FA Cup prize money: How much will Manchester City and Chelsea earn?

The magic of the FA Cup is supposed to be about giant-killings, muddy pitches and part-time defenders suddenly becoming national heroes with headlines like ‘the plumber that flattened Ronaldo’ across tabloid front pages. But by the time the final rolls around at Wembley, there is also a pretty healthy pile of cash on the line and, as is often the case, two of England’s heavyweight clubs in each locker room.

What is the 2025/26 FA Cup final prize breakdown?

For Manchester City and Chelsea, the biggest payday comes from the final itself. The winners of the 2025-26 FA Cup will collect £2.12 million ($2.8 million), while the runners-up still walk away with £1.06 million ($1.4 million).

Not exactly loose change, even in Premier League terms, but hardly the revenue that gets these particular bean counters popping corks. Money-wise, the real difference is made in the earlier rounds and for the more modest clubs.

It’s worth noting that the money stacks up round by round too. Clubs receive prize payments for every stage they survive, meaning both finalists have already banked a decent amount before even kicking a ball at Wembley.

Here’s the breakdown from the later rounds:

• Third round winners: £121,500 ($161,000)
• Fourth round winners: £127,000 ($168,000)
• Fifth round winners: £238,500 ($316,000)
• Quarter-final winners: £477,000 ($632,000)
• Semi-final winners: £1.06 million ($1.4 million)

For all the earlier rounds, check out the FA’s official site.

Add all that together and the FA Cup champions will end up earning just over £4.1 million ($5.4 million) in prize money across the competition. The losing finalist still clears around £3 million ($4 million).

Of course, for clubs the size of City and Chelsea, television revenue and Champions League money still dwarf those figures. Pep Guardiola has probably spent more on cardigans. But silverware is silverware, and nobody turns down an extra few million pounds.

The Chelsea story does make this year’s final feel a bit different, though. Interim boss Calum McFarlane has gone from academy coach and non-league football to potentially lifting the FA Cup at Wembley in the space of a few chaotic months that have put a place in next season’s Champions League at risk. Two caretaker spells, managerial sackings everywhere, and suddenly he is standing on the touchline against Guardiola.

That, at least, offer a little of the ‘magic’ of the FA Cup.

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