The FA Cup is approaching the business end of the competition after the quarter-final draw pitted the last eight teams into four knockout ties.Â
We are left with four sides who expected to reach this stage of the tournament every season and four others who are in bonus territory.
Port Vale are the most unlikely team to make it this far. Given they are currently bottom of League One, they will have to overcome mountainous odds to get to Wembley. They had been blessed by a kind draw until they faced Sunderland in the fifth round, but they dispatched the Premier League outfit with a shock 1-0 win at home.
The Valiants have been rewarded with a trip to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea, who have reached the semi-finals in four of the last six seasons. The Blues are considered third favourites by bookmakers to lift the trophy this season, just ahead of Liverpool after the Reds were drawn against Manchester City at Eastlands.
Arsenal are, unsurprisingly, the bookies’ favourites to win the competition for the first time since 2020. The Gunners were handed one of the best draws in the quarter-finals after being paired with Championship side Southampton in a repeat of the 2003 final. Mikel Arteta’s men are still in contention for the Quadruple as they look to end their trophy drought.
Read –Â Five heroes from the FA Cup fifth-round weekend
FA Cup odds: Who are the favourites to win in 2025/26?
8. Port Vale – 300/1
7. Southampton – 50/1
6. Leeds United – 14/1
5. West Ham United – 12/1
4. Liverpool – 5/1
3. Chelsea – 9/2
2. Man City – 3/1
1. Arsenal – 2/1
Read – FA Cup quarter-final draw, dates and TV channel
FA Cup quarter-final draw in full:
- Southampton vs Arsenal
- Chelsea vs Port Vale
- Manchester City vs Liverpool
- West Ham United vs Leeds United
When will the FA Cup quarter-finals take place?
The quarter-finals will be played on the weekend of the 4th of April.
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