2008 will take its place in FA Cup history as the year of the ‘upset’. The FA Cup is famous worldwide for its romance and this season’s competition has not disappointed. Last weekend the Quarter Final matches took place and with Manchester United and Chelsea being kept apart in the draw, both teams looked sure of a place in the Semi Finals. The first upset of the round came on Saturday at Old Trafford as Portsmouth beat last year’s runners up 1-0. Later that day, Barnsley continued their amazing Cup run as they beat current holders Chelsea with the same score-line. On Sunday, Premiership Middlesbrough were beaten 2-0 by Cardiff City as the upsets continued. West Brom was the final team to make it to Wembley as they thrashed Bristol Rovers 5-1.

Portsmouth will play West Brom in the Semi Finals at Wembley on 5th April (kick off 12:15pm)and Barnsley will face Cardiff City on the 6th April (kick off 4pm). This is the first time that the FA Cup Semi Finals have been played at Wembley since 2000.

Ticketing Information

Please contact the clubs directly for ticketing information. TheFA.com have all the participating clubs details.

As the only Premiership team left in the competition, Portsmouth are no doubt the favourites to lift the Cup but, as this year’s campaign has taught us, there are no certainties in this competition.

FA Cup Stats
• This is the first time in 13 years that the ‘big four’ (Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal) will not be lifting the FA Cup, since Everton won the competition in 1995. You have to go back as far 1991 to find a Final when one of the ‘big four’ has not been involved, when Tottenham Hotspur beat Nottingham Forest.

• Portsmouth last won the FA Cup in 1939 and hold the record for retaining the Cup for the longest period of time (seven years) as the Cup wasn’t contested during the Second World War.

• When Barnsley last won the FA Cup the sinking of the Titanic was still front page news in 1912.

• Cardiff City are the only non-English team to lift the Cup having done so in 1927.

• Of the four Semi Finalists, West Brom is the team to have most recently won the competition in 1968.

• If Barnsley, Cardiff City or West Brom wins the Cup they will be the first team outside of the top flight to lift the Cup since West Ham beat Arsenal in 1980.

For more information about the FA Semi Cup Finals visit the major events page