The FA Cup final kick-off time has been confirmed just two weeks out from the event.
Manchester City will face off against Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, May 17th as they look to salvage their season with some silverware.
It’s now been confirmed that the match will kick-off at an unusual time of 4:30pm – which is due to a potential clash in broadcasting with Eurovision.
The iconic singing competition which is also broadcast on BBC will take place on May 13, 15, and 17 – with the final taking place at 8pm.
This had left many fans fearing that they would have to pick between the events however, those fears have been alleviated after the kick-off time was confirmed.
BBC and ITV, who broadcast the FA Cup final live, are known to show more than 20 matches each season, often adjusting kickoff times to suit global audiences.
The FA Cup final kick-off time has been confirmed for 4:30pm on Saturday, May 17th
There had been fears that the FA Cup final broadcast could clash with this year’s Eurovision
For those hoping to catch both events, the timing might just about work – but it’ll be tight.
The FA Cup final is expected to wrap up around 6:30pm, if there’s a straightforward result, leaving fans a narrow window to switch over to Eurovision.
However, if the match extends into extra time or a penalty shootout, viewers could find themselves torn between the final whistle and the first Eurovision performance.
City, under the stewardship of Pep Guardiola, are no strangers to the FA Cup final, having lifted the trophy seven times in their storied history, most recently in 2023.
They fell to a dramatic defeat against rivals Manchester United when they met in the showpiece event last season,
The club, which has won ten Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League, are eyeing another piece of silverware to add to their glittering collection.
Crystal Palace, on the other hand, are looking to make history and win the competition for the first time in the club’s history.
The Eagles, managed by Oliver Glasner, have reached the FA Cup final twice before – in 1990 and 2016 – but fell short both times to United, losing 1-0 in a replay in 1990 and 2-1 after extra time in 2016.
