The president of Iran’s football federation had said negotiations were under way to move fixtures in order to ensure their players’ safety.

It comes amid US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which has responded with attacks on Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf.

However, on Tuesday Fifa said in a statement it was looking forward to nations “competing as per the match schedule”.

The US is co-hosting the World Cup, which takes place between 11 June and 19 July, with Canada and Mexico.

Iran are scheduled to face New Zealand on 16 June and Belgium on 21 June, both in Los Angeles, and Egypt in Seattle on 27 June.

Last week US President Donald Trump said that while Iran are “welcome to the World Cup”, he does not think “it is appropriate” they attend “for their own life and safety”.

“When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” said Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj in a post, external on a social media account belonging to the Iranian embassy in Mexico.

“We are negotiating with Fifa to hold Iran’s World Cup matches in Mexico.”

A Fifa spokesperson said: “Fifa is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including Iran, to discuss planning for the World Cup.

“Fifa is looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on 6 December 2025.”

Iran, who have qualified for a fourth consecutive World Cup, decided not to pull out of the competition last summer when the US bombed three nuclear facilities in the country.

A recent message on the national team’s Telegram account said Fifa is the organiser of the World Cup and “not any single country”.

It added that “the country that should be removed is the one that merely carries the title of host but does not have the ability to ensure security for the teams participating in this event”.

Previously, Trump has said he “does not care” if Iran take part in the World Cup.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino subsequently said the US President had told him Iran are “welcome to compete” at this summer’s finals, despite the countries being at war.

Iran’s Minister of Sports and Youth, Ahmad Donyamali, then said that “under no circumstances do we have the appropriate conditions to participate in the World Cup”.

When have matches previously been moved?

If Iran’s games were relocated to Mexico, it would not be the first time matches have been moved for safety and geopolitical reasons.

In recent times, Belarus have played their competitive home games in Hungary because of their support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

This included a World Cup qualifier against Scotland last year, which was played at the ZTE Arena in Zalaegerszeg.

In cricket, political tensions between India and Pakistan mean that the two countries will only play each other at neutral venues when they meet at ICC events.

India refused to travel to Pakistan to play in the Champions Trophy in 2025, while Pakistan played their matches in the recent T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka.

Goodbye!

That’s all from us on a historic day for Crystal Palace. A first ever major trophy and a first time competing in Europe next season as a result.

The Eagles and their fans will be partying long into the night, I’m sure. And who can blame them.

‘Glasner works players so hard’

Oliver Glasner is so detailed, everyone knows their role.

I’ve been to the training ground and seen him work players so hard.

Eze is not one of those who wants to run up and down in training, he wants to showboat, but in training he puts in 100% effort and that’s down to the manager.

‘Palace believed in the plan’

Crystal Palace believed in the plan and they believed in their manager. They took everything that City threw at them.

‘That’s what separates Messi and Ronaldo from Haaland’

Erling Haaland is a world class forward, but when we’re talking about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, there’s no way they’re giving that ball away.

That’s what separates them two players from Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe and these players.

They are selfish and they want to score every game.

When he misses chances I think you can see it gets to him and it does affect him.

Maybe the thought of taking a penalty at Wembley might have been too much for him. You never know, he’s a human being.

Pep Guardiola is facing the media and is very much repeating the answers he gave to TV.

“Ask the referee,” he says on the VAR decision to not send Dean Henderson off.

On the decision for Omar Marmoush to take the penalty instead of Erling Haaland: “They [the players] decided on the pitch.”

City’s players receive runners-up medals

The Man City squad, led by manager Guardiola, is lining up to receive their runners-up medals.

Guardiola’s side have now been beaten in back-to-back FA Cup finals.

This is the first season they have finished without a trophy since Guardiola’s first at the club in 2016-17.

Third time is the charm for Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace played in an FA Cup final twice before this fixture, losing both times to Manchester United, in the 2015-16 and 1989-90 editions.

But today, they tasted victory, thanks to a sensational first-half goal from Eze.

And with that, their long wait for a major trophy also ends.

‘This is what dreams are made of’, says Eze as Palace crowned FA Cup champions

Palace match-winner Eze, speaking to ITV, said: “No words. This is special. This is what dreams are made of for this club. Who would have thought we could do it?

“Tactics were good, but that was all about spirit.”

On the decision to let Henderson avoid a red card: “It is what it is, I don’t care about any of that.”

Photos: More images from the match

It’s party time for Crystal Palace

Eze, whose first-half goal won Palace this FA Cup final, is clicking a photo with a photographer on the sidelines.

The rest of the squad are running towards the Palace end to celebrate with fans, who have flocked in huge numbers for this final.

Many of their supporters are crying tears of joy, waving the red and blue flags to mark this incredible achievement.

“Congratulations, Crystal Palace”, reads the big screen at Wembley, as “Freed from Desire” plays on the loudspeakers.

Glory, finally, for Crystal Palace

Glasner’s side has done it! They have won the South London club its first major trophy.

Crystal Palace players and manager Glasner are exchanging handshakes and hugs, celebrating what will be deemed as the greatest day in their club’s history.

Full time: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

There goes the full-time whistle!

Crystal Palace have won the 2024-25 FA Cup, beating Manchester City 1-0 in the final.

It’s their first-ever major trophy in the 119-year history of the club.

What a moment for the Eagles! Eze’s first-half goal has led them to glory at Wembley.

Doku shoots wide

His low drive rolls wide of the near post.

90+9 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Three minutes to go

City players appealed for a handball inside the penalty area when a volley from Evecherri hit a group of Palace defenders, but VAR quickly underwent a check and confirmed it wasn’t the case.

90+7 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Henderson saves

Palace goalkeeper Henderson parries away a shot from close range by Doku.

