Women's FA Cup semi-finals preview: Who will make it to Wembley?

This Sunday sees the Women's FA Cup semi-finals with one guaranteed new finalist set to take on either Manchester United or Chelsea at Wembley.

We'll start with the first game in London in a fixture between two teams on an upward trajectory as Tottenham Hotspur host Leicester City.

@Getty /

Spurs made it into the semi-finals first with a late comeback win against Sheffield United before defeating Charlton Athletic and then that dramatic quarter-final over Manchester City when Beth England equalised late to force a penalty shoot-out.

Meanwhile, their opponents Leicester City got to this stage by defeating Derby County and Birmingham City before a 2-0 win away to Liverpool. 

Both teams will make history should they make the final – with neither having made it to an FA Cup final before. It's an accomplishment that would put them close to silverware and may serve as a springboard to future aspirations going forward.

Looking at the WSL table and the recent head-to-head table, Spurs are the favourites going into this one. 

Tottenham have won seven and drawn one of the nine meetings between the two so far, including a meeting just last month in the league when Matilda Vinberg's second-minute goal was enough to down Leicester.

However, the one time the Foxes did get the better of Spurs came in this competition when Shannon O'Brien, Sophie Howard, and Esmee de Graaf all got on the scoresheet in a 3-1 victory. 

Manchester United vs. Chelsea

The first of two important games between these two this season, which is of course a replay of last year's final in which Sam Kerr scored the winning goal. 

That was Manchester United's first-ever FA Cup final while the more experienced Chelsea have made seven finals having won five of them.

For Manchester United, this is the biggest game of the year so far and their only chance of winning silverware compared to the final WSL game of the season in which the Red Devils can only potentially play spoiler against the Blues.

Chelsea meanwhile are coming off a Conti Cup final defeat to Arsenal after Stina Blackstenius' late winner. And while hopes for a quadruple are over a treble or at least a domestic double is still very much on the cards. 

Emma Hayes' side are certainly favourites with Chelsea having never lost a game to United in 11. The Blues are currently on an eight-game winning streak against Sunday's opponents including having won 3-1 back in January when Lauren James bagged a hat-trick. The ex-Manchester United forward was on target again for England this week in the 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland.

Whoever wins this game will become the favourite at Wembley with the final taking place on May 12th.

The schedule for the #AdobeWomensFACup semi-finals has been confirmed! 👇

— Adobe Women's FA Cup (@AdobeWFACup) March 15, 2024