The FA Cup semi-final draw takes place this weekend.The FA Cup semi-final draw takes place this weekend.
The FA Cup semi-final draw takes place this weekend. | Getty Images
Only one of Crystal Palace of Fulham can progress into the FA Cup semi final this weekend as the two London sides meet at Craven Cottage.
Fulham could reach a first FA Cup semi-final in 23 years this weekend with a win over London rivals Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage on Saturday. For the Eagles, it’s the chance to make it to Wembley Stadium three years after their last taste of the semis.
The Cottagers are four places and six points ahead of Crystal Palace in the Premier League but Oliver Glasner’s side have become somewhat of a bogey opposition for Marco Silva in recent years. The Austrian has won and drawn his two trips to Craven Cottage, a 2-0 triumph the most recent result last month.
Only one of the four quarter finals this weekend is not a meeting between Premier League sides, with Aston Villa travelling to Championship outfit Preston North End. Brighton host Nottingham Forest and Manchester City travel to AFC Bournemouth in the other fixtures.
When is the FA Cup semi-final draw?
The FA Cup semi-final draw will take place on Sunday, March 30 following the conclusion of Preston North End v Aston Villa. The draw will take place live on BBC One and can be streamed online via BBC iPlayer.
The fixture at Deepdale kicks off at 1:30 pm and would finish shortly before 3:30 pm if the quarter-final is settled in 90 minutes. The FA Cup quarter finals will go to extra time and penalties if scores are level at full time, which would push the end of the match back to around 4:15 pm.
Replays were removed from the FA Cup this season with the FA citing ‘player welfare’ and a ‘congested calendar’ as the reasons behind that decision, which faced backlash, particularly from EFL clubs. Outfits further down the football pyramid could benefit from ticketing sale and broadcasting fees brought about by the extra FA Cup replay fixtures.
The ball numbers for the semi-final draw are:
Fulham or Crystal Palace
Preston North End of Aston Villa
AFC Bournemouth or Manchester City
Brighton & Hove Albion or Nottingham Forest
Joe Hart to conduct FA Cup draw
Mark Chapman will host the FA Cup draw on BBC One with former Manchester City and Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart in charge of picking the balls. The 37-year-old won the tournament in 2011 with the Cityzens and finished as a runner up with the club in 2013.
Hart, who retired from playing football in February 2024, made 26 appearances in the FA Cup. Speaking about winning the tournament with Manchester City, Hart told the official Tottenham Hotspur website in 2021: “It was my first trophy.
“Growing up, I didn’t bother dreaming about lifting trophies, I just liked playing football. I didn’t realise the dream when I did it, and I did something that I never really expected to be part of. It was the first trophy Manchester City had won in years, and it was a big moment.”
When and where will the FA Cup semi finals take place?
The FA Cup semi finals will take place over the weekend of Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27 at Wembley Stadium in London.
There are currently Premier League fixtures scheduled for that weekend with both London sides Crystal Palace and Fulham due to be in action. The Eagles travel to Arsenal at 5:30 pm on Saturday evening with Fulham heading to Southampton for a 3 pm kick off.
Those fixtures will be re-arranged depending on which side progresses at Craven Cottage this weekend. The FA Cup final is in the calendar for Saturday, May 17 at Wembley Stadium.
In other news, Fulham fans won’t be happy with the FA announcement for this weekend’s clash with Crystal Palace.