Earlier, City substitute Echeverri was booked for his challenge on Eze.

90+5 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

City are poor in the final third

City have registered 19 shots so far, with five on target. Yet they haven’t found the net in 90 minutes and counting.

90+4 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

De Bruyne shoots wide

From outside the box, the Belgian midfielder takes a first touch and shoots using the outside of his right boot. However, the ball bends away, flying wide of the near post.

90+2 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Henderson booked

The Palace keeper is booked for wasting time.

90+1 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Ten minutes added

A lengthy period of additional time. It all comes down to these final minutes.

Can Palace defend their narrow lead against the mighty Man City?

90+1 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Man City make third change

Gundogan replaces Silva.

Meanwhile, Palace fans at Wembley are chanting at the top of their voice, dancing in joy, with some even taking off their shirts in celebration. Only two minutes of normal time pending now.

88 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Munoz comes close!

Munoz whips a cross from the right side, which flashes across the face of the goal. He got the assist for Eze’s opener in the first half.

Meanwhile, Palace bring on Hughes for Wharton for their third substitution.

86 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Yellow cards

De Bruyne and Dias are the latest players to be booked.

85 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Henderson denies Echeverri

De Bruyne slips a pass to substitute Echeverri, who shoots from close range, but Henderson is quick to block it with his hands.

Echeverri tries to shoot on the rebound, but he can’t.

83 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Corner to Man City

Haaland rises high and heads wide a corner kick from Foden.

81 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Crystal Palace are 10 minutes away from a major trophy

Only 10 minutes of normal time remaining in this FA Cup final.

If Palace hold on to their lead, they will lift a major trophy for the first time in their club’s 119-year history and book a place in European football next season.

80 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Mateta off

The Palace forward makes way for Nketiah, as Palace make their second change.

Can Palace hold on to their lead and close out a historic victory? Let’s wait and watch!

78 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Man City make a double change

Guardiola introduces his first set of substitutions, bringing on Echeverri and Foden for Savinho and Marmoush.

76 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

O’Reilly wastes a good chance

O’Reilly wastes a golden goal-scoring opportunity, as he fails to shoot from close range after being set up on the left side of the box with an excellent through ball by De Bruyne. The youngster took a touch too many before shooting, allowing a Palace defender enough time to clear it.

Soon after, Silva goes into the referee’s book for his tackle on Mateta.

75 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Wharton fit to continue

Wharton is going to the sidelines to receive medical treatment. He should be back on in a short while.

74 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Chance for De Bruyne!

Doku finds De Bruyne at the edge of the box, on the left side, as City charge forward.

The Belgian playmaker swings his right foot for a solid strike, but the ball hits the head of Wharton, knocking him down.

72 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Corner to Crystal Palace

Wharton swings the ball from the right corner flag into the six-yard area, where a header is initially cleared away. Soon after, Kamada shoots towards the top corner, but misses the target.

O’Reilly booked

The City defender is shown a yellow card for pulling Munoz’s arm from behind during a challenge. Silly!

67 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Palace make first change

Lerma replaces Guehi, as Palace make their first substitution.

Meanwhile, a scuffle breaks out on the sidelines involving the backroom staff from each team. Not sure what they were angry about.

62 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

GOAL DISALLOWED

Munoz’s goal has been disallowed after it was found that Sarr was offside in the buildup.

Munoz’s initial strike bounced off Sarr’s body before Munoz scored on the rebound.

60 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

GOAL! Munoz puts Crystal Palace 2-0 up!

Crystal Palace have doubled their lead! Can you believe it?

It’s Munoz who gets on the scoresheet, beating the goalkeeper at the near post with a quick tap-in.

58 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Kamada stops Silva from shooting

Doku slips a pass for Silva in the box, but before he can shoot from the left side, Kamada intercepts with a sliding challenge. Great defending from Palace!

City earn a subsequent corner-kick, but Haaland shoots high and wide from it.

56 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Henderson’s new look for the second half

On the other end, Palace’s Henderson is in goal, rocking a blue-coloured cap. Yes, you read that right!

53 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Chance for Eze

Eze tries to volley the ball from close range, but Akanji gets his body in the way. Eze was set up after a throw-in from Richards was headed into his path, about 15 yards out from the goal.

51 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Doku shoots wide

Doku, from the left side of the box, takes one touch before unleashing a right-footed shot, which flies over the net. The Belgian was aiming for the top right corner of the net.

50 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Superb clearance from Richards

Savinho runs up the right flank and crosses the ball in the six-yard area, where Richards comfortably clears the danger with a header, stopping Haaland from heading the ball into the net.

47 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Second half kicks off

We’re back for the second half at Wembley, where Crystal Palace are leading 1-0 against Manchester City in the FA Cup final, thanks to Eze’s first-half strike.

Palace are 45 minutes away from clinching their first-ever major trophy and celebrating their greatest day in the club’s history.

46 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Photos: The managers’ view

Photos: Famous faces for the FA Cup final

Half-time: Crystal Palace 1-0 Manchester City

Crystal Palace players walk off at the break to a huge round of applause from their fans, as they have a 1-0 lead against Man City.

City dominated possession for the whole of the first half, but Eze’s sensational finish from a counter-attack guided Palace to a 1-0 lead.

Guardiola’s side had the chance to equalise shortly before the break when Mitchell gifted them a penalty, but Marmoush missed from the spot, as Henderson pulled off a series of fantastic saves.

Three minutes added

Eze, the goalscorer, goes to the ground following a challenge from De Bruyne.

45+1 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Henderson saves Doku’s terrific attempt

Henderson dives to his left to parry away a shot from Doku, which seemed to be travelling to the top right corner of the net. The ball then drops for De Bruyne, but his effort flies over the bar.

