Hull City will host Chelsea in the Fourth Round of the Emirates FA Cup at the MKM Stadium on Friday, February 13, 2026, with kickoff scheduled at 7:45 PM UK time (GMT). This Hull City vs Chelsea tie sees Championship side Hull welcoming Premier League giants Chelsea in a classic cup clash where FA Cup magic is always on display.
Hull City has shown mixed form in the Championship, sitting mid-table with recent wins boosting morale. They advanced with a gritty performance in the third round.
Key updates include right-back Cody Drameh returning from a nine-game quad injury absence, providing a boost to their defense. Coach Tim Walter emphasizes home energy, but they face a tough test against top-flight opposition.
Chelsea, runners-up in last season’s FA Cup, progressed comfortably from the third round with a 5-1 win over Charlton Athletic. The Blues deal with injuries: Marc Cucurella is a major doubt with a hamstring issue, Levi Colwill, Jamie Gittens, and Romeo Lavia are out long-term, but Tosin Adarabioyo could return from a hamstring problem.
Coach Liam Rosenior, facing his old stomping ground, focuses on squad rotation amid a busy schedule, highlighting their unbeaten run in recent cup ties.
Hull City vs Chelsea Date, Time, Team News and How to watch
- Tournaments: FA Cup 2025-26
- Date: February 13, 2026
- Venue: MKM Stadium in Hull, England
- Kick-off: 19:45 local time (GMT, 00:15 IST on January 21, 14:45 ET)
Team News
Hull City:
Hull have shown solid Championship form recently, with wins over Blackburn and Swansea, and a scoreless draw against Watford. They reached this round by defeating Blackburn on penalties in the Third Round after a 0–0 draw.
Team news: Hull could be without several players due to injuries, including Mohamed Belloumi, Cody Drameh and Matt Crooks, which may limit their options against Chelsea.
Chelsea
Chelsea’s recent run includes a 2–2 draw with Leeds and solid results against Wolves. Manager Rosenior will look to rotate while maintaining quality, although Blues supporters may miss injured defenders like Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill.
Injury concern: Marc Cucurella has also been ruled out with a thigh muscle issue, adding to Chelsea’s defensive challenges.
Path to the 4th Round
- Hull City FA Cup form: W
- Chelsea FA Cup form: W
Head-to-head: 5 meetings
Chelsea has progressed from all eight FA Cup ties against Hull City, the joint-best 100% record in FA Cup history. Overall, Chelsea leads with recent dominance, averaging high-scoring games.
- Total recent meetings: 13 since 2007.
- Chelsea wins: 11
- Draws: 2
- Hull City wins: 0 — Hull have not beaten Chelsea in modern times.
Hull City vs Chelsea Starting XI
- Hull City Predicted XI (4-3-3): Pandur; McNair, Egan, Hughes; Coyle, Slater, Lundstram, Giles; Gelhardt; Joseph, McBurnie
- Chelsea Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Acheampong, Fofana, Badiashile, Hato; Caicedo, Santos; Neto, Estevao, Garnacho; Delap
Key Players
For Hull City, Cody Drameh adds energy at right-back, Taner Omur provides creativity, and Regan Slater anchors midfield.
For Chelsea, Enzo Fernández dictates play, Noni Madueke offers wing threat, and Nicolas Jackson leads the line with goals.
Prediction
Chelsea is predicted to win 2-0, capitalizing on superior quality against Hull’s grit, with a 75% victory chance. Expect under 2.5 goals in a controlled affair, though Hull’s home crowd could make it competitive.
Chelsea to advance to the fifth round, potentially facing Primer league team.
- Hull City vs Chelsea – 2-0
How to Watch Hull City vs Chelsea
- US: Stream live on ESPN+ and Paramount+, Coverage starts at 2:45 PM ET
- UK: BBC One or TNT Sports 1. TNT Sports, BBC iPlayer, or ITV for potential coverage. Highlights on BBC Match of the Day or FA Cup YouTube channel post-match.
- India/Other Regions: ESPN+ or local sports networks; VPN for geo-restricted streams. Free highlights on FA Cup official site or YouTube.
