Credit: Imago

Cameron Smith

Sat 25 April 2026 21:10, UK

Leeds United head to Wembley on Sunday for what promises to be a monumental FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea.

Daniel Farke’s side have used this season’s competition to excellent effect. Early victories over Derby, Birmingham and Norwich helped build momentum that has carried into their league campaign.

Now, with Leeds’ Premier League status for next season all but secured, they have the chance to savour the occasion beneath the Wembley arch as they look to reach the FA Cup final for the first time since 1973.

Chelsea, meanwhile, arrive in wretched form, having dismissed Liam Rosenior after a sequence of five league games without scoring.

All of which leaves the West Yorkshire club with a genuine opportunity to make a statement on Sunday – and to move within touching distance of European football next month, not to mention the lure of silverware.

Leeds ownership could be set for European headache if Leeds progress

Alongside the celebrations that come with silverware, winning the FA Cup is rewarded with a spot in the Europa League.

Should a side outside the European positions lift the trophy at Wembley next month, the second spot in the competition will be awarded to the cup winner, meaning that the Premier League’s seventh-placed side will play Conference League football.

Those who recall the controversy involving Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest last summer may detect the first signs of a similar problem emerging at Leeds United.

The 49ers Enterprises group, which controls the West Yorkshire club, also has links to Scottish giants Rangers.

While this is not a traditional multi-club model of the kind employed by the Red Bull Group, the connection between Crystal Palace and John Textor ultimately led to the Eagles forfeiting their place in the Europa League, with Nottingham Forest moving up after qualifying for the Conference League.

Textor, who held a 44.9 per cent stake in the South London club, was also in charge of French heavyweights Lyon, as well as Botafogo and RWDM Brussels through his Eagle Football Group.

With Lyon also competing in the Europa League, Palace were barred from entering the same competition after missing the 1 March restructuring deadline, which requires owners to place their shares into blind trusts to comply with multi-club ownership rules.

For Leeds, however, European football has been the last thing on the minds of everyone connected with the club this season.

That makes it unlikely the same deadline was met, leaving them at risk of being dropped into the Conference League should they go on to win the FA Cup.

Leeds fans will not care as they prepare for Wembley visit

Naturally, the dream for supporters of any club is to see their side lift silverware at the end of the season.

For Leeds, the immediate ambition is to reach the FA Cup final for the first time since 1973, with the added lure of European qualification if they can get past Chelsea on Sunday.

That in itself would open up an intriguing prospect. Leeds would surely fancy their chances of making a late charge in either European competition, particularly with Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest already in the semi-finals of the Conference League and Europa League respectively.

Either way, the opportunity to reach Europe is there, along with the promise of some memorable away trips.

Yet for all the excitement, the 49ers group in charge could probably do without the added complication that may come with a potential demotion.