The 2026 FA Cup final sees Manchester City and Chelsea clash at Wembley, with Pep Guardiola's side aiming for a domestic cup double after winning the Carabao Cup. City overcame Southampton 2-1 in the semi-finals, while Chelsea edged Leeds United 1-0. Pundits overwhelmingly favor City, predicting a comfortable victory.
Alan Shearer Predicts City Win
Alan Shearer expects City to edge a high-scoring contest, noting City's confidence and belief despite recent final losses. He wrote for Metro: "I just think because of the mood that City are in, the belief and the confidence, they’ll edge it."
Chris Sutton Forecasts 5-0 Rout
Chris Sutton predicts a 5-0 hammering for his former club Chelsea. He points to Erling Haaland's return after being rested and Chelsea's patchy form. "If they have one of their bad days, then this could get a bit messy for them," Sutton told BBC.
Craig Burley Sees 3-2 City Victory
Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley anticipates a 3-2 City win, citing Chelsea's poor run and disillusioned players. "They have good players but they have a lot of good players who haven't played particularly well," Burley said on ESPN UK.
Nedum Onuoha Backs City 4-2
Ex-City defender Nedum Onuoha compares the game to City's 2021 Carabao Cup final win over Spurs. He predicts a 4-2 victory, stating: "City arrive in a better moment, they have the confidence to win games of football - to be honest, Chelsea haven't."
Nicky Butt Expects City to 'Batter' Chelsea
Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt believes City will dominate. "I would be gobsmacked if Man City don't win this game by two or three," Butt told Paddy Power. He criticized Chelsea's lack of team continuity despite individual talent.
Clinton Morrison Predicts 2-1 City
Clinton Morrison anticipates a closer contest, with City winning 2-1. He highlights Rodri's midfield presence and Jeremy Doku's threat if Reece James is unfit. "If Chelsea play like they've been playing the last few weeks they'll get battered," Morrison said to FreeBets.
William Gallas Tips City but Warns of Fatigue
Former Chelsea defender William Gallas expects City to win but notes potential fatigue from their busy schedule. "If Manchester City play against Chelsea the same way they did against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final, it will be very hard for Chelsea," Gallas told BetVictor.
Despite Chelsea's semi-final resilience, pundits unanimously predict a City triumph, with scorelines ranging from 2-1 to 5-0. The match kicks off at Wembley on Saturday.
