The FA Youth Cup fifth round proper is underway, and five teams have already booked their place in the quarter-final of the 2025-26 competition.
Crystal Palace edged out Stevenage, who were competing in the fifth round for the first time in the club’s history, as Boro’s impressive run came to an end.
Javier Alonso’s young Eagles were 2-1 winners at the Lamex Stadium in front of over 600 spectators. Stuart Oduro opened the scoring for Palace before an own goal doubled their lead and although Stevenage halved the deficit before the break, that was how it finished.
Chelsea and Manchester City locked horns in this competition for the first time since the 2020 final which was staged at St. George’s Park – a game in which the likes of James McAtee, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer made the scoresheet as City lifted the trophy.
This time out, City were 4-1 winners. After a goalless first half, the second period saw all the action with goals from Floyd Samba, Dante Headley, Xavier Parker and Ryan McAidoo before Ryan Kavuma-McQueen pulled one back for Chelsea.
Elsewhere, Blackburn Rovers progressed courtesy of a Valentin Joseph brace, with the forward taking his tally to seven goals in this season’s competition, having scored four against Coventry City last time out and finding the back of the net in the third round against Southampton.
🏆 Through to the #FAYouthCup quarters! ✅
— Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) February 12, 2026
Success in Swansea for @academy_brfc last night 🌹#Rovers 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/0lauXtevkz
Joseph broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time and although Rovers missed a penalty, the striker consolidated their lead around 20 minutes from time in a 2-0 win over Swansea City.
The Hill Dickinson Stadium played host to Everton’s fifth round tie against Ipswich Town which needed extra time to separate the two teams, playing out a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes.
It marked the first competitive academy fixture held at the Toffees’ home ground and there was no shortage of action. Everton came from behind as Braiden Graham bagged a 96th minute equaliser – a stunning strike to force extra time – and the home team went on to win 4-2.
YES, RAY! 👏#FAYouthCup https://t.co/n83dJkzAlf pic.twitter.com/MF5AzmFXr2
— Everton Academy (@EvertonAcademy) February 12, 2026
Meanwhile, the most successful team in FA Youth Cup history, eleven-time champions Manchester United, are through to the quarter-final following an emphatic 4-1 triumph over Oxford United.
Albert Mills and Gabriel were on target in the first half for the Reds at Oxford’s Kassam Stadium, with Chido Obi and Noah Ajayi getting in on the action in the second half while Josh Holton made the scoresheet for the U’s.
Watch how our #MUAcademy U18s secured their place in the next round of the #FAYouthCup tonight 👊
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 18, 2026
The fifth round continues with three ties remaining at this stage of the competition.
