Carabao Cup in March, defeating Arsenal 2-0 before the international break.

Liverpool's situation adds a layer of poignancy to the occasion. Mohamed Salah, the club's all-time leading scorer, has announced his intention to leave at the end of the season, meaning Saturday could be one of his last appearances in a Liverpool shirt at a major venue. Arne Slot's side will also be without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who is sidelined for several weeks with a muscle problem. Georgian international Giorgi Mamardashvili steps in between the posts in what will be a significant test of his credentials.

For full broadcast details, Yahoo Sports has a comprehensive guide to where to watch Man City vs. Liverpool, and MSN also has a full breakdown of live stream options and start times.

How to Watch the FA Cup Quarter-Finals: TV Channels and Streaming

Depending on where you are in the world, here is how to catch all the quarter-final action:

• United Kingdom: Man City vs. Liverpool is live on TNT Sports 1. Streaming is available via HBO Max, which has replaced Discovery+ as the home of TNT Sports' streaming content in the UK.
• United States: The Man City vs. Liverpool match is broadcast on ESPN. Check your cable or streaming provider for the other quarter-final fixtures.
• Online: Various streaming platforms carry the FA Cup depending on your region — check local listings for Southampton vs. Arsenal, Chelsea vs. Port Vale, and West Ham vs. Leeds United.

For a full rundown of all four quarter-finals, schedules, and streaming options, CBS Sports has an excellent overview of the FA Cup quarter-final schedule.

Arsenal, Chelsea, and the Remaining Quarter-Final Fixtures

While City vs. Liverpool dominates the headlines, the other three ties have their own compelling narratives.

Southampton vs. Arsenal

Arsenal face Southampton in a tie that pairs Premier League title contenders against a side currently chasing promotion back to the top flight. On paper, this is the most straightforward draw for a big club, but cup football has a habit of humbling the favourites. Arsenal will be motivated by the memory of losing that Carabao Cup final to City — silverware this season would mean everything to Mikel Arteta's squad.

Chelsea vs. Port Vale

The most remarkable story of this quarter-final weekend belongs to Port Vale. The League One club — currently sitting bottom of the third tier — are the competition's Cinderella story, having beaten higher-division opponents to earn a place at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea. These are the moments the FA Cup was made for. The BBC has live build-up and coverage of Chelsea vs. Port Vale.

West Ham vs. Leeds United

This all-Premier League clash pits two clubs taking a brief respite from their relegation anxieties. Leeds United are chasing their first FA Cup semi-final since the 1986–87 season — nearly four decades of hurt — and their supporters will be dreaming of Wembley. West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo brings an impressive personal record to the tie: he has progressed from all four previous domestic cup quarter-finals he has managed.

One player to watch is Jarrod Bowen, who has registered eight goal involvements in his last 11 FA Cup starts and, perhaps even more remarkably, eight goal involvements in his last nine starts against Leeds United. That is the kind of statistical threat that Leeds' defensive unit will need to neutralise. Follow West Ham vs. Leeds live on BBC Sport.

Key Players and Storylines to Watch

Beyond the results, this quarter-final weekend is rich with individual storylines:

• Mohamed Salah's farewell tour: With Salah confirmed as leaving Liverpool this summer, every big match is now tinged with a sense of ending. A cup run to Wembley would be a fitting send-off for one of the Premier League era's greatest players.
• Giorgi Mamardashvili under pressure: The Georgian keeper steps in for the injured Alisson against arguably the best attacking unit in England. His performance could define Liverpool's cup ambitions.
• Pep Guardiola's legacy chase: Eight consecutive semi-finals would be unprecedented. Guardiola, who has already reshaped English football's history books, is gunning for another landmark.
• Port Vale's giant-killing bid: The League One basement club have nothing to lose at Stamford Bridge. Cup upsets have been built on exactly that freedom.
• Leeds' Wembley dream: Nearly 40 years since their last semi-final — the emotional weight on the Leeds squad will be enormous, and motivation is unlikely to be an issue.

The Road to Wembley: Semifinals and Final

The four quarter-final winners will advance to the FA Cup semifinals at Wembley Stadium, scheduled for the end of April 2026. Wembley's semifinals are a fixture in the English football calendar — a day out at the national stadium before the main event — and the atmosphere on those occasions rarely disappoints.

The FA Cup final itself will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, again at Wembley. For Manchester City, it represents the third leg of a potential domestic treble. For Liverpool, it could be a last piece of silverware before the squad transitions. For Arsenal, Chelsea, or any of the other contenders, it would be the crowning moment of their season.

The FA Cup's structure — open to all 92 professional clubs in the English pyramid, plus hundreds of non-league sides — is what gives it this unique character. Port Vale's presence at Stamford Bridge is not an accident; it is the competition working exactly as intended.

FA Cup Quarter-Finals 2026: FAQ

When are the FA Cup quarter-finals?

The FA Cup quarter-finals take place on Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5, 2026. Manchester City vs. Liverpool kicks off at 12:45pm BST on Saturday.

Where is Man City vs. Liverpool being played?

The match is being played at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, with Manchester City as the home side.

Is Alisson playing for Liverpool?

No. Liverpool's first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker is sidelined with a muscle injury and is expected to be out for several weeks. Giorgi Mamardashvili will start in goal.

Where can I watch the FA Cup quarter-finals in the UK?

Man City vs. Liverpool is on TNT Sports 1, with streaming via HBO Max (the new home of TNT Sports streaming in the UK, replacing Discovery+).

When is the FA Cup final in 2026?

The 2026 FA Cup final is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Wembley Stadium. The semifinals will be held at Wembley in late April.

Could Manchester City win a domestic treble this season?

Yes. City have already won the Carabao Cup (defeating Arsenal 2-0 in March 2026). If they win the FA Cup and the Premier League, they would complete a domestic treble — one of football's most coveted achievements.

Conclusion: A Weekend That Could Define the Season

The 2026 FA Cup quarter-finals arrive at a moment of genuine drama across English football. City chasing history, Liverpool saying goodbye to a legend, Arsenal seeking consolation after Carabao Cup heartbreak, and Port Vale refusing to read the script — this is the FA Cup at its very best.

Whether you are tuning in for the spectacle of City vs. Liverpool or rooting for Port Vale to pull off the upset of the season, this weekend delivers the full spectrum of what makes the world's oldest cup competition endlessly compelling. With Wembley beckoning and a May 16 final on the horizon, the stakes are as high as they get. Do not miss a moment of it.