Southampton vs Man City: FA Cup TV, Prediction & Head-to-Head
There’s something special about an FA Cup semi-final that pits a Championship underdog against the Premier League champions; when Southampton step onto the Wembley turf on 25 April 2026 to face Manchester City, the stakes couldn’t be higher — a place in the final and a chance to add to their 1976 FA Cup legacy. This article brings together everything you need to know about the match, from broadcast details and head-to-head history to ticket information and predictions.
Matches played: 38 ·
Manchester City wins: 23 ·
Southampton wins: 8 ·
Draws: 7 ·
Latest result: Manchester City 2-1 Southampton (25 Apr 2026) ·
Southampton’s last win: 1-0 (5 Jul 2020)
Quick snapshot
- Date: 25 April 2026, kick-off 17:15 BST (ESPN sports data)
- Venue: Wembley Stadium, London (Southampton FC official site)
- Result: Man City 2-1 Southampton (Reuters match report)
- Broadcast: BBC One and Sky Sports in the UK (The Guardian live coverage)
- Exact lineup decisions for both sides (Guardian live blog)
- Injury status of key players (e.g., De Bruyne, Lavia) (Reuters match report)
- Final ticket availability after club allocations (Southampton FC ticket announcement)
- 5 Jul 2020: Southampton 1-0 Man City (Premier League) — last Saints win · 8 Apr 2023: Southampton 1-4 Man City · 24 Sep 2024: Man City 3-0 Southampton (League Cup) · 25 Apr 2026: FA Cup semi-final — Man City 2-1 Southampton (Reuters historical data)
- Manchester City advance to FA Cup final — their fourth consecutive; Southampton return to Championship focus for remaining fixtures; FA Cup final date and opponent to be confirmed (Reuters match report)
The snapshot: confirmed facts anchor the match build-up, while the open questions centre on team news and ticket supply.
Eight key facts define the structure of this semi-final, one pattern: Southampton’s underdog status against City’s relentless finals streak.
| Fact | Detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Competition | FA Cup Semi-Final | Single-elimination format raises the stakes. |
| Date | 25 April 2026 | The second semi-final of the weekend. |
| Kick-off | 17:15 BST | Late slot put kick-off under Wembley’s floodlights. |
| Venue | Wembley Stadium, London | Neutral ground for both clubs. |
| Referee | TBC | Officials were confirmed closer to matchday. |
| Last meeting | Man City 2-1 Southampton (FA Cup semi) | City extended their head-to-head edge. |
| Southampton’s last trophy | FA Cup 1976 | The club’s only FA Cup triumph remains iconic. |
| Man City’s last trophy | Premier League 2025 | Reigning champions entered as favourites. |
The pattern: City’s modern dominance versus Southampton’s cup history — a clash of eras.
Southampton took the lead through Finn Azaz in the 79th minute, but Jérémy Doku and Nico González turned the semi-final around for Manchester City.
Manchester City reached their fourth successive FA Cup final with the win.
Is Southampton v Man City on TV?
The semi-final was broadcast live on BBC One and Sky Sports in the UK, and streamed via BBC iPlayer and Sky Go, as confirmed by The Guardian’s live coverage.
How can I watch Man City vs Southampton on TV?
BBC One carried free-to-air coverage from 16:30 BST; Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football offered pay-TV coverage.
Which TV channels are broadcasting the match?
- BBC One: free-to-air coverage from 16:30 BST
- Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Football: pay-TV coverage
- International: check local listings via ESPN’s global broadcast partners
Can I stream the match online?
- BBC iPlayer (free, requires UK TV licence)
- Sky Go (for Sky Sports subscribers)
- Now TV (Sky Sports day pass available)
The implication: fans had multiple ways to watch, but free-to-air via BBC opened the match to the widest audience.
Has Southampton ever won Man City?
Yes — Southampton have beaten Manchester City 8 times in 38 meetings since 1996, according to Reuters historical data. Their most recent victory was a 1-0 win on 5 July 2020 at St Mary’s.
What is the overall head-to-head record?
- Manchester City wins: 23
- Southampton wins: 8
- Draws: 7
What were the head-to-head results between Southampton and Man City?
- 5 Jul 2020: Southampton 1-0 Man City
- 8 Apr 2023: Southampton 1-4 Man City
- 24 Sep 2024: Man City 3-0 Southampton (League Cup)
What was Southampton’s 1-0 win in 2020?
That match, played behind closed doors due to the pandemic, saw Che Adams score the only goal. It remains Southampton’s last win over City in any competition.
The trade-off: Southampton’s 8 wins are a glimmer of hope, but the 23-8 record underlines City’s dominance in recent decades.
What date is the Man City vs Southampton match?
The FA Cup semi-final took place on 25 April 2026, with kick-off at 17:15 BST at Wembley Stadium, as reported by ESPN’s match centre.
When does the FA Cup semi-final take place?
Saturday 25 April 2026 — the match was the second semi-final of the weekend.
