By Martin Graham
Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, and Manchester City are preparing for a significant weekend, with spots in the FA Cup final on the line. These four sides will step onto the Wembley pitch for the semi-finals, aiming to secure a place in one of English football’s most historic fixtures.
Three of the teams – Forest, Villa, and City – are also in contention for top-five finishes in the Premier League, which would secure participation in next season’s Champions League. Crystal Palace, the only club among the semi-finalists never to have lifted the FA Cup, faces Aston Villa on Saturday at 17:15 BST. On Sunday, Nottingham Forest take on Manchester City in the second semi-final at 16:30.
A place in the FA Cup final brings the promise of silverware and qualification for the Europa League. In contrast, securing a top-five league finish provides entry into Europe’s top-tier competition, guaranteeing at least eight high-profile matches and significant financial gains. While the prestige of holding a trophy matters deeply to fans, clubs must weigh it against the financial impact and opportunities that Champions League football provides.
Despite Palace having never won the FA Cup, Villa and Forest have both experienced long droughts. Villa’s most recent FA Cup success came in the 1956-57 season, while Forest’s last win was in 1958-59. City, by contrast, have appeared in multiple recent finals and claimed the trophy in both 2019 and 2023.
The 2024 tournament has already seen major upsets, with Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United all eliminated before the quarter-finals. As a result, this year’s semi-final lineup includes several teams with recent or long-standing absences from silverware.
From a revenue standpoint, however, the FA Cup offers limited prize money compared to the Champions League. Villa earned less than £1 million in FA Cup winnings so far this season but made nearly £9 million from winning five Champions League matches. Clubs that reach the Champions League knockout rounds gain even more, with over £9 million awarded for reaching the last 16 alone. The FA Cup winner, meanwhile, will receive £2 million in prize money.
Forest, sitting fourth in the Premier League with five matches remaining, are close to ending a decades-long wait for European action. Some of their supporters are divided: one sees the Champions League as a vital opportunity for long-term progress, while another values a trophy as something unforgettable and permanent. Former City defender Nedum Onuoha agrees, calling cup victories “iconic” and highlighting their emotional significance for fans.
Villa’s last major silverware came in 1996, when they lifted the League Cup. Manager Unai Emery has made it clear that the Premier League is the club’s main goal, particularly as they aim to return to the Champions League after their quarter-final run ended in a narrow defeat to Paris St-Germain. Villa sit seventh in the table, trailing fifth place by two points but with one more game played than their rivals.
Still, for fans making the trip to Wembley, this semi-final is a major event. Onuoha described it as Villa’s biggest match of the season, noting how rare and meaningful a trophy win can be in the modern era. The FA Cup, he said, should not be overlooked despite the financial pull of Europe’s top competition.
Manchester City are playing in their seventh straight FA Cup semi-final, a run unmatched by most clubs. While they have lifted the trophy twice in the past six years, manager Pep Guardiola continues to focus on the Champions League. City currently sit third in the league and are pushing to maintain that position with just four matches left.
Midfielder Matheus Nunes echoed that view, saying that while the FA Cup remains important, qualifying for Europe’s premier tournament is the primary objective. City have featured in the Champions League every season since 2011, and missing out would be considered a major setback for the reigning European champions.
