League One Port Vale’s path took a sharp turn when the quarter final fa cup draw handed them Chelsea away, their first competitive meeting since 1929. The last-eight bracket also placed Manchester City at home to Liverpool and sent Arsenal to Southampton, sketching a weekend in early April when contrasting ambitions will share the same stage.
Port Vale, Chelsea, and a first meeting since 1929
Port Vale have reached the FA Cup quarter-finals for only the second time in their history after beating Sunderland. Their reward is a trip to Chelsea, and it will be the first time the clubs have met in a competitive fixture since 1929. As the lowest-ranked side left in the competition, Vale now take their run to Stamford Bridge with a place in the semi-finals on the line.
The London side arrive in the last eight after twice coming from behind to win 4-2 in extra time against 10-man Wrexham. For Vale, the draw extends a journey that began far from such stages and places them alongside names more familiar to this round.
Quarter Final Fa Cup Draw pairs Manchester City with Liverpool
In the quarter final fa cup draw, Manchester City were paired with Liverpool, with City hosting. City advanced after a 3-1 win at Newcastle, while Liverpool booked their spot by seeing off Wolves in the fifth round on Friday night. It is the kind of tie that shapes the tone of a tournament, bringing two contenders together ahead of April.
The schedule underscores how swiftly the competition tightens. Home advantage belongs to City this time, and the bracket leaves little room for gentle steps into the final four. One game will move either side on; one will end a run that looked built to last longer.
Arsenal to Southampton, West Ham v Leeds complete the picture
Record 14-time winners Arsenal will travel to Southampton, eighth in the Championship. Arsenal reached the last eight after seeing off Mansfield on Saturday, while Southampton won 1-0 at Fulham with an injury-time penalty from Ross Stewart. The pairing sends the most decorated club in the competition to a side whose most recent win came late and under pressure.
Leeds United will visit West Ham United after West Ham beat Brentford on Monday evening. Leeds arrived at this stage with a 3-0 win over Norwich on Sunday, and West Ham’s progress completed the line-up. The quarter-finals are scheduled for the weekend of April 4–5, 2026, fixing the dates when all four ties will decide the semi-finalists.
For Vale, the calendar now holds a simple line that carries unusual weight: a quarter-final away to Chelsea. It is a fixture born of the draw, of a shock win over Sunderland, and of a first meeting not seen since 1929. The next step comes on the April weekend set for the last eight, when a place in the final four will be at stake.