43 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Henderson turns around his fortunes

A few minutes ago, it seemed Henderson would be sent off for his clumsy clearance near the box in an incident involving Haaland.

Now, the Palace keeper has turned out to be their hero with a penalty save in an FA Cup final.

38 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Henderson saves Marmoush’s penalty

Marmoush takes the ball away from Haaland and steps up for the set-piece after VAR undergoes a quick check for the penalty.

The Egyptian forward unleashes a right-footed shot towards the bottom left corner, but Henderson dives and saves.

Haaland tries to play the ball back into the net on the follow-up, but Henderson saves again.

36 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Penalty to Man City

Man City’s Silva goes down in the box following a sliding tackle by Mitchell.

The referee doesn’t take too long to signal to the spot for a penalty.

33 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

No penalty

City players appeal to the referee for a potential handball against Henderson inside the box while he swept away the ball from Haaland, but replays showed the incident was outside the box. No penalty to City.

25 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

We’re half hour in

Doku and O’Reilly try to find their way towards the goal from the left side, but neither can trouble the Palace defence or the goalkeeper.

31 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Scary moment for Palace

Henderson fails to clear the ball in the box and Haaland is played through on goal. The Norwegian pulls it back for Marmoush at the edge of the box, but he fails to shoot.

24 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Almost another for Palace!

Once again, Munoz whips a fantastic squared pass from the right side into the six-yard area where Sarr almost sweeps it home at the near post before Ortega bends low to stop his shot.

21 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

GOAL! Eze sends Crystal Palace 1-0 up

Against the run of play, Crystal Palace take a 1-0 lead against Manchester City.

Eze does the job brilliantly for Palace, drilling a low shot from about 15 yards out following a solid cross from Munoz from the right side.

It was a terrific counterattack from Palace, involving Kamada and Mateta in the build-up.

16 mins: Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City

Chance for Man City

Savinho makes a good run at the back post and tries to head a cross from Silva into the top corner, but Mitchell clears for a corner.

From the set-piece, Akanji’s header flies over the net.

14 mins: Crystal Palace 0-0 Man City

City dominating

It’s all City at the moment. Palace have largely been in their own half for the opening minutes.

Guardiola’s side have a whopping 89 percent possession. That should tell you everything.

13 mins: Crystal Palace 0-0 Man City

Corner to Man City

Savinho swings the ball from the right corner flag into the six-yard area where Gvardiol heads it goalwards, but Henderson punches it away with ease.

11 mins: Crystal Palace 0-0 Man City

Henderson denies Haaland

De Bruyne clips the ball over the Palace defence and finds Haaland at the far post, where the Norwegian pokes it goalwards, but Palace keeper Henderson scrambles to clear it away for a corner.

7 mins: Crystal Palace 0-0 Man City

City enjoying a good start

Eze intercepts a pass by De Bruyne and tries to start a counterattack, but Akanji quickly recovers.

So far, the ball has been largely with City, who are hovering around the Palace box.

6 mins: Crystal Palace 0-0 Man City

City get the ball rolling

Akanji finds Savinho on the right wing, and as the latter tries to charge towards the box, a Palace defender closes him down.

City are trying to make use of their right side to prompt an attack.

4 mins: Crystal Palace 0-0 Man City

Gvardiol down

An early clash of heads between Gvardiol and Mateta leaves the City player on the ground temporarily. The referee has a quick check, and the Croatian is fit to continue.

2 mins: Crystal Palace 0-0 Man City

KICKOFF!

The referee has blown the whistle and the match is under way at Wembley.

Crystal Palace are wearing red-and-blue stripes, while Man City are dressed in light blue and white.

1 min: Crystal Palace 0-0 Man City

We’re set

After a rendition of the United Kingdom’s national anthem, the players are ready for kickoff. Both teams were greeted by Prince William before it.

FA Cup Final – poll results

Here is who you think will win the final:

• Manchester City – 55.5%
• Crystal Palace – 44.5%

And here is who you think will score first:

• Erling Haaland (MC) – 32.3%
• Kevin De Bruyne (MC) – 13.5%
• Eberechi Eze (CP) – 32.6%
• Jean-Philippe Mateta (CP) – 21.5%

Teams emerge

Both teams have made their way to the centre of the field and are exchanging handshakes before we get ready for kickoff.

If you have just tuned in, last year’s Premier League champions Man City are facing Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final, hoping to end an underwhelming season with some silverware.

Should they fail to do so, it would be their first trophy-less season under Guardiola since 2016-17.

Palace, on the other hand, are looking to lift a major trophy for the first time in the club’s 119-year history.

Photos: Man City warm up

Players are in the tunnel

Players of Crystal Palace and Manchester City are making their way out from the tunnel onto the field at the iconic Wembley Stadium.

Man City, playing in their third straight FA Cup final, are aiming for their eighth title in the competition, while Crystal Palace are searching for their first-ever major trophy.

Kickoff is coming up shortly, so stay tuned for the live coverage of Saturday’s exciting clash featuring the two Premier League teams.

Head-to-head

This is the 74th meeting between the two teams in a fixture dating back to 1921.

Palace were 2-0 winners in an FA Cup meeting in the third round that year.

City stormed back in the next meeting between the clubs – once again in the FA Cup – beating Palace 11-4 in February 1926.

Overall, City have claimed the spoils on 39 occasions and the Eagles soaring to victory after 17 of the meetings.

Palace haven’t recorded a win in their last seven encounters with City, who have won four in that time.

