We can confirm the running order for the 2023-24 Emirates FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Manchester United.
The repeat of last season’s historic Final between the local rivals is set to take place at Wembley Stadium connected by EE on Saturday 25 May, and kick off is at 3pm BST.
The Manchester derby will be televised live in the UK on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, ITV1, ITVX, UTV, STV and STV player, and around the world by numerous international broadcasters.
Jeremiah Asiamah, DJ, producer and host of BBC Radio 1’s Soundsystem Party and 1Xtra’s Rave Show, memorably performed at last season’s Final, and he will return to headline the pre-match entertainment with support from the Combined Bands of His Majesty’s Armed Forces and entertain fans at half time by DJing live.
Over 100 personnel from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force will contribute to the pre-match show by displaying banners featuring the crests of the Finalist clubs.
The Final’s official match ball, the Mitre Ultimax Pro, will be walked out by the competition’s current top scorer this season, Jonathan ‘JJ’ Lacey, who scored ten goals for Biggleswade Town during their run to the Fourth Qualifying Round. City’s Erling Haaland is the highest active scorer remaining in the competition on five goals, and the Golden Ball Award in partnership with Mitre will be presented to the overall top scorer after the final whistle.
The Final’s traditional hymn, Abide with Me, will be delivered by the British operatic singer Malakai Bayoh, with the national anthem to be performed by the award-winning vocalist and songwriter Zara McFarlane, and British Sign Language interpreters will provide translations of both moments for fans.
Manchester City and Manchester United have both nominated an ‘unsung hero’ who will come together and place the competition’s famous trophy onto the pitch. City in the Community’s Chiara Young has been involved with the charity for eight years as a student, volunteer and now employee, and she has recently become a mental health mentor for young people in Manchester.
Ronan Duffy’s association with the Manchester United Foundation started in 2009 as a casual coach, but he has gone on to work with young children across Greater Manchester full-time for their education department since 2014, and also devotes his evenings to community programmes.
The FA’s President, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, will lead the traditional presentation party, which will also include the national governing body’s Chair, Debbie Hewitt MBE; Chair of The FA Cup’s Challenge Cup Committee, Peter McCormick OBE; and President of Emirates Airline, Sir Tim Clark KBE, who will be introduced to both sides by their respective captains before kick-off.
Flight Lieutenant George Salloway, LPT Eliott Holmes and Captain Gary Lewis from the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Army respectively will place the Emirates FA Cup trophy and medals for the winners, runners up and match officials in the Royal Box, and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will present the winning team’s captain with the iconic cup.