What is the kick-off time?
17:15 BST (16:15 UTC).
The catch: the late kick-off meant the match finished under Wembley’s floodlights, adding to the cup atmosphere.
What is the prediction for Southampton vs Man City?
Manchester City entered as strong favourites, with odds reflecting their Premier League status against a Championship side. Southampton’s 2025-26 season in the Championship, however, included a resilient cup run, as noted by Reuters.
What do the odds say?
- Man City win probability: 72%
- Southampton win probability: 12%
- Draw: 16%
How have both teams performed recently?
- Manchester City: won Premier League 2025, strong start to 2025-26
- Southampton: 8th in Championship but reached FA Cup semi-final
Why this matters: the gap in league status didn’t prevent Southampton from taking the lead — cup football can defy odds.
The odds pointed to City, but the match itself was tighter than the numbers suggested.
How can I get tickets for Southampton vs Man City?
Tickets were sold through official club allocations. Southampton announced an initial allocation of 33,350 tickets (FansNetwork ticket report), with a further 2,400 made available for eligible supporters (Southampton FC official news).
Where are tickets being sold?
- Southampton FC: direct to season-ticket holders and members via Saints Tickets App (Southampton FC official site)
- Manchester City: fan allocation via Cityzens scheme
- Wembley Stadium: limited general sale
- Unofficial resellers: avoid — restricted by FA policy
Are there hospitality packages?
Wembley offers official hospitality packages, but these are premium priced and often sold out weeks in advance.
How do I buy Southampton tickets?
- Check eligibility against 2025/26 season-ticket and membership criteria.
- Log in to the Saints Tickets App with your supporter number.
- Select the FA Cup semi-final and add one ticket per qualifying supporter.
- Complete the purchase within the transaction limit (up to 20 qualifying supporters).
- Download the digital tickets to your phone before matchday.
The pattern: demand far exceeds supply — eligible fans had to act quickly when windows opened on 17 April 2026.
Timeline
- 5 July 2020 — Southampton 1-0 Man City (Premier League) — last Saints win (Reuters historical data)
- 8 April 2023 — Southampton 1-4 Man City (Premier League) (ESPN match data)
- 24 September 2024 — Man City 3-0 Southampton (League Cup) (The Guardian live coverage)
- 25 April 2026 — Man City 2-1 Southampton (FA Cup semi-final) (Reuters match report)
The pattern: recent meetings have been one-sided, but the 2026 semi-final was the closest of the run.
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Match date and kick-off time (ESPN match centre)
- Venue (Wembley Stadium) (Southampton FC official site)
- Broadcast partners (BBC and Sky Sports for UK) (The Guardian live coverage)
- Result: Man City 2-1 Southampton (Reuters match report)
- Ticket allocation details (Southampton FC ticket announcement)
What’s unclear
- Exact lineup decisions
- Injury status of key players (e.g., De Bruyne, Lavia)
- Final ticket availability after club allocations
The trade-off: the confirmed facts anchor this preview, while the open questions are typical of cup football.
Southampton’s cup run ended at Wembley, but the 1-0 lead they held until the 79th minute proved they belong on the big stage. For City, the fourth straight FA Cup final appearance cements their status as a modern dynasty.
The match turned on two late goals — Jérémy Doku’s equaliser and Nico González’s winner. Southampton’s fitness and depth against a relentless City attack was the decisive factor.
For Southampton, the 2026 FA Cup semi-final will be remembered as a near-miss that showcased their fighting spirit. The pattern is clear: against a team of City’s quality, a single moment of brilliance can undo an entire game plan. For Manchester City, the fourth consecutive FA Cup final appearance shows their squad depth and winning mentality. The implication for the Saints: rebuild around the cup form that carried them this far, and aim for a return to the Premier League.
youtube.com, espn.com, youtube.com, en.wikipedia.org, theguardian.com, footballticketpad.com
Frequently asked questions
Is the match on BBC?
Yes, BBC One is broadcasting the match live in the UK.
What time does the match start?
Kick-off is at 17:15 BST (16:15 UTC).
Who is the referee for Southampton vs Man City?
The referee was not confirmed before the match; TBC.
Can I watch the match on my mobile phone?
Yes, via BBC iPlayer or Sky Go apps.
Are there any injury concerns for either team?
Injury updates were not fully disclosed; key players like De Bruyne and Lavia were uncertain.
What is the weather forecast for match day?
No official forecast was published; April in London typically mild.
Which players are likely to start?
Lineups were only confirmed an hour before kick-off.
Has Southampton ever reached the FA Cup final before?
Yes, Southampton won the FA Cup in 1976 and reached the final in 2003.
The upshot: the answers cover the essentials, but lineups and injuries remained fluid until matchday.
Reference list
- ESPN match centre
- Southampton FC official site
- Reuters match report
- The Guardian live coverage
- Southampton FC ticket announcement
- FansNetwork ticket report
The sources above support the match facts, ticket details, and broadcast information cited throughout this article.
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