Pompey fans at the 2008 FA Cup final against CardiffPompey fans at the 2008 FA Cup final against Cardiff
Pompey fans at the 2008 FA Cup final against Cardiff | AFP via Getty Images
The record crowd that witnesed Pompey beat Cardiff in 2008 FA Cup final at the new Wembley remains in place following 2025 final contested by Crystal Palace and Manchester City
Crystal Palace made history at Wembley on Saturday as they celebrated FA Cup success for the very first time.
Oliver Glasner’s side were the ones celebrating at the final whistle under the famous arch as Eberechi Eze’s 16th-minute strike was enough to see off the challenge of Manchester City, who will end the season trophyless for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
The Eagles’ famous victory sparked wild scenes of celebration inside the ground and across the country as Palace fans enjoyed seeing their heroes lift their first piece of major silverware in their 120-year history.
Its fair to assume airll 30,000-plus Palace fans lucky to be present inside Wembley will have stayed behind to watch that most precious of moments in the club’s history.
Yet it’s Pompey and Cardiff supporters whose presence remains in the latest rewrite of the new Wembley history books.
Indeed, while 84,163 Crystal Palace and Manchester City fans - Saturday’s official attendance - enjoyed the latest FA Cup final spectacle, that number still falls short of the record crowd registered by both Blues and Bluebirds supporters for the same game on May 17, 2008.
Seventeen finals and a whole host of other sporting occasions have been held at the 2007-rebuilt structure since. But the crowd that witnessed Pompey secure the FA Cup for a second time remains the stadium’s highest-ever attendance for a sporting event other than boxing, where spectators can also be seated on the field of play, close to the ring.
Former Pompey defender Joel Ward holds aloft the FA Cup after the Eagles' 1-0 win over Manchester City in the 2025 finalFormer Pompey defender Joel Ward holds aloft the FA Cup after the Eagles' 1-0 win over Manchester City in the 2025 final
Former Pompey defender Joel Ward holds aloft the FA Cup after the Eagles' 1-0 win over Manchester City in the 2025 final | Getty Images
The 2016-17 FA Cup final contested by Arsenal and Chelsea ran the 2008 attendance close, with 89,427 fans seated inside Wembley to see the Gunners run out 2-1 winners.
But even that falls someway short of the 89,826 crowd present to witness Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 in the 2006-07 final - the previous record held the year before Pompey’s special moment at Wembley.
Incidentally, the record number of sports fans recorded inside the new Wembley stadium for an event is 96,000, when Anthony Joshua took on Daniel Dubois in their all-British IBF World Heavyweight title fight in 2024.
Wembley’s biggest ever crowds - by event/sport
Concert – 98,000: Adele, 2017
Boxing – 96,000: Daniel Dubois vs Anthony Joshua, 2024
Football – 89,874: FA Cup Final – Cardiff City v Pompey, 2008
Rugby Union – 89,267: Rugby World Cup - Ireland v Romania, 2015
NFL – 86,651: Jacksonville Jaguars vs New England Patriots, 2024
Rugby League – 85,217: Challenge Cup final - Warrington Wolves v Leeds Rhinos, 2010.
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