Manchester City are on the hunt for their second major trophy of the season this Saturday, as they take on Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium. Having already lifted the Carabao Cup earlier this term, Pep Guardiola's side are just one win away from becoming only the sixth team in history to complete the domestic cup double. City have been dominant in this competition, winning 21 of their last 23 fixtures, but they'll be wary of matching Chelsea's unwanted record of three consecutive final losses.
The biggest question mark for Guardiola is the fitness of midfield anchor Rodri. The Spanish international remains a significant doubt due to a nagging groin injury, and Guardiola was tight-lipped about his availability during Friday's press conference. If Rodri is unavailable, expect Bernardo Silva and Nico Gonzalez to drop deeper into midfield to provide cover.
In goal, James Trafford is set to continue his impressive run in the domestic cup competitions, having been preferred to Gianluigi Donnarumma throughout the campaign. Guardiola is also unlikely to risk Josko Gvardiol from the start, as the defender only recently returned from a broken leg against Crystal Palace. Instead, Nico O'Reilly is expected to slot into the backline.
Up front, all eyes will be on Erling Haaland as he returns to the starting lineup, looking to break a persistent Wembley hoodoo. The Norwegian has failed to score in any of his eight previous appearances at the stadium and has yet to find the net in a major final for the club. His last goal in a showpiece came for Borussia Dortmund back in 2021. Jeremy Doku will also return after being rested in midweek, bringing his electric pace and creativity to the attack.
City's attacking statistics in finals tell a curious story—they average more shots than their opponents, but their conversion rate often drops when it matters most. Guardiola will be demanding clinical finishing from his players to avoid another disappointment under the famous Wembley arch.
Manchester City predicted XI: Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O'Reilly; Bernardo, Nico; Doku, Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland.
The 2026 FA Cup final kicks off at 15:00 BST on Saturday. Whether you're cheering from the stands or watching from home, make sure you're geared up in the latest City kit to support your team in style.