FA Cup Final Kick-off Set to 4:30pm

The FA Cup final between Manchester City and Crystal Palace will take place at Wembley Stadium on May 17, with kick-off confirmed for 4:30pm to minimize overlap with the Eurovision Song Contest, which begins at 8pm. Although this timing aims to allow fans to watch both events, extra time or penalties could still result in a partial clash. The BBC had pushed for a 3pm start to avoid any overlap, as both the football final and Eurovision draw massive audiences—last year’s finals drew over 9 million and 11 million viewers, respectively. BBC and ITV share FA Cup broadcasting rights, while the BBC exclusively airs Eurovision, which this year includes special programming such as a themed Doctor Who episode. The final is scheduled before the end of the Premier League season, an unusual move to reduce fixture congestion. Manchester City aim to add to their trophy collection, while Crystal Palace are seeking their first ever FA Cup win.