Fulham will host Southampton in the FA Cup this Sunday afternoon at Craven Cottage, with both teams eager to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
The Cottagers come into this fifth-round match looking to recover from a 1–0 loss to West Ham, which ended their three-match winning streak. Marco Silva’s team has performed well in knockout matches this season, having already won a tough away game against Stoke City.
Fulham aims to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for the third time in four years, a notable improvement for a club that reached this stage only three times in the last twenty years. While they are doing well in the Premier League, the FA Cup offers a chance to achieve something significant in the club’s history.
Southampton arrives in West London on a strong nine-match unbeaten run across all competitions. Under Tonda Eckert, they have climbed to seventh in the Championship and are pushing for a play-off position.
Historically, Southampton has a notable record in the FA Cup as former winners and have been tough opponents at Craven Cottage, losing only two of their last eight visits there.
Match Preview and Team News
- Date: Sunday, 8 March 2026
- Kick-off: 12:00 GMT
- Venue: Craven Cottage, London
- Referee: Jarred Gillett
- VAR: John Brooks
- Last Meeting: Southampton 1–2 Fulham (26 April 2025, Premier League)
Team News
Fulham
Marco Silva is facing a late decision on Harry Wilson, who is dealing with an ankle injury from the match against Spurs. Although he has returned to individual training, Silva suggests he may not be ready to start. Kevin will miss the rest of the season following ankle surgery. If Wilson cannot play, Samuel Chukwueze is likely to take his place.
Southampton
The visitors will be happy to have Ross Stewart back, who missed the previous game against Sheffield Wednesday. However, they will not have Welington and Mads Roerslev Rasmussen, who are out with injuries. Young forward Jay Robinson is also expected to miss out due to a thigh issue. Midfielder Oriol Romeu might make his 20th FA Cup appearance.
Form
Fulham
Before the loss to West Ham, Fulham had strong wins against Tottenham and Sunderland, placing them in the top half of the Premier League. They have won three of their last four matches against Southampton. However, they have struggled in recent quarter-finals, being eliminated at this stage last season by Crystal Palace.
Southampton
Southampton has turned around a poor end to 2025 and is now performing well in the Championship. Recently, they had a decisive 3–1 victory away at Sheffield Wednesday. Since winning the trophy in 1976, they have been eliminated in seven of their last eight FA Cup ties against top-tier teams while outside the Premier League and will aim to end that run to reach their fifth quarter-final in six seasons.
Predicted Lineups
Fulham Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Iwobi, Cairney; Wilson, Smith-Rowe, Bobb; Jimenez
Southampton Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Peretz; Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Manning; Charles, Bragg; Matsuki, Azaz, Scienza; Larin
How to Watch Fulham vs Southampton?
The match will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 2 and can be streamed via the discovery+ app, with coverage starting at 11:30 GMT.
Read more- Arteta ‘very proud’ of Arsenal teenagers after squeaking past Mansfield
Add Footem.in As your Preferred Source on Google
Follow the latest on Footem WhatsApp Channel
