City kick off their campaign on Sunday afternoon
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
05:00, 11 Jan 2026
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Acun Ilicali is desperate for a cup run at Hull City(Image: Richard Sellers/PA Wire)
Hull City owner Acun Ilicali admits he'd love to face Liam Rosenior and Chelsea in the FA Cup, but ideally not until the final at Wembley in May.
City begin their FA Cup campaign on Sunday afternoon against Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers, looking to make it past the third round stage for the first time since 2019/20, when they were knocked out by the King's Road millionaires.
Since that forrary into round four in the year they were relegated to League One, City have gone out at the third round stage in each of the last five seasons, and in the second round the year before that when they were in the third tier.
Sunday's 2:30pm meeting with Rovers will be the fourth occasion Ilicali has watched his side tackle the third round proper of the world's oldest cup competition, and he's desperate to see a victory for the first time.
Rovers, though, have already claimed a 3-0 win at the MKM Stadium earlier in the season, though Sergej Jakirovic's squad were hit by a virus in the build-up. And while they're enduring a difficult campaign, the Ewood Park outfit boasts one of the better away records in the Championship, with five wins and four defeats from their 12 on the road.
"We haven't been past the third round since I became owner nearly four years ago, and I would love for us to do it this season, although of course, it won't be easy against Blackburn. They are a good team, but so are we," Ilicali told Hull Live."
Should City achieve a little bit of history by getting through round three, Ilicali is keen to avoid the Blues, who were taken over by ex-Tigers boss Rosenior on Tuesday, but admitted he'd quite like to take them on under the arch later this year.
"I wouldn't like to meet with Chelsea in the fourth or fifth round at home or away at Stamford Bridge," he said with a smile on his face. "If we pass this round against Rovers at our home, the only place I think we should meet Liam's team this season is in the FA Cup final at Wembley in May. Then, if we lose to Liam's side, we will not be too sad if it is at Wembley."
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