Fa Cup quarter-final draw locks in Man City vs Liverpool as Chelsea land Port Vale
fa now has its quarter-final picture, with a blockbuster tie set as Manchester City will host Liverpool and Chelsea will face League One side Port Vale. The draw sets up Arsenal away to Southampton, and Leeds United away to West Ham United after West Ham progressed following a penalty shootout against Brentford. The quarter-final ties are scheduled to be played across the weekend of 4/5 April 2026 (ET).
Quarter-final ties confirmed
The draw produced four matchups, headlined by Manchester City hosting Liverpool in what is being billed as a heavyweight showdown. Chelsea were drawn at home to Port Vale, who are the lowest ranked side left in the competition after beating Sunderland.
Elsewhere, Arsenal will travel to Southampton, who are eighth in the Championship. Leeds United will travel to West Ham United, who came through a 2-2 draw with Brentford before winning on penalties on Monday night.
Fa focus shifts to Chelsea vs Port Vale and a rare reunion
For Chelsea, the quarter-final brings a League One opponent and a meeting that has not happened in a competitive fixture for decades. Chelsea and Port Vale last met competitively in the 1928/29 season, when the sides drew 3-3 at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea lost 1-0 away from home.
Chelsea also have no competitive history of playing at Vale Park, Port Vale’s home, with most previous meetings taking place at Port Vale’s old Recreation Ground. With the winner earning a place in the semi-finals, the stakes are immediate for both clubs as the calendar moves toward the 4/5 April 2026 weekend (ET).
How Chelsea reached the last eight
Chelsea’s route into the quarter-finals was secured with a 4-2 victory over Championship club Wrexham on Saturday evening. The match required resilience, with Chelsea coming from behind twice at the Racecourse Ground before extra-time made the difference.
Chelsea’s scoring included an own goal and a Josh Acheampong strike in normal time, followed by extra-time goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Pedro to seal progression. The draw itself took place at the London Stadium, staged ahead of West Ham United’s fifth-round match against Brentford.
What happens next
Full fixture details and ticket information have yet to be issued, with updates expected in due course as the quarter-final weekend approaches. The immediate attention now turns to scheduling and match preparations, with the competition set for decisive knockout action across the weekend of 4/5 April 2026 (ET) as fa moves one step closer to its semi-final lineup.
