Andy Schooler previews Saturday’s FA Cup Final 2026 between Chelsea and Manchester City and picks out his best bets.
FA Cup Final 2026: Andy Schooler’s Exclusive Preview
If you trust form, Man City are surely winning this. They arrive unbeaten in nine, winning eight of those, while Chelsea have just two wins in their last 12. Eight of those matches have been lost. The Londoners essentially remain managerless and don’t look a united unit at the moment. Yes, they have a chance to save their season here but they face one of the country’s best teams and one which is going well.
FA Cup Final 2026 Best Bets: Outcome
City, playing in a record fourth consecutive FA Cup final, won 3-0 at Stamford Bridge only last month when Chelsea had no answers and, frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised to see something similar unfold here. Pep Guardiola was able to rest his biggest stars in midweek (Crystal Palace were soundly beaten any way) and many of them should be motivated by their defeat in last year’s final here at Wembley to Palace.
City are just 1.6 to win in 90 minutes but I think the best angle to get them on side is via the ‘win to nil’ market. Chelsea have failed to score in six of their last nine games, while six of City’s eight most-recent victories have all been achieved with a clean sheet. In addition, four of the last eight FA Cup finals have been won this way with an historic trend of ‘wins to nil’ in this showpiece match beginning to return. Backing City via this method gets us a price of 2.8 and that seems more than fair.
FA Cup Final 2026 Best Bets: Goalscorers
Surprisingly enough, Erling Haaland heads up the goalscorer markets but what you may not know is that he’s yet to score in a semi-final or final in any competition for City – that’s a total of 15 games! Short prices make little appeal but the 3.75 in the anytime scorer market about Jeremy Doku does. The Belgian winger is on fire at the moment and looks full of confidence. He’s scored in three of his last five starts (four goals in total) and also netted as a substitute during City’s semi-final win over Southampton. For me, his price offers value.
For those looking to the Chelsea side of things, Joao Pedro is considered the most likely scorer by the market but I’d consider Enzo Fernandez. As pointed out above, Chelsea have struggled for goals of late but Fernandez has scored in two of the last three and also netted against City at the Etihad earlier in the season. He’s at 4.6 in the anytime scorer betting.
FA Cup Final 2026 Best Bets: Player Props
Being on the City win to nil, I’ve no interest in backing Enzo Fernandez to score but I do want to side with the Argentine in the shot markets. He’s had 2+ shots in seven of his last nine games and that immediately makes even money catch the eye. Of course, this is a strong City defence but Fernandez managed three when these sides met in January (he didn’t play in the recent clash at Stamford Bridge).
I’ve liked his runs into the box throughout the season and he’s been rewarded with 14 goals. I think he’s a key man who has to deliver if Chelsea are to stand a chance. I also think Marc Cucurella is worth siding with in this market. The Spaniard was pushed forward to a left-midfield role at Anfield last week and caused plenty of problems, certainly enough for Calum McFarlane to consider him in a similar position here.
He had a shot in that match and, longer term, has managed one in four of his last seven starts. However, most of those have been in a more defensive role. 2.25 for any shot in this game looks worth snapping up. On the City side of the ball, I’m keen on Bernardo Silva in the same market.
This is his final chance to win a trophy with City and I’m sure he’ll be busting a gut to go out on a high before his summer departure from the club. The Portuguese star has had 2+ shots in four of his last six games yet is out at 2.45 for multiple shots in this final. Add in the motivational aspect and I think that’s worth a try.
FA Cup Final 2026 Best Bets
I remember mentioning this FA Cup trend last year when I didn’t put it up as an official tip – it duly won! The trend in question is that there have often been more first-half goals in this match than is the norm. Five of the last eight FA Cup finals have now seen more goals in the opening half, including the last three.
As already highlighted, those three have all involved City. One reason would be that if a team does get ahead, they are all-in on protecting that lead in order to claim the trophy. It’s 2.8 this year that the highest-scoring half is the first.
FA Cup Final 2026 Best Bets: Chelsea v Man City
Man City to win to nil @ 2.8 with kwiff
Doku anytime scorer @ 3.75 with kwiff
Enzo Fernandez over 1.5 shots @ 2.0 with kwiff
Marc Cucurella over 0.5 shots @ 2.25 with kwiff
Bernardo Silva over 1.5 shots @ 2.45 with kwiff
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