A reminder of Crystal Palace’s team sheet

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Mateta

Substitutes: Turner, Clyne, Chilwell, Lerma, Ward, Devenny, Hughes, Nketiah, Esse

A reminder of Man City’s team sheet

Man City XI: Ortega; Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Silva, De Bruyne; Savinho, Marmoush, Doku; Haaland

Substitutes: Ederson, Khusanov, Nunes, Reis, Echeverri, Gundogan, Gonzalez, Grealish, Foden

Photos: Crystal Palace’s warm-up

Palace’s cup final belief

Palace may be 12th in the Premier League, but have matched their record points tally with two games still to play.

In the FA Cup, they have clicked impressively, winning 3-0 at Fulham in the quarterfinals and then beating Villa by the same margin at Wembley in the semis.

Now, they have one last obstacle to get over and claim the south London club’s first major trophy in its 120-year history.

Palace drew 2-2 with City at Selhurst Park in the league and led 2-0 in the return fixture, only to lose 5-2. They also lost 4-2 last April, a couple of months after Glasner took charge.

Scoring goals against Pep Guardiola’s team has not been a problem, but Glasner knows they will need to adjust defensively to give themselves the best possible chance at Wembley.

“In every single game [against City] we scored two goals, but we just had one draw, because we conceded four, two and five, so we have to make a few adjustments in our defending,” he said. “Because when you concede five, it’s tough to win, but when you score two, you should be able to win.

“So, we have confidence that we will create our chances, we will create our situations to score goals, but we have to do better in defence, and I don’t mean the back three or the back five. So as a team, maybe we have to adjust a few things, and this is what we want to do tomorrow.”

Pep’s praise for Palace

Pep Guardiola has praised Oliver Glasner’s Palace, who knocked out fellow Premier League sides Fulham and Aston Villa to reach the final.

Palace, who are 12th in the league table, are seeking their first major trophy, having fallen in the final in 1990 and 2016, losing to Manchester United on both occasions.

“It is a fantastic team. They have had a really good second part of the season. They have had more than a year with Oliver working with the same players,” Guardiola said.

“They are a threat because they have quality. [Striker Jean-Philippe] Mateta is strong, and the quality in [Eberechi] Eze is obvious and, of course, the pace from [fellow forward Ismaila] Sarr … [Adam] Wharton is a really good holding midfielder.

“They are well structured defensively and their set-pieces are one of the best in the Premier League.”

Focus 90 percent on Palace

The quiet confidence seeping out of Crystal Palace’s training ground before the final against Manchester City was summed up by manager Oliver Glasner on Friday.

“We’re focused on what we want to do at Wembley. We analysed Man City, but 90 percent, we were talking about us,” Glasner, who will become the first Austrian to lead a team in an FA Cup final, told reporters.

“This is what we can influence. We can influence our performance. We can influence what we want to do in and out of possession. And the focus was on our game. We have a lot of confidence and [are] looking forward to the final.”

Photos: The teams’ arrival

Guardiola insists FA Cup important to City

The FA Cup was not Manchester City’s top priority this season, but now that they are in a third straight final, the club will go all out to win the trophy at Wembley, manager Pep Guardiola said.

City have had a “horrific season” in the words of striker Erling Haaland, with Guardiola’s side falling by the wayside in the Premier League title race while they were also eliminated in the Champions League knockout phase playoffs.

City are fourth in the Premier League and yet to secure Champions League qualification for next season – winning the FA Cup when they face Crystal Palace on Saturday may not be enough to salvage their campaign.

“That is the problem, right? The FA Cup now is not the first choice. Of course, we want it. Once we are here, of course, we want the trophy. It is massively important,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday.

“It’s the final of the FA Cup, it’s an honour and a privilege. Third time in a row being there, and we have to perform well. We travel to London to win the title.”

How many FA Cups have City won?

City are seven-time winners of the cup, with their first victory coming in 1904 against Bolton Wanderers.

Their last win was a 2-1 victory against their fierce rivals, Manchester United, in 2023.

Palace make two changes

Palace boss Glasner has made just two changes to the team that started in their 2-0 away victory against Tottenham Hotspur in a league game last weekend.

Midfielders Wharton and Kamada start ahead of Hughes and Lerma.

Wharton is returning to the lineup after recovering from an ankle injury.

What was Palace’s finest FA Cup moment?

Palace’s extraordinary and eventually heartbreaking 1990 campaign was their finest hour in the competition.

The semifinals and final(s) that year were arguably the most dramatic in the competition’s long and storied history and remain the emotional high and low point of every Palace fan who watched them.

Palace were struggling in the top flight after promotion and had been humiliated 9-0 by Liverpool early in the season.

In the Cup, they were hardly pulling up trees either, beating lower league Portsmouth, Huddersfield Town, Rochdale and Cambridge United to reach the semifinals for the first time since they lost to Southampton as a third division team in 1976.

Facing runaway champions-elect and FA Cup holders Liverpool again in the semis looked an insurmountable barrier and an Ian Rush goal had the Reds ahead at halftime at Villa Park.

Things then went crazy as Mark Bright and Gary O’Reilly gave Palace a shock lead. Two goals in two minutes put Liverpool back in front, only for Andy Gray to stun the odds-on favourites in the 88th minute to force extra time.

Amazingly, it was Palace who snatched victory in the 109th minute via Alan Pardew, who would later manage the club.

The cup final itself, against Manchester United, went to a replay after a stunning 3-3 draw in the first encounter.

United won the next match 1-0 with a goal from defender Lee Martin, which handed a young manager by the name of Alex Ferguson his first trophy as boss of the Red Devils.

Photos: Palace fans inside Wembley

Will this be De Bruyne’s dream send-off?

City’s fightback at the Etihad Stadium in the last encounter between the clubs was prompted by Kevin De Bruyne rolling back the years.

The Belgian has just three games left as a City player after a glorious decade in Manchester and will be aiming to add one more to his 14 major honours with the club.

