Manchester City completed the domestic double with Adobe Women’s FA Cup Final victory as they beat Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 at Wembley.
It marked their fourth-ever FA Cup victory and first since 2020, having also lifted the Barclays Women’s Super League trophy for the first time in a decade at the start of the month.
Brighton, who were appearing in their first-ever major final, were unable to reap the rewards of a strong start before Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw nodded in the opener after 38 minutes.
A well-hit free-kick from captain Alex Greenwood in first-half stoppage time doubled City’s lead and made the double itself look all but sealed.
The 43,917 in attendance at Wembley were not sold short on goals as Aoba Fujino and Vivianne Miedema both found the net in the second half to complete a dominant display.
Khadija Shaw with the opener for @ManCityWomen! ⁰
— Adobe Women's FA Cup (@AdobeWFACup) May 31, 2026
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It was Brighton who had the first real opening of the match after six minutes as Kiko Seike burst away down the right wing before cutting back in the box for Fran Kirby. The cup final veteran looked well placed to shoot but saw her shot charged down, before Seike curled over the bar.
It was the Seagulls who came knocking again as Ayaka Yamashita was called into action to put her body on the line and block Madison Haley’s storming run into the box.
With Yamashita down, the ball fell to Marisa Olislagers whose curled effort with the outside of her boot was cleared off the line by Alex Greenwood.
A fumble at the other end from Chiamaka Nnadozie gave Manchester City their first opening of note on 18 minutes, but the goalkeeper recovered well to reclaim the loose ball.
Brighton kept coming with Kirby consistently finding joy through the centre. First, after receiving on the edge of the box, she found Olislagers with a through ball that the Dutch winger could not quite control despite a skilful turn.
Then came the best chance of the half so far just before the half-hour mark. Seike won the ball high up from international counterpart Yui Hasegawa, passing to Kirby who looked to be clear on goal but saw her shot saved before the rebound fell back to Seike who blazed over.
Alex Greenwood with a captain's goal to add to @mancitywomen's lead before half-time 💪
— Adobe Women's FA Cup (@AdobeWFACup) May 31, 2026
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After 30 minutes, however, City appeared to wake up. A turnover in the centre of the pitch allowed Shaw to thread in Grace Clinton whose shot was underhit, before seconds later a cutback for Shaw was hit straight at Nnadozie who claimed well.
But Shaw, who has just signed a new deal in Manchester, does not need many opportunities to score and the writing was on the wall when captain Greenwood was given time to cross off the left byline. A brilliant ball into the back post was met by the head of Shaw, who beat the onrushing Nnadozie to it, to nod home the opener at Wembley.
With half time approaching and the Seagulls trailing, there was no lull in their forward pursuits as a quick switch around the edge of the box allowed Manuela Vanegas to fire a low stinging effort off the left which Yamashita stopped well at her near post.
But it was City that delivered the hammer blow on the stroke of half time with familiar protagonists involved.
Shaw won a free-kick on the edge of the box before captain Greenwood struck around the wall and low into the right corner beyond the reach of Nnadozie.
The Citizens were hungry to extend their advantage after the break, with Lauren Hemp looking lively off the left wing.
The Lioness first nearly found the run of Shaw that would have sent her in behind but could not quite connect before firing an attempt of her own into the side-netting from a tight angle.
The Seagulls were not discouraged with Seike once again causing problems as her work down the right created space to fire a powerful low effort to force a save from compatriot Yamashita.
Substitute Aoba Fujino makes it 3-0 💫
— Adobe Women's FA Cup (@AdobeWFACup) May 31, 2026
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As Brighton pushed, however, gaps opened up at the back which City’s substitutes happily exploited. With Shaw involved once more, passing in from the left to teammate Fujino, it was the Japan international who brought renewed goal-scoring impetus as she skipped past two Brighton defenders to fire home in the 66th minute.
The trailing side continued to press as Haley saw her shot blocked after 81 minutes, but City looked most dangerous with Shaw and then Jade Rose both firing over.
And it was yet another substitute in Miedema who added further glitz to their impressive cup final goal tally as she headed in Kerstin Casparij’s cross to add a fourth with three minutes to play.
While Haley once more threatened in stoppage time, seeing her shot saved at close-range by Yamashita before heading just wide at the near post from a corner, it was ultimately too little, too late.
