How Fans Can Reach Wembley For The Women’s FA Cup Final

Brighton & Hove Albion Women and Manchester City Women supporters heading to Wembley Stadium for the Adobe Women’s FA Cup Final are being urged to plan their rail journeys carefully, with several important changes affecting travel to and from the national stadium. The final takes place on Sunday 31 May 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 3.00pm.

The biggest Wembley-specific warning is that Wembley Stadium railway station will be closed. Chiltern Railways says no trains will call at Wembley Stadium for the entire day on Sunday 31 May, meaning supporters should not plan to use the usual London Marylebone to Wembley Stadium route. Fans travelling by public transport should instead plan around Wembley Park Underground station or suitable bus routes.

That makes Wembley Park the main route for most supporters. The station is served by the Metropolitan and Jubilee lines and is a straightforward walk to the stadium. Supporters arriving into London by mainline rail should therefore plan their cross-London journey around reaching Wembley Park rather than relying on Chiltern Railways services to Wembley Stadium station.

For Brighton supporters, the most obvious rail options are services from Brighton towards London Victoria or London Bridge. From London Victoria, fans can use the Underground across London and connect towards Wembley Park. From London Bridge, the Jubilee line provides a direct route to Wembley Park, which may be one of the simpler options for supporters arriving there.

However, Brighton fans need to be aware of Thameslink disruption through central London. No Thameslink trains will run through the central London core between London St Pancras International or Finsbury Park and London Blackfriars or London Bridge on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May. Trains are still due to run to an amended timetable between London Bridge and Gatwick Airport or Brighton, but supporters should check whether their planned journey has changed before travelling.

That means Brighton and Sussex-based supporters should not assume that a normal Sunday Thameslink service will operate through central London. Fans should check whether their intended train runs to London Bridge, Victoria or another London terminal, and then confirm the Underground leg to Wembley Park. Anyone using paper rail tickets should also check any ticket acceptance arrangements before setting off.

Manchester City supporters face a different set of issues. The normal rail route would usually involve Avanti West Coast services from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston, followed by an Underground connection across London to Wembley Park. Avanti West Coast services are subject to amended timetables on parts of the network over the weekend, so City fans should check their exact train before travelling, particularly if their journey involves connections or a specific booked service.

For supporters arriving at Euston, Wembley Park can be reached by London Underground, including by walking to nearby Euston Square for Metropolitan line services or using other Underground connections towards the Jubilee line. The important point is to allow enough time for the transfer across London and not aim for a tight connection, especially with Wembley Stadium station closed and more event traffic likely to be directed towards Wembley Park.

Manchester City supporters should also check the return journey before setting off. A 3.00pm kick-off should usually mean the match finishes shortly before 5.00pm in normal time, but added time, post-match celebrations, queues leaving the stadium and the walk back to Wembley Park can all add time. Fans using fixed train tickets or seat reservations should make sure they know which service home they are aiming for.

There is also a wider north-west London warning for anyone using local routes. The London Overground Lioness line is not due to run between Watford Junction and London Euston on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May because of engineering work. That will not affect most Brighton or Manchester City supporters directly, but it is another reason to avoid relying on last-minute local rail connections around Wembley and north-west London.

Coach travel is available as an alternative for some supporters, with Wembley promoting National Express Wembley Express services for major events. However, for fans planning a rail-focused journey, the safest advice remains to treat Wembley Park as the main destination station, check National Rail and TfL journey planners on the day, and leave more time than usual for a Sunday trip to Wembley.

The clearest message for both sets of supporters is that this is not a normal Wembley rail day. Brighton fans need to check Thameslink and Southern route options into London, while Manchester City fans need to check Avanti West Coast services into and out of Euston. Once in London, fans should plan around Wembley Park, allow for queues after the final whistle, and make sure the journey home still works before travelling.

Image: Wembley Stadium