“He has had an incredible time at Manchester City,” said City’s top scorer Erling Haaland.

“It is ridiculous how many trophies he has won. Hopefully, he will get one more trophy.”

Who is Crystal Palace’s key player?

Eberechi Eze is the main man for City to fear with five goals in his last four games.

But he is one of just four England internationals who reached the final of Euro 2024 likely to start for Palace on Saturday alongside Dean Henderson, Marc Guehi and Adam Wharton.

“It means everything,” said Eze on the prospect of delivering the club’s first taste of silverware.

“We know what it means to the fans, to the club. We’re going to give everything that we’ve got to put ourselves in the best position.

“We’re confident. We know that we’ve just got to do what we do and be the best version of ourselves, and we’ve got the chance of beating any team.”

Why has City’s season been ‘horrendous’?

After an unprecedented four consecutive English top-flight titles, City find themselves battling just to secure a top-five Premier League finish and a place in next season’s Champions League.

Anything other than victory would cap what striker Erling Haaland described as a “horrendous” campaign for a squad of serial winners.

City have not ended a season without a trophy since Guardiola’s first at the club in 2016/17.

“It is a good habit to reach Wembley and always important to win trophies. We have the FA Cup final to play for and in a horrific season we still managed to do this,” added the Norwegian.

Photos: The view inside Wembley

A look at the benches

Crystal Palace substitutes: Turner, Clyne, Chilwell, Lerma, Ward, Devenny, Hughes, Nketiah, Esse

Man City substitutes: Ederson, Khusanov, Nunes, Reis, Echeverri, Gundogan, Gonzalez, Grealish, Foden

How will Crystal Palace line up?

Palace will play in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Mateta as their target man.

Sarr and Eze will form the attacking pair, while their four-man midfield will see Munoz and Mitchell on the wings.

The team is also boosted by Wharton’s return to central midfield.

Palace’s three-man defence remains the same as the last game, while Henderson starts in goal.

How will Man City line up?

Man City will play in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Haaland as the lone striker.

An attacking trio of Savinho, Marmoush and Doku will support the Norwegian.

Captain De Bruyne will form the double pivot with the experienced Silva, while the back-four sees O’Reilly slot in at left-back.

Ortega starts in goal, playing in his third consecutive FA Cup final.

Palace make two changes

Palace boss Glasner has made just two changes to the team that started in their 2-0 away victory against Tottenham Hotspur in a league game last weekend.

Midfielders Wharton and Kamada start ahead of Hughes and Lerma.

Wharton is returning to the lineup after recovering from an ankle injury.

Man City make five changes

City manager Guardiola has made five changes to the team that started in their goalless draw with Southampton in a league game last weekend.

Ortega starts in goal ahead of Ederson, while O’Reilly, Savinho, Marmoush and Doku replace Lewis, McAtee, Kovacic and Foden.

Ederson and Foden are on the bench but Lewis, Kovacic and McAtee are absent from the matchday squad.

Photos: The view outside Wembley

Early Crystal Palace team news

Midfielder Adam Wharton has returned to full fitness following an ankle injury.

It means the Eagles have a fully fit squad to choose from.

Early Man City team news

Haaland is expected to start after making his comeback from six weeks out injured at Southampton last weekend.

Rodri continues his slow return to full fitness, but with an eye on the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in June, the cup final appears to have come too soon for a start.

Pre-match reading: Everton’s goodbye to Goodison

Liverpool, England – “I love it when it gets like this,” exclaimed the man beside me as he rubbed his hands with glee.

It was the Halloween of 2009, and in the gloom of an early winter’s afternoon, Goodison Park was at its best.

Everton were playing Aston Villa in a league match, which was becoming increasingly bad-tempered. Two late red cards, an appalling referee and the floodlights taking full effect. It was the perfect recipe for a big bowl of Goodison fury.

The game finished as an unmemorable 1-1 draw, but the sheer delight of the man in the neighbouring seat long stayed with me. His excitement was a reminder to relish those rare occasions when the entire audience at this glorious theatre of football are united in emotion.

And nowhere does emotion quite like Goodison Park.

Read more: Goodison Park stages final Premier League match

What is Man City’s form?

Man City’s laboured display in drawing a blank at bottom-of-the-table Southampton last weekend gives Palace even more reason to believe they can lift the cup.

However, Guardiola’s men are unbeaten in 10 games, including a 5-2 demolition of Palace in the Premier League last month despite falling 2-0 behind.

What is Crystal Palace’s form?

Palace warmed up for the Wembley showpiece by cruising to a 2-0 win at Tottenham last weekend to equal their record of 49 Premier League points with two games of the season to spare.

The south London club finished in the top 10 for the first time in the Premier League era last season after just a few months under Oliver Glasner.

Another top-half finish looks unlikely, but progress has continued under the Austrian, thanks to their FA Cup heroics.

Why is the FA Cup so important to both finalists?

History beckons for Crystal Palace against a Manchester City side that have one final shot at avoiding a rare trophyless season under Pep Guardiola.

Twice FA Cup runners-up, Palace have never won a major trophy in their 119-year history.

The Eagles sense this may finally be their time up against a City side far from their former glories of Guardiola’s trophy-laden reign.

Victory would also secure entry to one of Europe’s major club competitions for the first time in Palace’s history, with a place in the Europa League at stake.

The famous old cup

Manchester City and Crystal Palace go head-to-head for the FA Cup in a final that has captured the imagination of the world over since its inception in 1871.

English football’s showpiece cup final has been a tale of a team from any level – even non-professional – rising to the top to take down the giants of the game.

The Eagles of South London are no minnows in this particular story, but their opponents are as big as they come in the global game.

For very different reasons, victory in this competition will mean an awful lot to the clubs, who have had contrasting seasons in the English top flight.

