Football enthusiasts can witness the emergence of tomorrow`s talent this Monday as Aston Villa Under-18s face off against Manchester City Under-18s in the eagerly anticipated 2025 FA Youth Cup final.
Aston Villa`s young squad is vying for their fifth FA Youth Cup trophy, hoping to replicate the success of their 2021 predecessors who included future stars like Aaron Ramsey, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Louie Barry. On the other side, Manchester City`s youth team comes into the match as the defending champions and are also aiming to clinch their fifth FA Youth Cup title.
Where to Watch the FA Youth Cup Final
| Territory | Stream |
|---|---|
| United States | ESPN+ |
| United Kingdom | The FA Player |
| International | FA Cup YouTube |
For viewers in the United States, the FA Youth Cup final will be available for live streaming on ESPN+. Fans in the United Kingdom can access the match through The FA Player by setting up an account. Additionally, the game is being broadcast globally on the official FA Cup YouTube channel.
Match Details: Kick-off Time and Venue
| Date: | May 5, 2025 |
| Kick-off time: | 3pm BST / 10am ET |
| Venue: | Villa Park, Birmingham |
The 2024-25 FA Youth Cup final is scheduled to be held on Monday, May 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham.
The match is set to commence at 3pm BST for viewers in the UK, which corresponds to 10am ET in the U.S.
Aston Villa U18 vs Man City U18 Predicted Lineups
The confirmed starting lineups for the final are as follows:
Aston Villa U18: Proctor, Rowe, Carroll, Routh, Burrowes, Borland (C), Hemmings, Fortes, Brannigan, Cotcher, Jimoh-Alobah.
Man City U18: Whatmuff, Parker, Noble, Mfuni, Braithwaite (C), Miles, Dunbar-McDonald, Gorman, Warhurst, Mukasa, R. Heskey.
Key players to watch include Manchester City`s Matthew Warhurst, a consistent performer, alongside Finley Gorman and Reigan Heskey, son of former England international Emile Heskey, who have both made significant impacts. Aston Villa`s notable players include England youth internationals Mason Cotcher and Jamaldeen Jimoh-Alobah.
Route to the FA Youth Cup Final
| Round | Aston Villa U18 | Manchester City U18 |
|---|---|---|
| Third Round | Aston Villa 6-0 Accrington Stanley | Manchester City 1-0 Crystal Palace |
| Fourth Round | Newcastle United 0-4 Aston Villa | Manchester City 5-1 Millwall |
| Fifth Round | Aston Villa 3-2 Bristol City | Leeds United 1-6 Manchester City |
| Quarter-final | Aston Villa 3-0 Plymouth Argyle | West Brom 0-6 Manchester City |
| Semi-final | Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United (3-2P) | Watford 0-1 Manchester City |
Villa`s path to the final involved victories over Accrington Stanley, Newcastle United, Bristol City, Plymouth Argyle, and a semi-final penalty shootout win against Manchester United. Meanwhile, City advanced by defeating Crystal Palace, Millwall, Leeds United, West Brom, and Watford.
Both teams have demonstrated impressive scoring form throughout the competition, with Villa averaging 3.4 goals per match and City averaging 3.8 goals per match. These statistics suggest the potential for a high-scoring encounter in the final, although their respective semi-final matches were much tighter affairs.
