Leeds United reached their first FA Cup semi-final since 1987 with a dramatic penalty shootout win over West Ham at London Stadium on Sunday afternoon
Connor O'Neill Senior Sports Content Creator
08:08, 06 Apr 2026
Leeds United's players celebrate in the penalty shoot-out
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Leeds United's players celebrate in the penalty shoot-out(Image: PA)
Leeds United marched on to the FA Cup semi-finals after a chaotic penalty shoot-out win over West Ham United on Sunday afternoon. The Whites reached the last four of this competition for the first time in 39 years – but only after a penalty shootout, having blown a two-goal lead in stoppage time.
Goals from Ao Tanaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin put Daniel Farke’s side in total control at the London Stadium. But West Ham scored twice in the 11 added minutes through Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi to sensationally take a classic FA Cup encounter to extra-time.
Then Finlay Herrick was thrown on for his Hammers debut in the shootout after Alphonse Areola went down injured at the death. Herrick saved the first spot-kick from Joel Piroe, but Leeds keeper Lucas Perri denied Jarrod Bowen and Pablo Felipe to send Leeds through 3-2 on penalties.
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Leeds will now face Chelsea in the semi-finals, with the game at Wembley set to take place on either Saturday, April 25, or Sunday, April 26.
But although a place in the final could secure the Whites a Community Shield showdown with Manchester City if they beat Southampton in the other semi-final and also win the Premier League title, it won’t be enough to secure a return to Europe.
That is because only the winner of the FA Cup is afforded a place in the 2026/27 Europa League, providing they haven't already qualified for European competition via their finish in the Premier League.
If City win the Cup and have qualified for the Champions League or Europa League via their league position, then the team finishing in eighth place in the Premier League would be handed a place in European competition.
Leeds United players celebrate their penalty shoot-out victory
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Leeds United players celebrate their penalty shoot-out victory(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
The top five teams would qualify for the Champions League, the sixth and seventh-placed teams would qualify for the Europa League, and the eighth-placed team would qualify for the UEFA Conference League.
However, even if Leeds were to be beaten by City in the final, should Pep Guardiola’s side win the title, then the Whites would return to the home of English football to take on the Sky Blues in the Community Shield.
Speaking after Sunday’s game, Whites boss Farke said: “At least I’m old enough that I was already born when there was the last semi-final for Leeds United in the FA Cup in the 80s.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke celebrates after the Emirates FA Cup quarter-final
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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke celebrates after the Emirates FA Cup quarter-final(Image: PA)
“It was a crazy game and it has cost lots of energy, but in the FA Cup quarter-final both teams are able to fight for quite another piece of history for the club.
“To reach, for the first time since a while, the semi-final, the game should be like this with ups and downs and setbacks.
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“We could have made our life a bit easier after an excellent start to the game. But West Ham is also a Premier League side who is, of course, giving everything and trying everything to come back into the game.”
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