Wembley Stadium played host to a tense and dramatic FA Cup semi-final on Sunday, April 26, 2026, as Chelsea edged Leeds United 1-0 to secure their spot in the final against Manchester City. The Blues, reeling from a miserable league run and the recent sacking of manager Liam Rosenior, found a new lease on life under interim boss Calum McFarlane, while Leeds arrived in London riding a wave of momentum and dreams of a first FA Cup final since 1973.
For Chelsea, the stakes could hardly have been higher. The club came into this semi-final after five consecutive Premier League matches without a goal—a drought not seen in 114 years. The pressure was mounting, and with Manchester City awaiting the winner in the showpiece event on Saturday, May 16, nothing less than a turnaround would suffice. Leeds, meanwhile, had just secured a vital last-minute draw at Bournemouth to reach the 40-point mark in the league, giving them breathing room in their survival fight and allowing them to focus on this historic cup run.
The match kicked off at 15:00 BST in front of a packed crowd, with millions more tuning in worldwide via TNT Sports, BBC One, and ESPN2, among other broadcasters. Both teams fielded strong lineups, though injuries and suspensions forced some notable absences. Chelsea were without Estêvão for the rest of the season, and while Cole Palmer returned to the squad, he was only fit enough for the bench. João Pedro, previously absent, was back in the starting eleven. Calum McFarlane’s first lineup in his latest interim spell featured Sanchez in goal; Gusto, Chalobah, Tosin, and Cucurella in defense; Caicedo and Lavia anchoring midfield; with Neto, Fernandez, Garnacho, and Joao Pedro leading the attack.
Leeds, under Daniel Farke, made just one change from their previous league outing, with Lucas Perri replacing Karl Darlow in goal. Their starting eleven included Perri; Bogle, Gudmundsson, Struijk, Bijol, Justin, Ampadu, Tanaka, Aaronson, Okafor, and Calvert-Lewin. Leeds’ recent form was impressive—they were unbeaten in seven matches across all competitions and had already bested Chelsea 3-1 at Elland Road before drawing 2-2 at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season.
The opening exchanges were cagey, with both sides probing for weaknesses. Leeds won a free kick inside the first minute after a driving run from Noah Okafor, but Chelsea’s defense held firm. The Blues then began to assert themselves, with Alejandro Garnacho proving a constant threat down the left flank. In the 16th minute, Leeds nearly grabbed the lead as Brenden Aaronson broke into the box and forced Robert Sanchez into a crucial save, the Chelsea keeper getting his ankle to the ball and deflecting it wide for a corner.
As the match settled, Chelsea started to find their rhythm. Garnacho again caused problems for the Leeds backline, shaking off his marker and delivering a dangerous ball across the box, though no teammate could meet it. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 24th minute. A long ball from Robert Sanchez was misjudged by Pascal Struijk, allowing Joao Pedro to pounce and slip a pass to Enzo Fernandez. The Argentine captain made no mistake, slashing a low finish past Lucas Perri to put Chelsea 1-0 up. The goal, coming after a period of sustained pressure, was a massive relief for the Blues and their supporters.
Leeds responded with determination, refusing to let their heads drop. They finished the first half with a higher expected goals (xG) tally and looked dangerous on the counterattack, with Aaronson again coming close just before Fernandez’s opener. The teams went into the break with Chelsea holding a slender lead, but the tie was far from settled.
After halftime, Daniel Farke made tactical adjustments, bringing on Anton Stach for Jaka Bijol and Joe Rodon for James Justin. Stach immediately made an impact, unleashing a powerful shot that Sanchez acrobatically tipped over the bar. Leeds dominated possession in the second half, holding 52% of the ball and outshooting Chelsea 6-1 in that period. However, the Blues’ defense, marshaled by Chalobah and Tosin, stood resolute, and Sanchez continued to impress between the posts.
Calum McFarlane responded with his own substitutions, introducing Andrey Santos for Romeo Lavia in the 66th minute and bringing on Cole Palmer for Garnacho five minutes later. Palmer’s return injected some energy into Chelsea’s attack, but Leeds continued to press for an equalizer, sending on Wilfried Gnonto and Lukas Nmecha to chase the game. Despite their efforts, Leeds could not find a way past the inspired Sanchez, who made three vital saves to preserve the lead.
As the final whistle approached, the tension inside Wembley was palpable. Leeds threw men forward, but Chelsea’s pragmatic approach and disciplined shape saw them through. The Blues managed to keep their historical FA Cup record against Leeds intact, now boasting seven wins and three draws with no losses in the competition. For Leeds, the wait for a return to the final goes on, their last triumph in the competition coming back in 1972.
This result marks a significant turning point for Chelsea. After losing three consecutive FA Cup finals between 2020 and 2022 and last lifting the trophy in 2018, they now have the chance to add an eighth title to their collection—trailing only Arsenal and Manchester United in the all-time list. The club’s decision to part ways with Rosenior and hand the reins to McFarlane, at least temporarily, appears to have paid immediate dividends. As McFarlane said after the match, “We needed belief and togetherness, and today the boys showed exactly that.”
For Leeds, there is disappointment but also pride in their run to the semi-finals—their first since 1987. Daniel Farke’s side will turn their attention back to the Premier League, where they host Burnley on Friday, while Chelsea prepare for a rare Monday morning clash with Nottingham Forest.
With Wembley’s arch still illuminated and the echoes of celebration ringing out, Chelsea’s journey continues. The Blues now look ahead to a blockbuster FA Cup final against Manchester City, with silverware and redemption firmly in their sights.