By Boluwatife Oshadiya | March 10, 2026
Key Points
- Manchester City will host Liverpool in the standout FA Cup quarterfinal fixture after Monday’s draw
- League One side Port Vale face Chelsea after reaching their first quarterfinal since 1954
- Arsenal travel to Southampton while West Ham or Brentford will host Leeds United
Main Story
Manchester City will face Liverpool in the headline clash of the FA Cup quarterfinals after the draw conducted at the London Stadium on Monday, setting up one of the most anticipated ties of the competition’s final eight.
The fixture pits two of England’s most dominant clubs against each other in a match that could shape the race for domestic silverware this season. City progressed to the quarterfinal stage after dispatching their previous-round opponents comfortably, while Liverpool continued their push for another FA Cup title following a strong campaign under manager Jürgen Klopp.
In another notable pairing, Sky Bet League One side Port Vale will travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. Port Vale secured their place in the quarterfinals after a shock victory over Sunderland on Sunday despite sitting eight points adrift at the bottom of the League One table.
The result marks the club’s first appearance in the FA Cup quarterfinals since 1954 and makes them the lowest-ranked side remaining in this year’s competition.
Chelsea, meanwhile, survived a major scare in the previous round, coming from behind twice to secure a 4–2 extra-time victory against 10-man Wrexham at the Stok Cae Ras Stadium.
Premier League leaders Arsenal will travel to Championship side Southampton after overcoming Mansfield Town in the fifth round. Southampton advanced to the last eight following a dramatic 1–0 victory over Fulham, sealed by Ross Stewart’s stoppage-time penalty.
The final quarterfinal slot will see either West Ham United or Brentford host Leeds United. Leeds secured their place in the final eight with a convincing 3–0 win over Norwich City.
The FA has scheduled the quarterfinal fixtures to be played across the weekend of April 4, with the winners advancing to the semifinals at Wembley Stadium.
What’s Being Said
“The FA Cup always delivers special moments, and drawing Liverpool away will be a massive challenge for us,” said Pep Guardiola, Manager, Manchester City.
“For a club like Port Vale to reach this stage shows the magic of the FA Cup. We’ll approach the game with full respect,” said Mauricio Pochettino, Manager, Chelsea.
What’s Next
- FA Cup quarterfinal fixtures will take place during the weekend of April 4–5, 2026
- Semifinal matches are scheduled to be played at Wembley Stadium later in April
- The FA Cup final is expected to take place at Wembley in May 2026
