The 2022/23 FA Cup Final will take place on June 3 at 15:00 BST, marking the earliest kick-off time for the annual Wembley duel in 12 years.
It was originally expected to start between 4:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., but London’s Metropolitan Police have classified the clash between Manchester United and Manchester City’s derby as high risk, citing security concerns, and opposed it starting. later.
The FA made no attempt to challenge the police advice and accepted the decision despite subsequent start-ups being more attractive to both broadcasters and advertisers.
The Met Police had previously rescheduled the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at short notice due to security concerns.
This year’s FA Cup final will be the first between the two Manchester teams and the time swap should make traveling to London easier for both sets of fans.
City kept their dreams of a historic treble alive when Riyad Mahrez scored the first hat-trick in an FA Cup semi-final since 1958.
City edged past Sheffield United at Wembley, with Mahrez opening the scoring from the penalty spot two minutes before half-time following a Daniel Jebbison foul on Bernardo Silva.
The Algerian scored his second of the match just after the hour with a brilliant solo effort, before completing his hat-trick with Jack Grealish’s cross on 66 minutes.
Manchester United secured their place in the FA Cup Final after a tense penalty shootout against Brighton.
The match ended goalless after extra time, with United defender Victor Lindelof scoring the decisive penalty after Brighton’s Solly March missed the target.
