West Ham vs Leeds United: FA Cup Quarter-Final Preview and Predictions

West Ham United and Leeds United will face each other on Sunday, April 5, 2026, in an Emirates FA Cup quarter-final match at the London Stadium. The fixture represents a significant opportunity for both clubs to secure a place in the semi-finals at Wembley.

For West Ham, this match marks their first appearance in the quarter-finals of the competition in 10 years, with their previous appearance in this stage occurring during the 2015-16 season. The Hammers advanced to the last eight after defeating Brentford in a match decided by a penalty shootout. During that tie, Jarrod Bowen scored twice for West Ham, while Igor Thiago scored twice for the visitors. The shootout was highlighted by a missed Panenka penalty from Brentford’s Dango Ouattara.

Despite their progress in the cup, West Ham is currently struggling in the Premier League, where they are situated in the relegation zone. The team has managed to secure only one point from a possible six in their most recent league outings, which included a 1-1 draw against Manchester City and a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa. While the club has maintained an unbeaten run of six games at the London Stadium across all competitions, they have recorded only one clean sheet at home this season, which came against Bournemouth.

Leeds United’s Return to the Last Eight

Leeds United enters the clash having reached the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2003. Daniel Farke’s side progressed to this stage following a 3-0 victory over Norwich City at Elland Road. In that match, Sean Longstaff and Gabriel Gudmundsson scored before the break and Joël Piroe added a third goal in the second half.

The path to the quarter-finals also saw the Whites overcome Derby County and Birmingham City. The match against Birmingham City was decided by a penalty shootout, during which goalkeeper Lucas Perri made a key save at St. Andrew’s to ensure Leeds’ advancement.

Leeds arrives at the London Stadium following two consecutive goalless draws against Brentford and Crystal Palace. In their most recent meeting with West Ham in October 2025, Leeds secured a 2-1 victory at Elland Road with early goals provided by Joe Rodon and Brenden Aaronson.

Team News and Availability

Both managers are dealing with fitness concerns ahead of the Sunday fixture. West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo has not yet provided an update on the status of Jean-Clair Todibo, who recently suffered a calf injury. Crysencio Summerville remains a doubt for the match.

Leeds United faces its own roster challenges. Daniel Farke has indicated that there are doubts regarding the availability of Anton Stach and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who reported hip and hamstring problems, respectively, during training sessions. Farke noted that some players have had limited time to reintegrate with the squad following the international break, though most remain available.

Head-to-Head and Match Details

The historical record between the two sides in the Emirates FA Cup dates back to January 2022. In that third-round encounter, West Ham emerged victorious with goals from Jarrod Bowen and Manuel Lanzini.

The match on Sunday, April 5, 2026, is scheduled for a 4:30 PM BST kick-off. The game will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate, with coverage beginning at 3:30 PM. Supporters will also be able to stream the event via HBO Max.

• Date: Sunday, April 5, 2026
• Venue: London Stadium, Stratford, London
• Kick-off: 4:30 PM BST
• Broadcast: TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, HBO Max