When is the FA Cup Final 2021 on TV? Date and time of Chelsea vs Leicester - and channel showing football showdown

The FA Cup Final is almost upon us.

As the football season reaches its climax, Chelsea and Leicester City will compete in the showdown of the oldest club competition in the world.

Eight-time cup winners Chelsea will be hoping to lay to rest the ghosts of last year’s final when they were beaten by Arsenal at an empty Wembley Stadium.

The Blues overcame Manchester City in their semi-final while Leicester beat Southampton in the other last four encounter en route to the 2021 FA Cup Final.

This year’s final will see a limited number of fans return to Wembley Stadium as part of a series of government pilot events to reintroduce bigger crowds this summer.

Here’s all you need to know.

When is the FA Cup Final?

In 2021, the FA Cup Final will take place on Saturday 15 May.

Premier League sides Chelsea and Leicester City will compete for honours of the coveted club trophy at Wembley Stadium, in London.

Kick-off of the final is scheduled for 5.15pm and will follow the traditional singing of Abide with Me by Becky Hill and pre-match presentations.

The FA president, HRH The Duke of Cambridge, will attend the final and meet both sets of players as the organisation recognises football’s volunteers.

Is the FA Cup Final on TV?

The FA Cup Final has traditionally been shown on terrestrial television channels.

In 2021, both BT Sport 1 and BBC One will broadcast the final live for UK viewers.

The final will also be available to stream through both the BT Sport app and BBC iPlayer.

The final is being broadcast live on radio through BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSport.

Will fans be allowed to attend the FA Cup Final?

There will be a welcome return of fans to the FA Cup Final 2021.

A maximum of 21,000 spectators will be allowed through the Wembley turnstiles to watch Chelsea take on Leicester, subject to a negative Covid test result within 36 hours.

Fans who attend the match will also have to take another test five days after.

The final is part of the government’s series of pilots for a safe return of bigger crowds to live events as England prepares for further easing of lockdown restrictions from 17 May.

The Covid pandemic meant there were no spectators at the 2020 final between Arsenal and Chelsea, as restrictions to stop the spread of coronavirus were still in place.

Yet the vaccine rollout has allowed for some social restrictions to be eased, with the prime minister Boris Johnson confirming further easing of lockdown rules two days after the final.

The hope is for full capacity crowds to return to sporting events from 21 June.

But before then - and the prospect of England winning the Euros at Wembley - club football takes centre stage when Chelsea take on Leicester City in the 2021 FA Cup Final.

Who is favourite to win the FA Cup Final?

Chelsea are seen as clear favourites to lift the FA Cup trophy for a ninth time with many online bookies, according to oddschecker.com.

The Blues are 1/2 on to lift the cup with Bet365, SkyBet, WilliamHill, 888sport and BetVictor, with BoyleSports offering odds of 4/7 for a Chelsea win.

Leicester, meanwhile, are 7/4 with PaddyPower and BetFair with SBK offering 20/11 for the Foxes to lift the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history.