FA Cup Quarter-Final Draw 2026: Man City Face Liverpool as Port Vale Handed Chelsea Trip
The FA Cup quarter-final draw is set! Man City face Liverpool in a massive clash, while giant-killers Port Vale head to Chelsea.
The road to Wembley has become significantly narrower. Following a fifth-round weekend defined by “cupset” scares and narrow escapes, the draw for the 2025/26 FA Cup quarter-finals has delivered a script that only this competition could write.
Conducted at the London Stadium by former West Ham stalwarts Joe Cole and Joe Hart, the draw has set the stage for a blockbuster north-west showdown while ensuring at least one lower-league representative remains in the hunt for the trophy.
The Headline Act: Manchester City vs. Liverpool
The “final before the final” has arrived early. For the eighth consecutive season, Manchester City have reached the last eight, but their path to the semi-finals now runs directly through Liverpool.
City secured their spot with a clinical 3-1 comeback victory over Newcastle at St James’ Park, inspired by a brace from the in-form Omar Marmoush. Meanwhile, Liverpool dismantled Wolves 3-0 to set up this seismic encounter. With both sides currently locked in a heated Premier League title race, this cup tie at the Etihad adds another layer of high-stakes drama to their modern rivalry.
The Magic of the Cup: Chelsea vs. Port Vale
If Manchester City vs. Liverpool represents the elite, Port Vale represents the soul of the tournament. The League One side, currently battling at the bottom of their division, reached the quarter-finals for the first time in 72 years after Ben Waine’s header stunned Premier League Sunderland.
Their reward? A trip to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea narrowly avoided their own Hollywood-style exit, needing extra time to overcome a resilient 10-man Wrexham side in a 4-2 thriller. For Port Vale, it is the ultimate payday and a chance to pull off the greatest shock in the club’s history.
The Tactical Battle: Southampton vs. Arsenal
Arsenal’s quest for silverware continues with a tricky away fixture against Southampton. The Gunners survived a genuine scare against Man-sfield Town, relying on a moment of magic from Eberechi Eze to secure a 2-1 win. They face a Saints side that is proving to be the competition’s “giant-killer” specialists. After upsetting Fulham with a late Ross Stewart penalty, the Championship side will be eager to add the Premier League leaders to their list of scalps at St Mary’s.
The Final Slot: West Ham United/ Brentford vs. Leeds United
The draw concluded with Leeds United being handed an away trip to the winner of tonight’s final fifth-round clash between West Ham United and Brentford. Daniel Farke’s Leeds reached this stage with a dominant 3-0 display against Norwich, and they will be watching tonight’s London derby with keen interest to see where their April journey leads.
Ties to be played the weekend of Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5, 2026.
