Manchester City secured their eighth FA Cup triumph with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Chelsea in the 2026 FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
A moment of brilliance from Ghanaian winger Antoine Semenyo proved decisive as he produced an audacious back-flick finish in the 72nd minute, converting a clever cut-back from Erling Haaland to seal the win for the Citizens.
The goal, widely praised as one of the great FA Cup final strikes, was enough to hand Pep Guardiola his third FA Cup as City manager.
The match was largely cagey and low on clear chances, with Chelsea adopting a deep defensive setup. City dominated possession but found it difficult to break down the Blues’ rearguard until Semenyo’s moment of magic. The victory marks City’s second piece of silverware this season, following their Carabao Cup win over Arsenal earlier in the year.
Speaking after the match, Guardiola expressed satisfaction with the team’s resilience and highlighted the significance of ending a run of two successive FA Cup final defeats. The win takes Guardiola’s trophy tally with Manchester City to 20.
Semenyo, an inspired January signing from Bournemouth, etched his name into FA Cup folklore alongside legendary scorers like Ricky Villa and Steven Gerrard. Born near Stamford Bridge, the 26-year-old delivered a fairy-tale moment against his boyhood area’s club.
For Chelsea, the defeat caps another challenging campaign. Sitting in ninth place in the Premier League with slim hopes of European qualification, the loss adds to a season of turbulence under interim management.
Manchester City’s focus now shifts back to the Premier League title race. With two games remaining, they trail leaders Arsenal by five points (assuming Arsenal win their next fixture) but remain in contention for a domestic double. City will face Bournemouth in their penultimate league match on Tuesday.
Quotes: “It was a difficult game, but the boys showed great character. Semenyo’s goal was pure class. We’re delighted to win this trophy.” Pep Guardiola, Manchester City Manage.
The Football Association and both clubs congratulated Manchester City on their victory. The 2026 FA Cup Final will be remembered for a moment of individual brilliance that delivered silverware to the Etihad.