Manchester City face Southampton at Wembley Stadium on April 25, 2026, with a place in the FA Cup final at stake.
Pep Guardiola's side enter the semi-final as Premier League leaders and clear favourites, but Southampton arrive at Wembley carrying one of the strongest unbeaten runs in English football. The Championship side have already eliminated Premier League opposition in Fulham and Arsenal and are now one victory away from their first FA Cup final since 2003.
For Manchester City, another trip to Wembley represents an opportunity to continue their pursuit of a domestic treble. City have already won the Carabao Cup, moved to the top of the Premier League with a midweek victory over Burnley and have now reached an eighth consecutive FA Cup semi-final — a competition record.
Southampton, however, have gone 20 consecutive matches without defeat in all competitions. Their eight-match winning streak ended with a 2-2 draw against Bristol City on April 21, but Tonda Eckert's side remain one of the most difficult teams in England to beat.
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Manchester City vs Southampton: Last 10 Meetings
Manchester City have controlled this fixture in recent years, although Southampton have managed several notable results.
Across the 10 competitive meetings immediately before April 25, 2026:
Manchester City wins: 6
Southampton wins: 1
Draws: 3
Manchester City goals: 20
Southampton goals: 7
Total goals: 27
Average goals per match: 2.7
The previous 10 meetings were:
Southampton 0-0 Manchester City — May 2025, Premier League
Manchester City 1-0 Southampton — October 2024, Premier League
Southampton 1-4 Manchester City — April 2023, Premier League
Southampton 2-0 Manchester City — January 2023, League Cup
Manchester City 4-0 Southampton — October 2022, Premier League
Southampton 1-4 Manchester City — March 2022, FA Cup
Southampton 1-1 Manchester City — January 2022, Premier League
Manchester City 0-0 Southampton — September 2021, Premier League
Manchester City 5-2 Southampton — March 2021, Premier League
Southampton 0-1 Manchester City — December 2020, Premier League
City have therefore won six of the last 10, but Southampton have shown that they are capable of frustrating Guardiola's team. The Saints' only victory in that sequence was particularly significant: a 2-0 League Cup quarter-final win in January 2023.
The Most Recent Meeting Ended Goalless
The teams last met in the Premier League in May 2025, when Southampton held Manchester City to a 0-0 draw at St Mary's. City dominated possession and territory but could not find a breakthrough, offering Southampton a useful reminder of what disciplined defending can achieve against Guardiola's side.
The challenge at Wembley will be considerably greater. Southampton cannot expect to spend the entire semi-final defending their penalty area and still comfortably survive. They will need to defend well but also take advantage of the limited counter-attacking opportunities City are likely to offer.
Manchester City Arrive in Excellent Form
City's preparation could hardly have been stronger. Their 1-0 Premier League victory over Burnley on April 22 moved them to the top of the table and extended their winning run to five matches in all competitions. Their previous results included a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the Premier League, a 3-0 win at Chelsea and a commanding 4-0 FA Cup victory over Liverpool.
City's route to the FA Cup semi-finals has included victories over Exeter City, Salford City, Newcastle United and Liverpool. They are appearing in the FA Cup semi-finals for the eighth consecutive season, highlighting just how consistently Guardiola's side have reached the latter stages of the competition.
Erling Haaland Remains City's Main Goal Threat
Southampton's defensive plan will inevitably focus heavily on Erling Haaland. The Norwegian entered the semi-final with 35 goals in all competitions this season, comfortably leading City's scoring chart. He had also recently scored a hat-trick in the 4-0 FA Cup victory over Liverpool before finding the net again in the important league wins against Arsenal and Burnley.
Stopping Haaland requires more than marking him inside the penalty area. Southampton need to reduce the quality of the passes reaching him. If City's attacking midfielders are allowed time around the edge of the box, Haaland's movement between defenders becomes extremely difficult to control.
Rayan Cherki and Jérémy Doku Add Creativity
City's attack is not solely dependent on Haaland. Rayan Cherki entered the game with three assists across his previous four appearances and had become increasingly influential as City's central creator. He also had 14 assists in all competitions, the highest total in Guardiola's squad.
Jérémy Doku offers a different problem through his dribbling and acceleration from wide areas. Southampton may be comfortable defending a compact central block, but City's ability to stretch the pitch means their full-backs and wide midfielders could regularly find themselves defending one-on-one situations.
Rodri Will Miss the Semi-Final
City will not be at full strength. Rodri will not be risked at Wembley after suffering a groin problem during the 2-1 victory over Arsenal. He also missed City's midweek victory against Burnley. His absence is significant because Rodri normally provides control in possession while protecting City against counter-attacks.
Without him, Guardiola has several alternatives. Nico O'Reilly operated in midfield against Burnley alongside Bernardo Silva, while Mateo Kovačić and Nico González provide further options. For Southampton, Rodri's absence could create opportunities when possession changes hands.
Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol Are Also Out
Manchester City also enter the semi-final without two important defenders. Rúben Dias remains sidelined through injury, while Joško Gvardiol is continuing his recovery from a fracture to his right tibia. That leaves Guardiola with a reshuffled defensive unit.
Southampton are unlikely to enjoy many sustained periods of possession, but City's missing defensive players give the Championship side additional incentive to attack quickly whenever they win the ball.
