Chelsea face Leeds United at Wembley Stadium on April 26, 2026, with a place in the FA Cup final at stake. The semi-final arrives at a turbulent moment for Chelsea. Liam Rosenior was dismissed on April 22 following a five-match Premier League losing streak, with Calum McFarlane appointed interim head coach until the end of the season.
Chelsea enter Wembley eighth in the Premier League and are searching for an immediate response after a difficult run in which they have failed to score in five consecutive league matches.
Leeds arrive in far better form. Daniel Farke's side are unbeaten in seven matches across all competitions and have taken seven points from their previous three Premier League games. They are also appearing in their first FA Cup semi-final since 1987.
It creates an intriguing contest between Chelsea's greater recent FA Cup experience and a Leeds side carrying considerably stronger momentum.
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Chelsea vs Leeds United: Last 10 Meetings
The previous 10 competitive meetings before the April 26 semi-final produced:
Chelsea wins: 6
Leeds United wins: 2
Draws: 2
Chelsea goals: 21
Leeds United goals: 14
Total goals: 35
Average goals per match: 3.5
The previous 10 meetings were:
Chelsea 2-2 Leeds United — February 2026
Leeds United 3-1 Chelsea — December 2025
Chelsea 3-2 Leeds United — February 2024, FA Cup
Chelsea 1-0 Leeds United — March 2023
Leeds United 3-0 Chelsea — August 2022
Leeds United 0-3 Chelsea — May 2022
Chelsea 3-2 Leeds United — December 2021
Leeds United 0-0 Chelsea — March 2021
Chelsea 3-1 Leeds United — December 2020
Leeds United 1-5 Chelsea — December 2012, League Cup
Chelsea hold the stronger record across the full sample, but the two Premier League meetings this season tell a different story. Leeds are unbeaten against the Blues in 2025/26, winning at Elland Road before recovering from two goals down to draw at Stamford Bridge.
Leeds Have Already Beaten Chelsea This Season
The first league meeting came at Elland Road in December, where Leeds recorded an impressive 3-1 victory. The result showed that Farke's team could disrupt Chelsea's possession game through intensity and aggressive pressure.
When the sides met again at Stamford Bridge on February 10, Chelsea appeared to have responded. João Pedro and Cole Palmer put the Blues 2-0 ahead, but Leeds fought back through a Lukas Nmecha penalty and Noah Okafor's equaliser to earn a 2-2 draw. Leeds therefore head to Wembley knowing they have already played Chelsea twice this season without losing.
Chelsea Have the Better Recent FA Cup Record
League results may favour Leeds this season, but Chelsea have a significant advantage when it comes to FA Cup history. Chelsea have won the FA Cup eight times and are appearing in the semi-finals for the seventh time in the previous 10 seasons. They have advanced from nine of their previous 11 FA Cup semi-finals.
Their route to Wembley this season has also been emphatic:
Charlton Athletic 1-5 Chelsea
Hull City 0-4 Chelsea
Wrexham 2-4 Chelsea after extra time
Chelsea 7-0 Port Vale
Chelsea have scored 20 FA Cup goals, more than any other team remaining in the competition heading into the semi-finals. That cup form stands in sharp contrast to their recent Premier League struggles.
Chelsea Have Never Lost an FA Cup Tie to Leeds
The history between these clubs adds another dimension to the semi-final. Chelsea and Leeds share one of English football's longest-running rivalries, with the famous 1970 FA Cup final remaining the defining encounter between them.
Chelsea have never been eliminated by Leeds in the FA Cup. Their previous cup meetings include the 1970 final, which Chelsea eventually won 2-1 in a replay at Old Trafford, and the dramatic 3-2 fifth-round victory at Stamford Bridge in February 2024.
That 2024 meeting saw Leeds twice score through Mateo Joseph before Chelsea eventually won through a late Conor Gallagher goal. Leeds therefore have another piece of history to overcome at Wembley.
