The magic of the FA Cup returns to East Yorkshire this Friday, February 13, 2026, as Sergej Jakirović’s Hull City welcomes a star-studded Chelsea to the MKM Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:45 GMT.
The headline story of the night is the return of Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior to the club he once managed and played for. Having taken the Chelsea reins in early January, Rosenior has enjoyed a stellar start to life in London, but he now faces the sentimental task of trying to knock his former side out of the Fourth Round.
Match Information
| Feature | Details |
| Competition | Emirates FA Cup (Fourth Round) |
| Date | Friday, February 13, 2026 |
| Kick-off | 19:45 GMT / 14:45 ET |
| Venue | MKM Stadium, Hull |
| Referee | TBD |
| TV Channel | BBC One / TNT Sports 1 (UK) |
Hull City: The Championship Giant-Killers?
Sergej Jakirović’s Tigers are flying high in the Championship promotion race, currently sitting in the top six despite a recent 3–2 setback against Bristol City. Hull reached this stage after a gritty third-round replay victory over Blackburn Rovers, and they will view this sell-out home clash as a free hit against Premier League opposition.
Team News and Selection:
The Main Man: Oli McBurnie is in clinical form, having netted his 12th goal of the season last weekend. He will lead the line hoping to bully a Chelsea defense that can sometimes look vulnerable under high pressure.
Selection Boost: Ryan Giles recently returned from a hamstring injury and provides an extra attacking weapon on the left flank.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Pandur; Coyle, Jones, McLoughlin, Giles; Lundstram, Neil; Millar, Slater, Kamara; McBurnie.
Chelsea: Rosenior’s New-Look Blues
Since Rosenior’s appointment on January 8, Chelsea has undergone a tactical shift toward a high-possession, fluid style. The Blues swept aside Charlton Athletic 5–1 in the previous round and have won four of their last five matches, including a vital 3–1 win over Wolves last weekend.
Team News and Selection:
Injury Blows: Chelsea will be without winger Jamie Gittens, who suffered a serious hamstring tear. Levi Colwill (ACL) and Dario Essugo also remain sidelined.
The Captain’s Return: Reece James is "so close" to a return from a minor knock and could feature as Rosenior looks to rotate his squad.
The Star Power: Expect Cole Palmer to pull the strings in midfield, though Rosenior may hand minutes to January arrivals as he balances FA Cup ambitions with a top-four Premier League chase.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Jörgensen; James, Disasi, Badiashile, Cucurella; Lavia, Fernández, Palmer; Neto, Pedro, Mudryk.
? Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats
Historical Dominance: Chelsea has progressed from all eight previous FA Cup ties against Hull City.
Recent Meeting: The last time these sides met was also in the FA Cup Fourth Round (January 2020), where Chelsea secured a narrow 2–1 victory.
Clean Sheet Struggle: Hull City has struggled for home clean sheets recently, conceding three goals in their last outing at the MKM.
Chelsea's Cup Pedigree: The Blues have reached the FA Cup final in five of the last ten seasons.
Tactical Preview and Prediction
Rosenior knows the MKM Stadium better than most, and he will expect his Chelsea side to dominate the ball. However, Jakirović’s Hull is designed to be "uncomfortable" for visitors, utilizing the atmosphere and the physicality of McBurnie to disrupt play.
While Hull will likely find the net given Chelsea’s tendency to rotate in cup competitions, the sheer depth and technical quality of the Blues should see them through to the fifth round.
Final Score Prediction: Hull City 1–3 Chelsea
