The 2024 final marked City's 13th appearance in an FA Cup final, but they fell short as they were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United.
Manchester City’s history in English football has seen them create unforgettable moments in various domestic competitions and the FA Cup is no exception. While their more recent Premier League triumphs under Pep Guardiola have garnered global attention, the blue half of Manchester has a proud tradition in the world’s oldest national football competition. Their reputation has been built over a century of defining performances in the FA Cup.
Manchester City’s FA Cup legacy began in the early 20th century. City’s first taste of glory came in 1904, when they narrowly defeated Bolton Wanderers 1-0, courtesy of a goal from Billy Meredith. Their first FA Cup victory cemented their place in English football folklore. City’s latest FA Cup victory came in 2023 as they defeated arch rivals Manchester United 2-1 in a tense final. Captain Ilkay Gundogan was the star of the show in that match as he scored both goals, while Bruno Fernandes replied with a penalty for United.
Across their rich history, Manchester City have now lifted the FA Cup seven times as of 17th May, 2025. Their 7 victories in the FA Cup competition places them joint-sixth in the all-time winners list alongside Aston Villa. Only Arsenal (14), Manchester United (12), Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham (8 each) have won more FA Cup trophies.
| Date | Opponent in Final | Result | Scorers |
| April 23, 1904 | Bolton Wanderers | Man City 1 – Bolton Wanderers 0 | Billy Meredith |
| April 28, 1934 | Portsmouth | Man City 2 – Portsmouth 1 | Tilson (2); Rutherford |
| May 5, 1956 | Birmingham City | Man City 3 – Birmingham City 1 | Hayes, Johnstone, Dyson; Kinsey |
| April 26, 1969 | Leicester City | Man City 1 – Leicester City 0 | Young |
| May 14, 2011 | Stoke City | Man City 1 – Stoke City 0 | Toure |
| May 18, 2019 | Watford | Man City 6 – Watford 0 | Silva, Jesus (2), De Bruyne, Sterling (2) |
| June 3, 2023 | Man United | Man City 2 – Man United 1 | Gundogan (2), Fernandes (pen) |
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Alongside their seven FA Cup triumphs, Manchester City have also experienced the heartbreak of defeat on the grand stage six times. The 2024 final marked City’s 13th appearance in an FA Cup final, but they fell short as they were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United. Notably, this was the first time that the FA Cup had seen a repeat final since Blackburn Rovers and Queens Park met in 1884 and 1885.
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