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FA Cup Quarter-Finals: Match-By-Match Preview And Ticket Guide
Written by Aviran Zazon | Last updated on March 31, 2026
FA Cup Quarter-Finals: All Four Ties, With Wembley In Sight
Eight teams are left, the semi-finals come next, and that is why this round always feels different. It is the point in the competition when a good cup run starts to look like something bigger, and this weekend brings one heavyweight meeting, one classic underdog story, and two ties that should be tight enough to swing on a small moment.
This guide runs through all four quarter-finals and picks out the Tie of the Round straight away. If you are comparing tickets on the secondary market, Ticket-Compare.com is a comparison platform rather than a seller; it brings together listings from pre-vetted resale sites and official hospitality partners so supporters can check what is available in one place and then click through to the provider they prefer.
Tie Of The Round: Manchester City vs Liverpool
Etihad Stadium in Manchester gets the headline tie of the quarter-finals, and there is no need to dress it up beyond that. Manchester City beat Newcastle United 3-1 in the fifth round, while Liverpool won by the same score at Wolverhampton Wanderers, so both sides arrive here on the back of convincing work rather than a scrape. The reward for the winners is simple enough: one more victory and they are walking out at Wembley for an FA Cup semi-final.
That is why this feels like the standout tie even in a round with a proper giant-killing story elsewhere. City should have Erling Haaland and Phil Foden in the matchday picture, while the Reds can look to Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak (back in training) and Virgil van Dijk, which gives the afternoon an obvious edge before a ball is kicked.
At the Etihad, a longside seat makes the most sense if you want to follow the shape of the game, though the end stands bring more of the surge when chances start arriving in clusters.
There is also a cup-specific tension to this one that the league meetings this season do not quite carry, and if you have left it late, you will usually find the clearest picture of tickets are on sale by checking Ticket-Compare.com.
Right now there are 3,635 tickets available for this fixture on Ticket-Compare.com.
Prices for this fixture currently start from $57 on Ticket-Compare.com.
Seating areas people tend to target
Quarter-Final Tie List
| Tie | Date | Stadium | Quick read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City vs Liverpool | Saturday 4 April 2026 | Etihad Stadium, Manchester | The biggest tie in the round and a straight shoot-out for a semi-final place. |
| Chelsea vs Port Vale | Saturday 4 April 2026 | Stamford Bridge, London | A lower-league side with a real cup run behind it heads to west London. |
| Southampton vs Arsenal | Saturday 4 April 2026 | St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton | A home quarter-final for Saints against a side that usually travels with serious demand. |
| West Ham United vs Leeds United | Sunday 5 April 2026 | London Stadium, London | The last tie of the weekend, with the Hammers and the Whites both seeing a clear route to Wembley. |
Chelsea vs Port Vale
The underdog story in this round belongs to Chelsea and Port Vale, even if the draw has sent it to west London rather than giving the Valiants a packed-out home tie. Chelsea needed extra time to beat Wrexham 4-2 in the fifth round, while Vale earned this trip by seeing off Sunderland 1-0, which gives them every right to believe they have not come this far just to make up the numbers. The prize, of course, is enormous: win here and a League One side would be heading to Wembley.
At Stamford Bridge, the game should carry that familiar cup mix of expectation and anxiety. The Blues ought to have Cole Palmer, João Pedro and Liam Delap involved, while Port Vale can look to Jayden Stockley, Ben Waine and Onel Hernández if they want a threat on the break or from second balls. That is usually the way these ties are felt in the stands as well:
The home crowd expects control, the away end feeds off every clearance, tackle and set piece, and the balance changes quickly if the favourite does not score early.
If you are comparing prices and seat areas for this clash, it is easier if you start with Ticket-Compare.com.
Right now there are 4,594 tickets available for this fixture on Ticket-Compare.com.
Prices for this fixture currently start from $71 on Ticket-Compare.com.
Seating areas people tend to target
Southampton vs Arsenal
A home quarter-final at St Mary’s Stadium gives Southampton something tangible to lean on, because this is not a tie they have been handed by reputation alone. Saints won 1-0 at Fulham in the last round and earned the right to host Arsenal, who had to work for a 2-1 result at Mansfield Town.
Southampton supporters will look at the setting and think there is a chance here, especially if the game stays level deep into the afternoon. Taylor Harwood-Bellis should be involved at the back and Damion Downs gives Saints a direct option up front, while the Gunners can expect Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Viktor Gyökeres to be around the tie if selection goes to plan. That gives Arsenal the bigger names on paper, though cup matches at St Mary’s can become awkward quickly, and the Saints have a decent record against the Gunners.
If you are still looking for seats, you can check Ticket-Compare.com.
Right now there are 434 tickets available for this fixture on Ticket-Compare.com.
Prices for this fixture currently start from $96 on Ticket-Compare.com.
Seating areas people tend to target
West Ham United vs Leeds United
Sunday’s tie has a different feel simply because it closes the round. By the time West Ham United and Leeds United walk out at London Stadium, the rest of the semi-final line-up will already be taking shape, and that can sharpen the sense of opportunity. West Ham came through a bruising fifth-round game against Brentford, winning on penalties after a 2-2 draw, while Leeds beat Norwich City 3-0 and arrive with a clearer route behind them.
This is also a tie with a strong away following built into it. The Hammers should have Jarrod Bowen and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the matchday squad, and Leeds can look to Ethan Ampadu, Wilfried Gnonto and Ao Tanaka as players capable of making the game move quickly from one phase to the next. There is no need to force grand statements about it: Win, and it is Wembley; lose, and the run is over. That is enough.
For supporters choosing where to sit, the London Stadium can feel very different depending on level and angle. Lower longside seats usually give the best footballing view, while behind-goal spots suit anyone who cares more about the release of a big moment than the full picture of what is going on. For late availability, it is worth a quick look at Ticket-Compare.com.
Right now there are 1,875 tickets available for this fixture on Ticket-Compare.com.
Prices for this fixture currently start from $74 on Ticket-Compare.com.
Seating areas people tend to target
How To Compare FA Cup Quarter-Final Tickets This Weekend
The story of the round is clear enough. Manchester City against Liverpool removes one of the biggest names before the semi-finals, Port Vale are chasing the sort of day their supporters will talk about for years, and the Southampton and West Ham ties both feel close enough to turn on one finish, one set piece or one loose spell. That is exactly what makes this stage of the FA Cup so good.
If you are hunting for tickets for any of the four matches, Ticket-Compare.com gives you a simpler way to compare the market. It is a comparison platform rather than a seller, listing options from pre-vetted resale sites and official hospitality partners, and it lets you see seat areas and prices without bouncing across multiple tabs before you decide where to buy.