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Chelsea Enter Wembley in Crisis
Chelsea's FA Cup performances have been strong, but their Premier League form has collapsed. Rosenior's departure followed a run of seven defeats in eight matches across all competitions, including five consecutive Premier League losses without scoring. It was Chelsea's worst league scoring drought for more than a century.
Their most recent match was a damaging 3-0 defeat away to Brighton. Chelsea struggled badly in that game and failed to register a shot on target during the first half. The defeat left them well outside the Champions League places and ultimately proved to be Rosenior's final game in charge. The FA Cup now represents Chelsea's clearest opportunity to rescue something significant from the season.
Calum McFarlane Takes Charge
McFarlane has stepped in as interim head coach for the second time this season, having also briefly taken charge after Enzo Maresca's departure in January. His first task is not necessarily to reinvent Chelsea tactically. The priority is restoring confidence, organisation and attacking conviction to a team that has suddenly stopped scoring.
McFarlane has stressed that the squad remains united and that the immediate focus is entirely on beating Leeds rather than dwelling on Rosenior's dismissal. Chelsea are likely to continue dominating possession for long periods, but they need to play with more purpose around the penalty area.
Cole Palmer and João Pedro Could Return
Chelsea received encouraging news ahead of Wembley. Cole Palmer and João Pedro both returned to training on April 24 and have a chance of featuring in the semi-final. McFarlane said both players were progressing well, although final decisions on their involvement would be made after further training.
Their availability could be crucial. Chelsea's five-match league scoring drought shows how badly they need more creativity and finishing quality in the final third. Palmer can create chances from central and wide positions, while João Pedro provides movement and a more natural penalty-area threat.
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Estevão Will Miss the Rest of the Season
There was worse news regarding Estevão Willian. The Brazilian winger has been ruled out for the remainder of Chelsea's season after suffering a hamstring injury during the 1-0 defeat to Manchester United. His absence removes one of Chelsea's most unpredictable attacking options.
Estevão had already contributed two goals during Chelsea's FA Cup run and became the youngest player from a Premier League club since Bukayo Saka in 2020 to both score and assist in an FA Cup match when Chelsea beat Port Vale. That places greater attacking responsibility on players such as Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho and the potentially returning Palmer and João Pedro.
Leeds Arrive Seven Matches Unbeaten
Leeds head to Wembley in a much more positive position. Farke's side are unbeaten in seven games across all competitions and have collected important Premier League results against Manchester United, Wolves and Bournemouth. Their most recent league game finished 2-2 away to Bournemouth, with Sean Longstaff scoring a stoppage-time equaliser.
That point moved Leeds nine points clear of the relegation zone with four league matches remaining, giving them greater breathing room before turning their attention to Wembley. Rather than approaching the semi-final burdened by a relegation crisis, Leeds can concentrate on trying to reach their first FA Cup final since 1973.
Leeds' FA Cup Journey
Leeds have taken a far more dramatic route to Wembley than Chelsea. They began with a 3-1 win at Derby County before needing penalties to eliminate Birmingham City. A comfortable 3-0 victory against Norwich followed before an extraordinary quarter-final against West Ham.
Leeds led 2-0 at the London Stadium but conceded twice late in normal time. After extra time finished 2-2, they won the penalty shootout 4-2. That victory sent Leeds into their first FA Cup semi-final in 39 years. Their previous appearance at this stage came in 1987, when they lost 3-2 to eventual winners Coventry City.
Ilia Gruev Is Out for the Season
Leeds suffered a major injury blow before the semi-final. Ilia Gruev has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a meniscus injury suffered in training. Farke confirmed the midfielder will miss both Wembley and the Premier League run-in, with Leeds hoping to have him back for pre-season. His absence reduces Farke's midfield options at a time when Chelsea are likely to try to control possession through the middle.
