Key Points
- Chelsea and Manchester City have each been allocated 28,700 tickets for the 2026 FA Cup final at Wembley.
- The allocation is lower than last season, when Manchester City and Crystal Palace each received 30,786 tickets, and City were later given 33,467 in total.
- Wembley is expected to make an additional batch of tickets available later, with BBC Sport reporting that the total may rise above 30,000 per club.
- Around 30,000 tickets are also held outside the two clubs’ allocations and are usually distributed through the “football family”, including volunteers, county FAs, local clubs and charities.
- Manchester City’s disabled allocation includes 100 wheelchair bays, with ambulant seating also provided and a free personal assistant option.
- Ticket prices for adults start at £50 for Category 4 and rise to £285 for premium level two, while concession prices start at £40 and rise to £265.
Manchester City (Manchester Mirror)May 14, 2026-Manchester City and Chelsea will each receive 28,700 tickets for the 2026 FA Cup final at Wembley, with City’s disabled allocation including 100 wheelchair bays and ambulant seating.
How many tickets have been allocated?
London, BBC Sport, May 14, 2026 – The FA Cup final ticket allocation has become one of the main talking points ahead of Chelsea against Manchester City at Wembley. Each club has been given 28,700 tickets, which is more than 2,000 fewer than the allocation handed to Manchester City and Crystal Palace last season.
As reported by BBC Sport, the figure is expected to increase once Wembley releases the next round of tickets, with the final total for each club likely to go above 30,000. The remaining tickets, roughly 30,000 in total, are not assigned to the two finalists and are generally distributed to the wider football community.
Why is the allocation lower?
The lower allocation appears to reflect Wembley’s standard distribution for the final rather than a change aimed at either club specifically. BBC Sport reported that last season Manchester City received 33,467 tickets, while this year the initial club allocation is 28,700 each.
The gap has prompted renewed discussion among supporters because the final is one of the biggest fixtures in the English domestic calendar, yet a large share of Wembley seats remains outside the clubs’ direct control. That broader block is usually reserved for the “football family”, which includes county associations, volunteers, local clubs and charitable groups.
What are the ticket prices?
Football Ground Guide reported the adult ticket bands for the 2026 final as Premium Level Two at £285, Level Two at £255, Category 1 at £175, Category 2 at £125, Category 3 at £80 and Category 4 at £50. The concession prices are listed as Premium Level Two at £265, Level Two at £245, Category 1 at £165, Category 2 at £115, Category 3 at £70, and Category 4 at £40.
The same reporting also notes wheelchair and ambulant tickets priced at £50 for adults and £40 for concessions. These figures apply to the Wembley final and are separate from the clubs’ internal sales criteria.
How does disabled access work?
Manchester City’s ticket information states that the club has received 100 wheelchair bays, along with ambulant seats and a provision for a free personal assistant. The club says qualifying disabled supporters can buy online, and wheelchair buyers can select from specific Wembley blocks listed on the ticketing page.
For ambulant supporters, Wembley has advised Row 31 in Level 1 as the most suitable location, although City says eligible fans may buy elsewhere if needed. The ticketing page also confirms that a personal assistant seat is added automatically for wheelchair users and can be assigned in the basket during purchase.
What does it mean for supporters?
For Manchester City supporters, the first impact is likely to be intense competition for the club’s initial allocation because the first sales windows are reserved for those with stronger loyalty-point records and FA Cup scheme registration. That structure favours long-term season-ticket holders and regular attendees over casual buyers.
For disabled fans, the dedicated wheelchair and ambulant provision gives clearer access than is sometimes available for high-demand finals, but the limited number of places still means early action is important. The pricing structure also shows that the most affordable tickets are concentrated in the lower categories, which may help some supporters, but the cheapest seats are still likely to be in short supply.
Background of the development
The FA Cup final continues to draw attention not only because of the teams involved but also because of how Wembley distributes seats between clubs and non-club groups. In previous finals, the two finalists have also received large but limited allocations, with a further block of tickets kept back for football authorities and related organisations.
Manchester City’s published ticket guidance also shows that disability access arrangements are built into the club’s Wembley allocation, including wheelchair bays, ambulant seating, and a personal assistant option. That reflects the standard approach used for major finals where demand is high, and the stadium must balance home and away supporter needs with wider event obligations.
Prediction
For Manchester City fans, the practical effect is likely to be a fast sell-out of the first sales windows, especially among higher-loyalty supporters. Supporters with lower point totals may face a much harder route to securing seats unless additional tickets are released later.
For the wider audience, the lower initial allocation may keep debate alive around Wembley’s ticket distribution model, especially if the final total for each club does not rise much above 30,000. Disabled supporters should still expect demand to exceed supply, so the accessible allocation will remain an important part of the discussion around fairness and stadium access.
