The stage is set for a heavyweight battle at the home of English football. Manchester City and Arsenal will face off in the 2025/26 League Cup final on March 22, 2026. Kick-off is scheduled for 16:30 GMT at Wembley Stadium.
Manchester City enters the final with a flawless record, having won every match in the competition so far. Pep Guardiola’s side has been dominant, and the manager couldn’t hide his pride:
“In ten years, we’ve reached this final five times. It’s top, top, top,” Guardiola said. “Playing against what is perhaps the best team in the world right now is a fantastic experience.”
The Road to Wembley: Manchester City
City’s journey to the final has been a masterclass in consistency:
- Huddersfield Town: 2-0 Win
- Swansea City: 3-1 Win
- Brentford: 2-0 Win
- Newcastle (Semi-finals): Agg. 5-1 (2-0 and 3-1 victories)
The Road to Wembley: Arsenal
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have shown incredible resilience, including a dramatic penalty shootout win. Arteta described reaching the final as the “best vitamin” for his squad:
- Port Vale: 2-0 Win
- Brighton: 2-0 Win
- Crystal Palace: Won on penalties
- Chelsea (Semi-finals): A hard-fought victory over their London rivals.
Semi-Final “Team of the Tournament”
The dominance of the two finalists is reflected in the official “Best XI” from the semi-final stage. Manchester City and Arsenal players account for 10 of the 11 spots, with only Alejandro Garnacho (Chelsea) breaking the monopoly after his brace in the semi-final.
The Semi-Final Best XI:
- GK: Trafford (City)
- Defense: Ben White (Arsenal), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Hincapié (City), Aït-Nouri (City)
- Midfield: Zubimendi (Arsenal), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Tijjani Reijnders (City)
- Attack: Bernardo Silva (City), Alejandro Garnacho (Chelsea), Omar Marmoush (Arsenal)
Ronald Mike is a football writer covering the English Premier League, providing match analysis, tactical insight, and coverage of key rivalries and title races across the season.