Jayden Bogle and Sebastiaan Bornauw Are Doubts
Leeds are also monitoring Jayden Bogle and Sebastiaan Bornauw. Bogle suffered a blow to his foot during the Bournemouth match, although Farke indicated the problem did not appear too serious.
Bornauw rolled his ankle during the warm-up at Bournemouth and initially could not return to team training. Farke remained hopeful that he would recover in time for Wembley. Their availability could be important given the defensive concentration required against Chelsea's wide attackers.
Anton Stach Could Return
There is better news regarding Anton Stach. The midfielder was working towards a return to team training ahead of the semi-final, with Farke saying he still had a chance of making the matchday squad.
A Stach return would partly compensate for Gruev's absence and give Leeds another physically strong midfield option. Against a Chelsea midfield likely to include Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández, Leeds will need enough strength and technical quality to compete centrally rather than spending the entire match defending.
Tactical Matchup: Chelsea Possession vs Leeds Intensity
The tactical battle could revolve around whether Chelsea can control Leeds' pressure. Chelsea are likely to have more possession. McFarlane has enough technical quality to build through midfield, while the Blues will want to move Leeds' defensive structure from side to side and create opportunities for their wide players.
Leeds are unlikely to sit passively. Farke has said his team intends to be brave, play on the front foot and remain true to its usual style. That could involve a 3-4-2-1 structure similar to the system Leeds used against West Ham, with the wing-backs providing width and attacking players positioned behind a central striker.
The risk is obvious. Press Chelsea successfully and Leeds could force mistakes in dangerous areas. Allow Chelsea to escape that first wave of pressure and large spaces could appear behind the midfield.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin Gives Leeds a Physical Threat
Dominic Calvert-Lewin provides Leeds with an important alternative when they cannot play through Chelsea's press. He enters Wembley as Leeds' leading scorer with 12 goals this season. His aerial ability gives Farke the option of playing more directly when required.
That could also be useful from set pieces, particularly if Leeds can force Chelsea into defending repeated crosses and second balls. Noah Okafor offers a different threat through pace and direct running, especially when Chelsea commit players forward.
Chelsea Need to Solve Their Scoring Problem
The biggest question for Chelsea is simple: where will the goals come from? Five consecutive Premier League matches without scoring cannot be ignored. Chelsea have created freely in the FA Cup, scoring four or more in every round so far, but reproducing that attacking confidence against Premier League opposition has been much more difficult.
Palmer and João Pedro returning would help, but McFarlane also needs Chelsea to play with greater speed and conviction. Slow possession in front of a settled Leeds defence is unlikely to be enough.
Leeds Need to Exploit Chelsea's Nervousness
Leeds' biggest opportunity may be psychological as much as tactical. Chelsea enter Wembley under a new interim manager after one of their worst runs in recent history. If Leeds can start aggressively and make the opening stages uncomfortable, the pressure on Chelsea could increase quickly.
Farke's side have already shown this season that they can hurt the Blues. They scored three at Elland Road and came from 2-0 down at Stamford Bridge. Leeds therefore have little reason to approach the semi-final with fear.
Chelsea vs Leeds: Who Has the Advantage?
Chelsea remain the slight favourites because of their squad quality, FA Cup pedigree and experience at Wembley. They have reached the FA Cup semi-finals seven times in 10 seasons and have won six of their previous 10 competitive meetings with Leeds.
But current form points strongly towards Leeds. The Yorkshire club are unbeaten in seven matches, while Chelsea have lost five consecutive Premier League games without scoring. Leeds have also avoided defeat in both league meetings between the sides this season.
That makes this far more balanced than league position or squad value alone might suggest. For Chelsea, Wembley offers an immediate opportunity to change the mood around the club and keep their best chance of silverware alive. For Leeds, victory would secure a first FA Cup final appearance since 1973 and continue one of their most memorable cup runs in decades.
With Chelsea attempting to respond to managerial upheaval and Leeds arriving with momentum and confidence, the April 26 semi-final has all the ingredients for a fiercely competitive encounter.