FA Youth Cup Final 2025/26: Man Utd’s route to the final, date, time, venue and top scorers

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Manchester United’s under-18s will compete in the FA Youth Cup Final. Here is everything you need to know.

• Manchester City vs Manchester United: FA Youth Cup Final
• Date: Thursday 14 May, 2026
• Location: Joie Stadium, Manchester
• Kick-off time: 7pm, extra-time and penalties if required
• Broadcast: TNT Sports, BBC iPlayer and website, radio commentary MUTV

City have rejected the Etihad as a venue: Where should the FA YOUTH CUP FINAL be held?

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How Man Utd reached the Final

• Man Utd 1-0 Peterborough: A tight game at Old Trafford was decided by a strike from JJ Gabriel, who became the youngest player to score for United in the FA Youth Cup. His low shot from the edge of the box was assisted by Nathaniel Brown.
• Man Utd 2-1 Derby County: United required extra-time to see off Derby after a resilient effort from the visiting side. The game finished 0-0 after 90 minutes before an own goal broke the deadlock. Chido Obi then made it 2-0 in extra-time, before a Derby consolation set up a frantic finish.
• Oxford United 1-4 Man Utd: United made light work of Oxford United with a dominant away performance. Albert Mills, JJ Gabriel, Chido Obi and Noah Ajayi scored the goals.
• Man Utd 3-2 Sunderland: A competitive game at Old Trafford saw Noah Ajayi open the scoring with an impressive long range strike. Sunderland rallied in the second half to take a 2-1 lead, before Chido Obi levelled. Nathaniel Brown scored the winner in the final minutes after a JJ Gabriel assist.
• Man Utd 2-1 Crystal Palace: JJ Gabriel opened the scoring before a rare goalkeeping error allowed Palace back into the tie. The match went to extra-time and looked to be heading to penalties before an incisive pass from James Overy set Chido Obi up for a winner.

Top scorers and assists in FA Youth Cup

Here is a look at the key contributors in front of goal in the competition.

Goals

• Chido Obi: 4
• JJ Gabriel: 3
• Noah Ajayi: 2
• Albert Mills: 1
• Nathaniel Brown: 1

Assists

• Nathaniel Brown: 2
• JJ Gabriel: 2
• Dan Armer: 2
• Jay McEvoy: 1
• Jim Thwaites: 1
• James Overy: 1

United’s semi-final line-up

Starters: Byrne-Hughes, Helafu, Mills, Armer, Kukonki, McCormack, Thwaites, Brown, Gabriel, Obi, Ajayi

Subs: Overy, Heath, Watson, McEvoy, Shah, Lusale, Bradbury

Recent matches against City’s under-18s

Manchester City’s under-18s pipped United to win the under-18s with 60 points compared to United’s 56.

The two teams won one game apiece, with City winning 4-2 away in late September. United won the more recent match, victorious away from home with a 3-1 win.

JJ Gabriel, Chido Obi and Jim Thwaites scored the goals in the victory.

It is also notable that United’s under-21s won 4-3 away at City last week in the playoff semi-final, with players including Jim Thwaites and Chido Obi involved, who will also likely start the Youth Cup Final.

Essential reading

• READ: Where are they now? Man Utd’s 2022 FA Youth Cup winners
• READ: Who are Man Utd’s ‘Class of 2026’?
• READ: Results and records for every under-18s game.

How many times Man Utd have won the FA Youth Cup

Manchester United hold the record for winning the FA Youth Cup more than any club in history, doing so 11 times in total.

United most recently won the competition in 2022, with Kobbie Mainoo a key starter in the team. The Red Devils reached the semi-finals last season.