City vs Sheff Utd, Brighton-Man Utd FA Cup TV coverage plans

The FA Cup semifinal matchups have TV coverage plans for those viewers in the United States. With three top Premier League clubs in action, there is bound to be excitement for the major cup competition in England. Manchester City, Manchester United and Brighton are all in the top seven of the Premier League. Therefore, each has legitimate reason to believe it can win this tournament.

The last team rounding out the top four is Sheffield United. The Blades look bound for promotion back into the top flight this season, as they are second in the Championship. The challenge Sheffield United faces is being the first team outside the top flight to win the FA Cup since West Ham United in 1980. Worse off, it faces Manchester City, which is on pace to win the treble this season.

FA Cup semifinal TV coverage plans

Manchester City vs. Sheffield United

Kickoff time: 11:45 a.m. ET / 8:45 a.m. PT – Saturday, April 22
Watch now (in USA): Live on ESPN+
Commentators: Jon Champion and Craig Burley
US TV: Match is exclusively on ESPN+

Manchester United vs. Brighton and Hove Albion

Kickoff time: 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT – Sunday, April 23
Watch now (in USA): Live on ESPN+
Commentators: Jon Champion and Stewart Robson
US TV: Match is exclusively on ESPN+

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ESPN holds the rights to the FA Cup, and puts almost all of the games on its paid-streaming platform, ESPN+. There have been instances in the past of games airing on ESPN or ESPN2. For example, just this season, Wrexham played on ESPN2 on several occasions. It featured against Sheffield United as it did against Blyth Spartans in a qualifying game.

However, despite the fact that this is the FA Cup semifinals, ESPN is keeping the games on the paid-streaming platform. For reference, last season’s FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Liverpool was also exclusive to ESPN+ for American audiences. Fortunately, this does mean it is in the same place for English- and Spanish-language audiences.

A relatively new winner

This will be the fourth-straight year with a new winner of the FA Cup. However, Manchester City and Manchester United are both recent winners. The blue side of Manchester last won the FA Cup in 2019. Manchester United’s most recent triumph was in 2016. Brighton last got this far in 2019, when it lost to City in the semifinals. Sheffield United last got this far in 2014. In that year, it was a Championship side that lost to Hull City.

Brighton is the only team among the four that has never won the FA Cup. Even Sheffield United has four, but the most recent of those was just after World War I. Based on the club’s performances this year, as well as an ailing Manchester United in the semifinal, it could be a good opportunity for Brighton to pick up its first major top flight trophy.

PHOTO: IMAGO / Action Plus