We’ll take you through the history of the competition, analyses, and news from both camps ahead of the match.

Welcome to our live coverage

Hello, welcome, and thanks for joining our live coverage of the final of the world’s most famous football competition.

Manchester City and Crystal Palace will compete for the FA Cup – a competition that has long captured the imagination of a global audience.

It’s City’s last hope of silverware this season, while the Eagles will hope to lift the cup for the first time.

I’m Kevin Hand, and I’ll bring you the live build-up as well as the photo coverage of the day.

Manasi Pathak will bring you the team news and our comprehensive text commentary stream.

Known as Big George in the ring, the American built one of the most remarkable and enduring careers in the sport, winning Olympic gold in 1968 and claiming the world heavyweight title twice, 21 years apart – the second making him the oldest champion in history aged 45.

He lost his first title to Muhammad Ali in their famous Rumble in the Jungle fight in 1974. But overall, he boasted an astonishing total of 76 wins including 68 knockouts, almost double that of Ali.

Foreman retired in 1997 but not before he agreed to put his name to a best-selling grill – a decision that went on to bring him fortunes that dwarfed his boxing earnings.

His family said in a post on Instagram on Friday night: “Our hearts are broken. A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand and great grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose.”

The statement added: “A humanitarian, an Olympian, and two time heavyweight champion of the world, He was deeply respected – a force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name – for his family.”

Tributes poured in from others across the sport, with former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson saying Foreman’s “contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten”.

The Ring magazine, often dubbed the Bible of Boxing, described him as “one of the greatest heavyweights of all time”.

“[He] will be remembered as an icon of the sport forever.”

Foreman was born in Marshall, Texas, on 10 January 1949, and raised along with six siblings by a single mother in the segregated American South.

He dropped out of school and turned to street robberies before eventually finding his outlet in the ring.

Foreman won the heavyweight gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, aged 19, before turning pro and winning 37 consecutive matches. He lost only five bouts over his career.

He beat previously undefeated reigning champion Joe Frazier in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1973 knocking him down six times in the first two rounds.

His 1974 Rumble in the Jungle against Ali in Kinshasa, Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, remains one of the most famous boxing matches ever.

Ali, the older man, was the underdog after he was stripped of his crown seven years earlier for refusing to be drafted into the Vietnam War.

Foreman reflected on the legendary fight 50 years later in an October interview with BBC World Service Newshour, explaining that everyone thought he was going to decimate Ali.

“Oh, he’s not going to last one round,” the boxer said experts were predicting at the time.

Foreman told the BBC he typically would get “real nervous” and have “butterflies” before any boxing match, but that night – it was the “most comfortable” he had felt.

But the wily Ali used a tactic that later became known as “rope-a-dope”, which wore out Foreman, causing him to throw out hundreds of punches before Ali unloaded on him in the eighth round and scored a knockout.

After a second professional loss, Foreman retired in 1977 and became an ordained minister at the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Texas, which he founded and built.

He told the BBC his defeat to Ali became the “best thing that ever happened to me” as it ultimately led him to “get my message out” through preaching.

He recalled that his preaching started small, on street corners and with friends, then grew.

“We began meeting informally at various homes in Houston, and before long, the crowds became too large for most houses to accommodate,” Foreman said on his website.

“Eventually, we bought a piece of land and an old, dilapidated building on the north-east side of Houston.”

Foreman came out of retirement in 1987 to raise money for a youth centre he founded. He won 24 matches before losing to Evander Holyfield after 12 rounds in 1991.

In 1994, Foreman knocked out undefeated Michael Moorer to become the oldest ever heavyweight champion at age 45.

He became ad pitchman for his George Foreman Grill, which millions have purchased since it hit the market in 1994, thanks in part to his memorable catchphrase, the “Lean Mean Grilling Machine”.

Foreman was married five times. He has a dozen children, including five sons who are all named George.

He explained on his website that he named them after himself so they “they would always have something in common”.

“I say to them, ‘If one of us goes up, then we all go up together,” he explained. “And if one goes down, we all go down together!'”

The middle-distance prodigy ran a record time of three minutes 58.35 seconds in wet conditions at Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium.

Pacemakers Sam Tanner (3:58.29) and Ben Wall (3:59.00) also broke the four-minute barrier.

Ruthe has already broken a number of records in 2025, becoming New Zealand’s youngest senior national champion when he won the 3,000m – in another world-record time for his age – in February.

He proceeded to finish in a tie for first with Olympian Tanner to earn a share of the senior 1500m title in March.

“This was probably my favourite goal that I’ve reached,” Ruthe said after his latest record-breaking run.

“I’ve definitely enjoyed this one the most, with all the people here supporting me.

“This has been the most set up for me, so I’m really happy to have gotten this one.”

The four-minute mile has long been a middle-distance running benchmark with Britain’s Sir Roger Bannister, aged 25, the first to beat that mark in 1954.

Norway’s two-time Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen ran the mile in 3:58.07 at the age of 16, while Australian Cam Myers’s 3:55.44 is currently the best time for a 16-year-old.

The move relates to a transgender woman who won the highest US national college swimming title in 2022 while competing for the Ivy League university, which is based in Philadelphia.

A statement from the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) on Wednesday said it was “aware of media reports suggesting” that the funds have been suspended but that it has “not yet received any official notification or any details”.

It comes as Trump aims to crack down on transgender athletes participating in sports and to cut federal spending.

“UPenn infamously permitted a male to compete on its women’s swimming team, overturning multiple records hard-earned by women, and granting the fully intact male access to the locker room,” an unnamed Trump official said in an email sent to reporters on Wednesday.

The funding was being provided by the US Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services, the official said.

