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FA Cup Final 2025: Crystal Palace Beat Man City 1-0

James Jack Clarke Howard • 2026-09-10 • Reviewed by Daniel Mercer

For a club that has spent most of its history in the shadows of its more decorated neighbours, winning the FA Cup is a moment that changes everything. On 17 May 2025, Crystal Palace defeated Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley Stadium to claim their first-ever FA Cup title.

Date: 17 May 2025 ·
Winner: Crystal Palace ·
Score: 1-0 ·
Goal Scorer: Eberechi Eze (first half)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Crystal Palace 1-0 Manchester City (The FA)
  • Goal by Eberechi Eze (first half) (The FA)
  • First FA Cup title for Crystal Palace (BBC Sport)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact attendance figure (Wikipedia)
  • Future broadcast rights beyond 2028 (Wikipedia)
  • Exact minute of Eze’s goal (reported as 15th or 16th) (Wikipedia)
  • Europa League qualification certainty (Wikipedia)
  • Exact prize money amount (Wikipedia)
3Timeline signal
  • Eze’s 15th-minute goal was the decisive moment; Dean Henderson saved a penalty (The FA)
4What’s next
  • Crystal Palace likely qualify for Europa League (subject to league position) (Sky Sports)

7 facts, one pattern: Crystal Palace’s historic victory was built on a solid defensive display and a moment of brilliance from Eze.

Label Value
Date 17 May 2025
Venue Wembley Stadium, London
Winner Crystal Palace
Score 1-0
Goal Scorer Eberechi Eze (first half)
Attendance Approximately 90,000
Crystal Palace’s First FA Cup Win Yes

Has Crystal Palace ever won the FA Cup?

What is Crystal Palace’s FA Cup history?

  • Crystal Palace had never won the FA Cup before 2025 (The FA)
  • They reached the final twice before: 1990 (lost to Manchester United) and 2016 (lost to Manchester United) (Manchester City)
  • 2025 was their third FA Cup final appearance (Manchester City)

The pattern: Palace had been perennial bridesmaids, but 2025 finally broke the curse.

How many times have Crystal Palace reached the FA Cup final?

What this means: Palace’s fans have waited 120 years for a major trophy — the wait is over.

What happens if Crystal Palace wins the FA Cup?

The upshot

Crystal Palace’s 1-0 victory doesn’t just put a trophy in the cabinet — it changes the club’s European trajectory. The Eagles are likely to qualify for the Europa League, a first for the club.

What are the implications of Crystal Palace’s FA Cup win?

  • Crystal Palace won 1-0 (The FA)
  • They secured their first major trophy (BBC Sport)
  • Qualification for the Europa League (if applicable based on league finish) (Sky Sports)

The catch: Europa League qualification also means a heavier fixture schedule, which could test squad depth.

How does winning the FA Cup affect Crystal Palace’s season?

  • It caps a successful campaign with silverware (BBC Sport)
  • It brings financial rewards and prestige (Wikipedia)
  • It likely secures the manager’s position and attracts transfer interest (Sky Sports)

Why this matters: For a club that has never won a major trophy, the victory is a foundation for sustainable success.

On which channel can I watch the FA Cup final?

What TV channels broadcast the FA Cup final in the UK?

  • The final was broadcast live on BBC One, ITV1, STV and UTV in the UK (Wikipedia)
  • Also available on TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport) (Wikipedia)
  • Kick-off was at 4.30pm BST on 17 May 2025 (The FA)

The pattern: UK viewers had multiple free-to-air options, making the final accessible to millions.

What channels broadcast the FA Cup final in the US?

  • ESPN holds the US rights (ESPN)
  • Streaming on ESPN+ (ESPN)

What this means: US fans could watch on ESPN’s linear channels or via the ESPN+ streaming service.

Who is streaming the FA Cup?

Which streaming services carry the FA Cup?

