By Achile Danjuma
A heavyweight showdown between Manchester City and Liverpool headlines the quarter-final draw for the Emirates FA Cup, setting the stage for a potential classic at the Etihad Stadium.
The highly-anticipated tie was confirmed during Monday’s draw ceremony, which took place ahead of the fifth-round meeting between West Ham United and Brentford at the London Stadium. The proceedings were overseen by former FA Cup-winning duo and ex-Hammers Joe Cole and Joe Hart, as confirmed by the competition’s official website.
The draw has produced a mix of intriguing matchups across the remaining stages. League One high-flyers Port Vale, fresh off their giant-killing act against Sunderland in the previous round, will embark on a dream trip to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea.
In another all-Premier League encounter, a resurgent Arsenal will travel to the south coast to face Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium. The fourth and final quarter-final will see the winner of the West Ham United versus Brentford tie host a confident Leeds United side at the London Stadium.
The quarter-final ties are scheduled to be played across the weekend of April 4, 2026. Kick-off times and specific dates will be confirmed in due course following discussions with the participating clubs, broadcast partners, and local authorities.
FA Cup Quarter-Final Draw in Full:
– Manchester City vs. Liverpool
– Chelsea vs. Port Vale
– Southampton vs. Arsenal
– West Ham United/Brentford vs. Leeds United