Many Leeds United fans have never seen their team reach this stage of the FA Cup before in their lifetimes
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
07:00, 08 Apr 2026
Leeds United fans are off to Wembley
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Leeds United fans are off to Wembley(Image: Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Leeds United are off to Wembley and Whites supporters are ecstatic. For many, this is the first time they will watch their team in an FA Cup semi-final.
Not since 1987 have Leeds reached this stage of the competition and with Chelsea the opponents, United fans will be more than up for a grudge match at the national stadium. Of course, Leeds played there not so long ago.
It has not been two years since their Championship play-off final defeat to Southampton, who are now back in the second tier but play Manchester City in the other semi-final. Some of the players who featured that day will tread the hallowed turf once more later this month.
For others, it will be the first time playing club football at the stadium as Leeds look to get on the scoresheet once more, having failed to during their last three visits. While supporters will hope their team can claim a scalp, it is already a significant achievement to have reached this stage.
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Memories will be made down Wembley Way once again and to play there in the world’s oldest club cup competition means a lot of fans, as is described by some of them below.
Lucy
“Being 38 years old, I’ve long thought I have been a curse - I am from the era where despite being in Leeds, I was a child surrounded by Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal fans whereby the cup was always for them - it was never for us.
“The magic of the cup applied the other way around - being caught out by the likes of Cardiff, Wigan, Hereford, Histon, Sutton, Newport etc - it felt like a serious competition for others, it felt rather comedic for us.
“The sentence ‘concentrate on the league’ was ingrained in me from a very early age, and it’s been a strange yet welcoming feeling to have a different approach over the last couple of games in this competition.
“The glass that is always half empty is looking a little fuller than normal - is this the mythical magic of the cup they speak of?
“A day trip to Wembley has only ever ended in defeat for me, but they have me believing that you never quite know. We have all patiently waited, and they say good things come to those who wait. Bring it on.”
Stephen
“I wasn’t allowed to go to Hillsborough in ‘87 because Mum and Dad thought I was too young at age eight, so I spent the day with friends of the family and didn’t even see the game.
“I was at the other two quarter finals against Wolves and Sheffield United and remember being distraught after the loss at home to Wolves especially so it’s brilliant to watch my team in an FA Cup semi-final for the first time.
“I’m not a fan of the games being played at Wembley as that should be kept for the finalists, but it gives more fans the chance to go and should be a great day out, win or lose it will definitely be a memorable one.”
Heidi
"The FA Cup has always meant a lot to me. I'm one of the privileged fans who saw Billy Bremner lift the FA Cup from Her Majesty the Queen in 1972 and I've always wanted to see us win it again.
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"To be able to celebrate with other Leeds fans and see us lift the FA Cup at Wembley, would be a dream come true."