  • BBC iPlayer (UK) (Wikipedia)
  • ITVX (UK) (Wikipedia)
  • STV Player (Scotland) (Wikipedia)
  • TNT Sports app (UK) (Wikipedia)
  • ESPN+ (US) (ESPN)

The trade-off: While free-to-air streaming was available in the UK, US viewers needed an ESPN+ subscription.

Can I watch the FA Cup final on YouTube?

  • The official FA Cup YouTube channel showed highlights (Wikipedia)
  • Full match replays are not typically available on YouTube (Wikipedia)

What to watch: For full replays, use the official streaming services listed above.

Who has the TV rights to broadcast the FA Cup?

Which broadcasters hold the FA Cup rights for 2025?

  • BBC and TNT Sports have UK rights (Wikipedia)
  • ESPN has US rights (ESPN)
  • Current rights deal runs through 2028 (Wikipedia)

The catch: After 2028, the rights landscape could shift, with potential new bidders like Amazon or DAZN.

What is the future of FA Cup rights?

  • The current deal with BBC and TNT Sports expires after the 2028 final (Wikipedia)
  • Streaming platforms may bid for exclusive rights (Wikipedia)
  • The FA is expected to seek a significant increase in rights fees (Wikipedia)

Why this matters: The next rights cycle could change how fans watch the FA Cup, with more streaming options but potentially higher costs.

Timeline of the 2025 FA Cup Final

  • 17 May 2025, first half: Eberechi Eze scores the only goal for Crystal Palace (The FA)
  • 17 May 2025, second half: Manchester City apply pressure but fail to equalize; Dean Henderson saves a penalty (The FA)
  • 17 May 2025, full time: Crystal Palace win 1-0, securing their first FA Cup title (BBC Sport)
Note: The exact minute of Eze’s goal is reported as the 15th minute by The FA and the 16th minute by other sources.

Confirmed facts

  • Crystal Palace won 1-0 (The FA)
  • Eberechi Eze scored (The FA)
  • Match played at Wembley Stadium (The FA)
  • Date: 17 May 2025 (The FA)
  • Crystal Palace’s first FA Cup win (BBC Sport)

What’s unclear

  • Exact attendance figure (reported as approximately 90,000)
  • Future broadcast rights beyond 2028 (Wikipedia)
  • Exact minute of Eze’s goal (reported as 15th or 16th)
  • Europa League qualification certainty
  • Exact prize money amount

What the commentators said

“Crystal Palace won their first ever major trophy with a 1-0 win over Manchester City.”

— ESPN (US sports network)

“The Eagles lift the trophy for the first time in their history.”

— The FA (English football’s governing body)

For Crystal Palace, the choice is clear: build on this momentum to establish themselves as a regular contender, or risk being a one-hit wonder. The 2025 FA Cup victory is not just a trophy—it’s a foundation. For the club’s owners, the path forward involves investing in the squad to handle European football, while for fans, the dream of more silverware is now tangible.

Frequently asked questions

Who scored the winning goal in the 2025 FA Cup final?

Eberechi Eze scored the only goal in the first half (The FA).

How many times have Manchester City won the FA Cup?

Manchester City have won the FA Cup seven times, most recently in 2023 (Wikipedia).

What is the prize money for winning the FA Cup?

The FA Cup winners receive approximately £2 million in prize money, though the exact figure varies each year (Wikipedia).

Where can I find highlights of the 2025 FA Cup final?

Highlights are available on the official FA Cup YouTube channel and on BBC iPlayer (Wikipedia).

Is the FA Cup final available on demand?

Yes, the full match is available on BBC iPlayer and ITVX for UK viewers, and on ESPN+ for US viewers (Wikipedia).

What was the attendance at the 2025 FA Cup final?

The attendance was approximately 90,000, though the exact figure is not officially confirmed.

Who was the referee for the 2025 FA Cup final?

The referee was Michael Oliver (Wikipedia).



James Jack Clarke Howard

About the author

James Jack Clarke Howard

Coverage is updated through the day with transparent source checks.