The university said in its statement that it has always followed the rules published by the NCAA, which governs university sports.

Last month, the NCAA changed its policy to say that only “student-athletes assigned female at birth” will be allowed to take part in collegiate competitions.

The policy change came a day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order preventing transgender women from competing in female categories of sports.

The same order guided the federal education department to investigate schools that did not comply and that were possibly in violation of Title IX, the federal law banning sex discrimination in schools.

Soon after, the department announced an investigation into schools, including UPenn “for suspected Title IX violations”. The funding freeze is separate from this investigation, however.

The freeze, which was announced on a White House social media account, comes years after transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, who competed on the UPenn men’s team for three seasons before starting hormone replacement therapy in spring 2019.

Competing on the women’s swim team in 2022, she shattered school swim records, posting the fastest times of any female swimmer. She has since graduated and no longer competes for the university.

Ms Thomas has not commented about the funding cut. She previously has defended transgender women in sports and said it did not “threaten women’s sports as a whole”.

She also has noted the transgender population of college athletes is “very small”. The NCAA has said it amounted to about 10 athletes.

“The biggest misconception, I think, is the reason I transitioned,” Thomas told ABC and ESPN in 2022. “People will say, ‘Oh, she just transitioned so she would have an advantage, so she could win.’ I transitioned to be happy, to be true to myself.”Watch: ‘I’ll see you in court’—Trump and Maine governor clash on trans athletes

Last month, three former UPenn swimmers filed a lawsuit seeking to nullify her records.

Trump also made the decision earlier this month to block $400m in federal funding to Columbia University, over claims that it has tolerated antisemitism on campus. The school has been home to Gaza protests over the war between Israel and Hamas.

The White House has also moved to pull funding from the University of Maine after alleging that it violated federal law by permitted transgender students to compete on women’s sports teams.

UPenn receives more than $1bn in federal funding each year, according to the Daily Pennsylvanian student newspaper.

Trump is himself a UPenn alum, having graduated from its Wharton business school in 1968.

The alarm was raised on Friday afternoon when the man disappeared from view, heading towards Old Harry Rocks, near Studland.

Following a search, RNLI lifeboat crews found the inflatable kayak and the man, who had drifted away from the vessel.

Once ashore, the casualty, who was cold and had ingested water, was taken to hospital by a waiting ambulance.

Poole lifeboat volunteer Jonathan Clark said: “Thankfully the first informant quickly alerted the coastguard when they saw the kayaker being blown offshore and out of sight.

“He was very lucky to be found on that leg of the search, as the weather conditions were exceptionally cold, the outcome could have been very different.”

Briton Norris described his win as “stressful but rewarding”.

The first adjective was justified by the conditions in a madcap, crash-strewn, incident-packed race where one small error can spell disaster – as it very nearly did for Norris himself at one point.

The second adjective was a recognition of the fact that this was exactly the kind of race in which, last year, McLaren had proved less than perfect, and thrown away at least one potential victory, and perhaps another, too.

But in Melbourne they were as perfect as it is possible to be in conditions such as these – even the renowned rain-master Max Verstappen slipped up at one point. And Norris and McLaren came through the chaos unscathed.

The fine line between victory and defeat was underlined by an incident with 13 laps to go that defined the race.

Norris was leading from team-mate Oscar Piastri and Verstappen as a heavy shower of rain approached the track.

It hit as the leaders were negotiating the final corners on lap 44, with 13 to go.

Both McLarens ran wide on to the gravel at the exit of Turn 12, and Australian Piastri then spun through Turn 13.

Norris was able to continue without losing too much time, but Piastri ended up on the grass on the outside of Turn 12, where he sat with his wheels spinning helplessly for what seemed like an age as his hopes of victory at home evaporated before finally rejoining. He fought back to ninth by the end.

Norris immediately pitted for treaded tyres. That decision won him the race, and demonstrated how far he and the team had come since last year – they had planned that they would pit as soon as it rained, and acted decisively on the plan.

Verstappen stayed out and took the lead, but as the rain intensified he lost more time, and Norris resumed the lead when the Dutchman pitted himself two laps later.

Norris said: “It’s so easy to make a mistake, so easy to ruin everything. So quickly it can all have gone wrong within a second.

“Any second of the race, you lock up, you hit the white line wrong, you have a big snap. It was just very, very difficult at times to just not go into a hole or a tyre barrier somewhere.

“That’s a big enough challenge, but then when you’ve got the weather changing and the track conditions changing, knowing when to make the correct decision to change on to a slick tyre and stay out on the inter-tyre, and then even more when I’ve got Max behind me and Oscar behind me, it’s stressful.

“But that’s what makes it rewarding.

“We worked a lot over the winter to prepare for a race like this, because it’s where we threw away a lot of opportunities last season – Canada, Silverstone, where we were not the best at preparing and knowing how decisive we’ve got to be.

“Today we were very, very decisive, calling to box five metres before I boxed. But it was the right call in the end, and that won us the race.”

The race was not over, though.

In the final five laps after the final restart, Norris had Verstappen right behind him. The McLaren was hampered by significant floor damage – incurred either in the previously mentioned off, or in another in those final laps at Turn Six – but he hung on, despite Verstappen being less than a second behind, and having use of the DRS overtaking aid.

The 25-year-old Norris, for whom last season was his first fighting consistently at the front, underlined his inexperience when he said: “That situation was new for me. I’ve not ever led a race with five laps to go with Max behind me, trying to put me under pressure, and in these conditions.

“Maybe Max has had that a few times in his race against Lewis (Hamilton) a lot, and he can just deal with that probably better than I can.

“I’m happy I got through it and stayed calm. It’s something I improved from last year.”

