The 2023 FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United is set to make history as the first all-Manchester final in the competition. Taking place at Wembley on Saturday at 15:00 BST, the match is expected to draw a crowd of nearly 90,000. Fans are advised to make alternative travel plans to London, as national train strikes continue to disrupt services.
The match will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with live commentary available on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds.
City Aiming for Treble, United Seeks Domestic Cup Double
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, already Premier League champions, need a victory to maintain their chance for a remarkable Treble. They will face Inter Milan in the Champions League final on June 10. Manchester United, on the other hand, aim to follow up their Carabao Cup victory in February by completing a domestic cup double.
Manchester United’s Dutch boss, Erik ten Hag, expressed excitement about playing at Wembley, calling it “probably the best stadium in the world.”
Team News and Strategies
Guardiola confirmed that second-choice keeper Stefan Ortega will start over first-choice Ederson. Manchester United’s Anthony Martial will miss the final due to a hamstring injury, while Antony remains doubtful.
This year’s FA Cup final marks the first time in 12 years the match has kicked off at 15:00 BST. London’s Metropolitan Police classified the derby as high risk and objected to a later start time for security reasons.
Unprecedented June Final
The 2023 FA Cup final is also the first to be held in June, a result of fixture congestion caused by the World Cup in Qatar last November and December. The match is taking place 70 days before the start of the 2023-24 Premier League season on August 12.
Travel Advice for Fans
To minimize disruption, rival fans traveling to Wembley are urged to use separate routes and motorway service stations. Major congestion is anticipated due to the ongoing train strike.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) recommends specific routes and service stations for City and United supporters to alleviate congestion.
A Season of Progress for Both Teams
Manchester City seeks to match United’s 1998-99 achievement of winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League in a single season. United, meanwhile, is contesting their 21st FA Cup final, tying with Arsenal for the most appearances in the competition’s history.