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Southampton Arrive at Wembley 20 Games Unbeaten
Southampton's biggest reason for confidence is their remarkable recent run. Tonda Eckert's side are 20 matches unbeaten in all competitions, a sequence stretching back to January. Their eight-match winning streak ended with the 2-2 draw against Bristol City, but they have not tasted defeat for months.
The Saints had been pushing strongly towards the Championship's automatic promotion places, although the Bristol City draw damaged those hopes and left the play-offs as their more realistic route back to the Premier League. That league disappointment will have to be temporarily forgotten at Wembley.
Southampton Have Already Eliminated Arsenal
The strongest evidence that Southampton can compete with City came in the FA Cup quarter-finals. The Saints defeated Premier League leaders Arsenal 2-1 at St Mary's on April 4. Ross Stewart gave Southampton the lead before Viktor Gyökeres equalised for Arsenal. With five minutes remaining, Southampton launched a quick counter-attack and Tom Fellows found Shea Charles, who scored the winner.
It was not Southampton's only Premier League scalp. Their cup run has also included victories over Fulham, Leicester City and Doncaster Rovers. Southampton therefore arrive at Wembley as underdogs, but not as a team unfamiliar with upsetting stronger opposition.
Ross Stewart Gives Southampton a Focal Point
Ross Stewart could be especially important. He entered the semi-final with nine goals in all competitions and had already scored against both Fulham and Arsenal during Southampton's FA Cup run.
Against City, his role will involve much more than finishing chances. Southampton need someone capable of competing for direct passes and holding possession long enough for teammates to move forward. If every clearance immediately returns to City, Southampton could find themselves defending almost continuously.
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Tom Fellows Could Threaten City's High Line
Another player City will need to watch is Tom Fellows. The winger created Southampton's late winner against Arsenal and entered the semi-final with nine assists across all competitions. His pace could become important whenever City commit players forward.
Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has openly acknowledged that his team will have periods when they must defend deep, but he has also stressed the importance of being brave and taking advantage of the transition opportunities City provide. That is likely to be Southampton's clearest route to an upset.
Southampton Have Their Own Selection Problems
The Saints are not completely injury-free. Captain Jack Stephens is a fitness concern after withdrawing during the warm-up before the Bristol City match. More significantly, Flynn Downes and Ryan Manning are both suspended for the semi-final.
Those are meaningful absences against an opponent with City's midfield quality. Southampton need discipline and concentration throughout the game, particularly when City move possession quickly around their penalty area.
Tactical Matchup: Can Southampton Survive City's Pressure?
Manchester City are likely to control the majority of possession. Guardiola's team will look to move Southampton's defensive block from side to side, create overloads around midfield and isolate players such as Doku in wide areas.
Without Rodri, City's shape may again involve a double pivot behind Cherki rather than relying on one dedicated holding midfielder. Against Burnley, City lined up on paper in a 4-2-3-1, although their positioning changed constantly in possession. Southampton's priorities will be very different.
They need to:
remain compact through central areas;
protect the space around Haaland;
avoid unnecessary turnovers near their own penalty area;
survive periods of sustained City possession;
move forward quickly when the ball is recovered;
make their limited counter-attacking chances count.
The longer Southampton keep the score level, the greater their confidence is likely to become.
City's High Line Gives Southampton One Clear Opportunity
Southampton cannot expect many chances, but City's aggressive positioning naturally creates space behind the defensive line. That was important against Arsenal.
The Saints defended for long periods but were prepared to counter with numbers when the opportunity appeared, and their winning goal came from exactly that type of transition. Fellows, Stewart and Finn Azaz could therefore be crucial.
Southampton do not need to dominate possession. They need to be decisive during the few moments when City are disorganised.
Manchester City vs Southampton: Who Has the Advantage?
Manchester City are the clear favourites.
They enter the semi-final:
top of the Premier League;
on a five-match winning run;
already Carabao Cup winners;
appearing in a record eighth consecutive FA Cup semi-final;
with six wins from the previous 10 meetings with Southampton;
possessing attacking players such as Haaland, Doku and Cherki.
But Southampton's form makes this more interesting than a typical Premier League-versus-Championship cup tie. The Saints have gone 20 matches unbeaten, eliminated Arsenal and Fulham, and have already shown under Eckert that they can defend patiently before striking quickly on the counter.
Manchester City should control the ball and create more chances, but Southampton's FA Cup run has already demonstrated why knockout football cannot be judged entirely by league position.
Manchester City vs Southampton: What the Last 10 Meetings Tell Us
The previous 10 competitive meetings show Manchester City's clear advantage:
Manchester City won six.
Southampton won one.
Three ended in draws.
City scored 20 goals.
Southampton scored seven.
The teams combined for 27 goals.
Southampton's only win came in the 2023 League Cup quarter-final.
The most recent meeting ended 0-0.
City have the stronger squad, the better head-to-head record and considerable Wembley experience. Southampton, however, arrive with confidence, an extraordinary unbeaten run and recent proof that they can eliminate the strongest opposition.
For Manchester City, victory would keep their pursuit of a domestic treble alive. For Southampton, it would secure a first FA Cup final appearance since 2003 — exactly 50 years after the club's famous 1976 triumph. That gives both teams plenty to play for when they walk out at Wembley.