FA Cup Quarter-Final Draw: Manchester City to Face Liverpool, Chelsea Host Port Vale

The FA Cup quarter-final draw has set the stage for a compelling round of matches, featuring a blockbuster clash between Manchester City and Liverpool. League One side Port Vale will travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea, while Arsenal will be away to Southampton.

Key Matchups

• Manchester City vs. Liverpool: A repeat of recent Premier League battles, this tie promises a high-octane encounter between two of England’s top teams.
• Chelsea vs. Port Vale: Port Vale, currently at the bottom of League One, earned their place in the quarter-finals with a shock victory over Sunderland and will now face a significant challenge against Chelsea. This will be the first competitive fixture between the two sides since 1929.
• Southampton vs. Arsenal: Arsenal, 14-time FA Cup winners, will travel to face Southampton, who are currently in the Championship.
• West Ham United/Brentford vs. Leeds United: The winner of the upcoming match between West Ham United and Brentford will face Leeds United in the final quarter-final tie.

Match Schedule

All quarter-final ties are scheduled to be played over the weekend of April 4th and 5th, 2026.

Port Vale’s Historic Run

Port Vale’s journey to the quarter-finals marks only the second time the club has reached this stage in their history. Their victory over Sunderland in the previous round was a significant upset, highlighting the FA Cup’s potential for surprises.

Semi-Final and Final Dates

The FA Cup semi-finals are scheduled for the weekend of April 25th, 2026, with the final taking place on Saturday, May 16th, 2026.

Source: The Guardian, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Sky Sports