McLaren’s performance was as expected. They were the quickest car all weekend and delivered on a status as favourites that Norris acknowledged both before and after the race was justified.

They earned it in pre-season testing, but Norris said that, while the long run in Bahrain two weeks ago had demonstrated their strong pace, the car was not necessarily as good as some felt it looked there.

The job, he emphasised, was only just beginning, and not all races would be like this.

“The car’s flying,” Norris said. “But we’re going to have races where we are going to struggle.

“[If] we race in Bahrain as round one, I wouldn’t be confident that we could win the race.

“But I’m confident that we’re going to, say, China next weekend, and we can be very, very strong, because we were strong there last year, with not a very good car.”

In the post-race news conference, with Verstappen and Mercedes’ George Russell either side of him, Norris also pointed out that he felt that Piastri’s presence alongside him was partly responsible for McLaren’s strong weekend, making a pointed reference to the rookie team-mates of his rivals.

“Let’s allow a few more races to take place before we start making any (predictions), but we’re the favourites, we are the team to beat, mainly because we have two drivers up there pushing each other,” he said.

“That helps. Do I think me and Oscar working together yesterday, in terms of pushing one another, allowed us to get one and a half, one 10th more than the two drivers here, because their team-mates aren’t as equipped and as experienced? Yes.”

Verstappen and Russell, meanwhile, were talking as if they know that McLaren will take some beating.

Verstappen was reflecting on the fact that he lost 15 seconds to the McLarens over the first stint as the track dried.

“As the tyres started to overheat we had no chance,” he said. “Yet basically McLaren just took off.

“We still have a lot of work to do to fight for a win, but I’m very happy that we are second here. It’s basically one place better than we should have been. We’ll do our best.”

Russell added: “They look pretty good and groovy at the moment, so we’ll see.”

Arda Kardzhali mourned Petko Ganchev before Sunday’s league game with Levski Sofia, with both teams lining up on the centre circle and bowing their heads in Ganchev’s honour.

However, before the game had ended, Arda posted on their Facebook page saying they had been misinformed.

“The management of PFC Arda would like to express a huge apology to the former Arda player Petko Ganchev and his relatives after the club received wrong information about his death,” the club wrote.

“We wish Petko Ganchev many more years of good health and to enjoy the success of Arda.

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Earlier, McGregor told reporters that he was going to voice concerns about immigration issues in Ireland when he spoke to the president.

Accompanied by his partner and four children, the controversial MMA fighter praised the president’s work ethic as “inspiring” as he met him in the Oval Office.

Trump hailed McGregor’s own work rate, and described him as “fantastic”.

Last week, during a meeting at the White House with Taoiseach (Irish PM) Micheál Martin, the US president praised McGregor’s tattoos.

The fighter also attended President Trump’s inauguration in January.

In 2024, a woman who accused McGregor of raping her in a Dublin hotel won a claim against him for damages in a civil case.

A jury found that he had assaulted her and ordered him to pay more than €248,000 (£206,000).

Earlier on Monday, McGregor appeared at the White House press briefing room lectern with press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who confirmed the meeting was scheduled for later in the day.

Ms Leavitt said she “couldn’t think of a better guest to have with us on St Patrick’s Day”.

The fighter said he planned to “raise the issues the people of Ireland face”.

He accused the Irish government of “abandoning” the voices of the people of Ireland as he criticised immigration policies.

“What is going on in Ireland is a travesty,” he said.

“Our money is being spent on overseas issues that is nothing to do with the Irish people,” he added.

McGregor has previously spoken out against Ireland’s policies on immigration and asylum seekers.

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin was critical of McGregor’s comments, posting on social media: “St Patrick’s Day around the world is a day rooted in community, humanity, friendship and fellowship.

“Conor McGregor’s remarks are wrong and do not reflect the spirit of St Patrick’s Day, or the views of the people of Ireland,” Martin added.

Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Simon Harris said the MMA fighter has visited Washington DC in a “personal capacity” and that he is not representing the country.

“He doesn’t speak for Ireland. He doesn’t speak for the people of Ireland. He has no mandate to do such,” Harris said to reporters in New York.

He said the president is “perfectly entitled” to invite whoever he wishes to the White House.

“But let me be very clear, Conor McGregor is not here in the United States representing Ireland or the people of Ireland.”

Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) assembly member Matthew O’Toole described McGregor’s White House appearance as an “insult to the island of Ireland” and “deeply depressing”.

“That Trump and his administration thought on Ireland’s national day to invite and clearly make a huge effort to platform and amplify McGregor, who is an appalling individual, is frankly beyond the pale,” he told BBC News NI.

On Monday, McGregor was also pictured alongside Elon Musk in the Oval Office.

Mr Musk is a close ally of the US president and is leading efforts to reduce the size of the federal government.

He appeared at the White House press briefing room lectern on Monday with press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who confirmed the meeting was scheduled for later in the day.

Ms Leavitt said she “couldn’t think of a better guest to have with us on St Patrick’s Day”.

Last week, during a meeting at the White House with Taoiseach (Irish PM) Micheál Martin, the US president praised McGregor’s tattoos.

In 2024, a woman who accused McGregor of raping her in a Dublin hotel won a claim against him for damages in a civil case.

A jury found that he had assaulted her and ordered him to pay more than €248,000 (£206,000).

On Monday, Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported that the fighter said he planned to “raise the issues the people of Ireland face”.

McGregor has previously spoken out against Ireland’s policies on immigration and asylum seekers.

Posting on X about McGregor’s White House visit the Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “St Patrick’s Day around the world is a day rooted in community, humanity, friendship and fellowship.

“Conor McGregor’s remarks are wrong and do not reflect the spirit of St Patrick’s Day, or the views of the people of Ireland.”

The boxer also attended President Trump’s inauguration in January.