Women’s FA Cup final 2023 LIVE stream: Chelsea vs Manchester United team news and latest updates from sold-out Wembley

Chelsea and Manchester United are vying to win the league and FA Cup double, which Chelsea has achieved over the past two seasons (including as part of a treble in 2020/21). Chelsea secured the 2021/22 title with a dramatic comeback win over Manchester United on the final day, becoming the first team to win the WSL three times in a row.

The title is in Chelsea’s hands this season. They are a point behind Manchester United but have a game to go. If the Blues win their three remaining games – West Ham, Arsenal and Reading – on the final day of play, they will become champions. The Arsenal game is the toughest, but Manchester United also face a difficult test against Manchester City next weekend.

• This is the first women’s FA Cup final to be played between these two teams. Manchester United have never reached a major final before, while Chelsea have appeared in ten major finals, winning the FA Cup four times and the League Cup twice.

• Chelsea have appeared in six women’s FA Cup finals, including five of the eight finals played at Wembley Stadium. They also won the first Community Shield to be played at Wembley Stadium with a 2-0 win over Manchester City behind closed doors in August 2020.

• A Manchester United women’s team has played twice at Wembley Stadium. In the decade before its full incorporation into the official club, the then Regionalliga team played Oldham Athletic in April 1994 before the men’s teams met in an FA Cup semi-final and then in August 1996 defeated Newcastle in preparation for a Charity Shield match with the respective men’s teams.

• Reigning WSL champions Chelsea are in their sixth consecutive domestic final after playing in every league and FA Cup final since March 2021, winning three games out of five but beating their last League Cup final in March Arsenal lost.

Manchester United manager Marc Skinner is looking forward to the club’s debut in the women’s FA Cup final, just five years after the women’s program was revived:

“We may be slightly ahead, but nothing we don’t intend to do. If it continues, that’s great, but I want it to continue.

“That’s my plan for the summer with our recruitment and how we’re going to do it; It’s about making it sustainable so we’re not just a flash in the pan. That’s something I won’t accept for us.

“I’m really happy with our progress because you can see that in the performances and the statistics. Being at Manchester United we want to win.

“We’re laying the groundwork for it. That is where pride comes from.”

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes on her team selection: “We’re in good shape and we look healthy. Anyone who knows me knows that I don’t just put together a team of 11 players, it’s a squad and we like to mix things up in training during the week.

“We believe in the development of players and the development of those combinations and it’s fair to say that the whole team is at their best level, they’re all prepared and because of that it will be difficult to pick a team .”

Emma Hayes believes a sell-out Wembley Stadium for Sunday’s women’s FA Cup final is “the new norm”.

Defending champions Chelsea meet Manchester United in front of an estimated 90,000 spectators – a record for a women’s domestic club game.

Many milestones in terms of attendance in the Women’s Super League were reached this season, with teams benefiting from the interest sparked by England’s victory at the European Championship.

Happy that their hopes are being fulfilled, Hayes said at a pre-game press conference: “To have a packed Wembley Stadium is just fantastic for the game.”

“As a women’s football fan, it means everything to me. I’ve been sitting here for over 10 years, researching, researching and committed to it, because I knew that day wasn’t too far away.

“With the Lionesses’ success, I knew there would be no excuses now and I think that’s the new norm.”

Tie (after 90 minutes) 5/2

Manchester United wins 23/10

Chelsea narrowly get the win. Chelsea 2-1 Manchester United

Chelsea XI: Berger; Perisset, Carter, Eriksson; Charles, Cuthbert, Leupolz, riding; James, Kerr, Harder.

Manchester United XI: ears; Batlle, Le Tissier, Turner, Blundell; Ladd, Zelem; Parris, Toone, Galton; Russo.

The unfortunate Fran Kirby will miss the rest of the season with more injury problems but Sam Kerr was fit enough to come on the bench against Leicester and should be in the running. Pernille Harder showed in this weekday game with a brace that she is back in full fighting strength.

Manchester United are without Maria Thorisdottir as Kirby is out for the rest of the season. Lisa Naalsund was back in training this week, while Katie Zelem is back as the team’s captain after missing last weekend’s win against Tottenham through suspension.

When is the Women’s FA Cup Final?

Chelsea v Manchester United are scheduled to kick off at 14:30 BST on Sunday 14 May at Wembley Stadium in London.

Viewers in the UK can watch the FA Cup final live on BBC One, with coverage on the channel from 1:50pm BST. The game will also be available on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

Good morning and welcome to the live coverage of the Women’s FA Cup Final as Chelsea take on Manchester United at a packed Wembley Stadium.

We prepare you live for this historic event: it is the first time in the history of the competition that all the tickets for the top game have been sold and almost 90,000 spectators will be in attendance.

Serial cup winners Chelsea are looking to win the FA Cup for a third straight year under Emma Hayes, while Marc Skinner’s rising United side are playing in the women’s FA Cup final for the first time – five years after the team was formed in 2018.

Both teams are battling to win the double this season, with United a point clear of holders Chelsea in the Women’s Super League – although the Blues still have a game to go.