Why Are Both FA Cup Semifinals Played at Wembley Stadium?

Both FA Cup semifinals are taking place at Wembley Stadium this weekend, continuing a tradition that's been in place annually since 2008. However, it wasn't always done this way — and the shift had more to do with finances than football tradition, stemming from a massive £798 million construction bill.

Manchester City take on Championship side Southampton on Saturday (12:15 p.m. ET), with the Premier League giants heavily favoured to advance to their fourth straight final. The following day on Sunday (10 a.m. ET), Chelsea square off against Leeds United, who haven't reached a final since 1973 and are hoping Chelsea's recent struggles will give them the edge they need.

Financial reasons behind the Wembley switch

The FA Cup holds the distinction of being the world's oldest national cup competition, established back in 1871. Throughout most of its storied history, semifinal matches were contested at neutral grounds across England — venues like Old Trafford and Villa Park became popular choices during the 1990s and 2000s. Wembley's first semifinal hosting duty came in 1991 when Tottenham defeated Arsenal, though it remained an occasional experiment used selectively in 1993, 1994, and 2000.

Everything shifted with the reopening of the rebuilt Wembley in 2007. Starting in 2008, both semifinals were permanently relocated there. The Football Association required substantial revenue to cover the reconstruction costs — totaling $1.08 billion — and Wembley's impressive 90,000-seat capacity transformed the semifinals into a dependable revenue generator. It's really that straightforward.

England isn't the only nation using this approach. Scotland follows a similar model with Hampden Park for the Scottish Cup. However, across Europe, this format is hardly universal — Spain and Italy utilize two-legged semifinal ties, while France and Germany hold matches at the home stadiums of the competing teams.

Arguments against Wembley semifinals

The clear advantage is accessibility. More supporters can attend matches, and for fans of smaller clubs who rarely advance to the semifinal stage, experiencing a match at the national stadium represents something truly memorable.

The criticism typically comes from supporters of bigger clubs. For teams like City or Chelsea, who regularly make deep cup runs, playing at Wembley in the semifinal diminishes the special nature of reaching the final itself. The occasion loses some of its lustre when the venue already feels routine.

• Saturday, April 26: Manchester City vs. Southampton — 12:15 p.m. ET
• Sunday, April 27: Chelsea vs. Leeds United — 10 a.m. ET

Both matches unfold at Wembley Stadium. The final is scheduled for May 17. City's chances of claiming the trophy will improve significantly if they dispatch Southampton as anticipated — though the Leeds-Chelsea matchup is where the real unpredictability lies.