42 minutes ago
3
Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
Andree Jeglertz talks to TNT Sports
[On City’s successful season] We had the players, we have the club behind us. When you haven’t won for a couple of years you almost need to build the trust that you are able to win important games. That’s maybe the biggest thing.
[On Bunny Shaw’s contract extension] She has delivered for many years for this club so we are very happy that she really, really wants to continue the journey with us.
[On Brighton] They’re a very good team, we have been challenged in both league games. They have a lot of tactical flexibility; they are pretty brave; they are very strong when they end up close to our goal, so for us it’s about finding ways not to get stuck in the game they want to play.
Dario Vidosic’s pre-match thoughts
We’re really excited. There’s always a hint of jealousy when you’re watching this game at home; it’s a great opportunity and the girls deserve this chance.
It’s that old saying: pressure is a privilege. We have the opportunity to be the first team, male or female, to win a major trophy for the club.
We take some encouragement from the league games. Today’s all about us being brave; we know we have to be better than in the first 20-30 minutes against City. Nerves got the better of us that day.
We know we have to be good in all phases of play. If we do that, we’ll give ourselves an excellent chance.
Brighton came from behind to beat City 3-2 in the WSL last month, a result that should give them plenty of confidence going into this game.
They’ve picked the same XI today. City have one change: Grace Clinton for Aoba Fujino. The goalkeeper Khiara Keating was injured in training and is not part of the squad.
Team news
Brighton (4-4-1-1) Nnadozie; Rule, Hayes, Minami, Vanegas; Seike, Symonds, Cankovic, Olislagers; Kirby; Haley.
Subs: McLauchlan, Camacho, Tvedten, Kafaji, Rayner, Baggaley, Mpome, Noordam, Tsunoda.
Man City (4-2-3-1) Yamashita; Casaparij, Rose, Knaak, Greenwood; Blindkilde Brown, Hasegawa; Kerolin, Clinton, Hemp; Shaw.
Subs: Cumings, Coombs, Fowler, Miedema, Ouahabi, Fujino, Lohmann, Prior, Murphy.
City’s route to the final
-
Bournemouth (A) 6-0
-
Sheffield United (H) 4-0
-
Birmingham (A) 1-0
-
Chelsea (A) 3-2
Brighton’s route to the final
-
Nottingham Forest (H) 2-0
-
West Ham (A) 2-1
-
Arsenal (A) 2-0
-
Liverpool (A) 3-2
The victory at Arsenal was one for the books, but they can top it today.
Growing up in Brisbane with a big time difference to London, Dario Vidosic loved being allowed to stay up past his bedtime to watch a big Wembley final on television next to his father, Rado, before trying to recreate a great goal with him in the garden the following day.
On Sunday, Rado will not only be in the Vidosic family’s thoughts but in the hearts and minds of everyone associated with Brighton as the team walk out at Wembley for the Women’s FA Cup final against Manchester City to try to win their first major trophy, four months after Rado – who was working as the women’s team’s head of coaching – died from cancer.
Secure your first league title for a decade? Tick. Extend your golden boot-winning striker’s contract. Tick. Lift a first Women’s FA Cup since 2020? Pending. May 2026 has gone swimmingly for Manchester City and they are hoping it will get even better.
Once you get that sweet taste of long-awaited success, you want more, and coaches will tell you it is not reaching the top that is the hardest part, but staying there. Keeping hold of your best players is job No 1 in that regard, so persuading Khadija “Bunny” Shaw to perform a remarkable U-turn and stay for another four years was vital.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the FA Cup final between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City. There’s no narrative ambiguity today: either City, the best team in the country, will do the double for the first time, or Brighton will win their first major trophy. Whatever the result, it’ll be historic.
Kick off 3pm.
