FA Cup Prize Money 2025/26: What Manchester City and Chelsea Actually Earn

The champion of this year's FA Cup final takes home £2.12 million. The runner-up receives £1.06 million. But for powerhouse clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea, neither amount represents the true financial significance of this matchup.

The substantial earnings came from advancing through each round. Both teams have accumulated prize money stage by stage starting from the third round, and when the final whistle sounds at Wembley, the FA Cup winner will have earned just north of £4.1 million throughout their entire campaign. The runner-up still pockets approximately £3 million. While not insignificant, these figures pale in comparison to clubs generating hundreds of millions annually.

Prize money by round

  • Third round victory: £121,500
  • Fourth round victory: £127,000
  • Fifth round victory: £238,500
  • Quarter-final victory: £477,000
  • Semi-final victory: £1.06 million
  • Final victory: £2.12 million
  • Final runner-up: £1.06 million

Combined, the complete prize package for the champion totals just above £4.1 million. When measured against Premier League wage bills, it's essentially a footnote. Pep Guardiola's squad commands higher weekly wages than the entire tournament awards its victor.

However, the silverware holds immense value. Particularly for Chelsea.

McFarlane's remarkable journey to Wembley

Caretaker manager Calum McFarlane has progressed from youth academy coaching and lower-league football to an FA Cup final showdown against Guardiola through a series of managerial dismissals that would shock even seasoned football executives. Two interim appointments. A club navigating a turbulent campaign that has simultaneously endangered their Champions League prospects. And now, this opportunity.

When assessing Chelsea's chances in this final, McFarlane's limited elite-level experience cannot be overlooked. Guardiola has captured this trophy previously and understands the Wembley atmosphere. That represents a genuine advantage, not merely a perception difference.

The FA Cup has built its legacy on surprise results and improbable storylines. This season, the improbable story is already standing in one of the technical areas — he simply happens to be a finalist.