FA Cup 2025-2026: Manchester City-Southampton, the likely lineups

A David and Goliath showdown opens the FA Cup semifinals program at Wembley.

Manchester City, which recently docked Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, will in fact vie for a place in the final of the prestigious elimination tournament with Southampton, the fourth force in the Championship, England’s B division. Whoever wins meets the team that will come out of Sunday’s semifinal between Chelsea and Leeds.

As tradition dictates, the game will be played on a neutral field, and the choice of Wembley remains symbolic given that the facility located in Northwest London hosts, in addition to most of England’s national team matches, all national cup finals and various playoffs. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:15 p.m., in case of a tie scheduled for two extra times of 15 minutes each and possibly penalty kicks. For several years now, in fact, the FA Cup has abolished the traditional ‘replays’.

Manchester City entered the competition in the so-called ‘Third Round Proper,’ corresponding to the 32nd finals, where it swept aside Exeter with a clear 10-1. In the following rounds it defeated Salford 2-0, Newcastle 3-1 and Liverpool with a bombastic 4-0, with Haaland’s hat-trick joined by Semenyo’s goal.

Southampton also entered the scene in the 32nds, beating Doncaster 3-2 away. In subsequent rounds, the Saints defeated Leicester 2-1, Fulham 1-0 and, surprisingly, Arsenal 2-1: Stewart’s goal was answered by Gyokeres, but Shea Charles scored the winning goal in the 85th minute.

Probable formations

MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Bernardo, O’Reilly; Savinho, Cherki, Marmoush; Haaland. All. Guardiola.

SOUTHAMPTON (3-4-2-1): Peretz; Stephens, Harwood-Bellis, Wood; Bree, Jander, Charles, Welington; Azaz, Scienza; Stewart. All. Eckert.