Leeds United vs West Ham Lineups: Confirmed Starting XIs

Few FA Cup quarter-finals carry the weight of a London Stadium showdown where both managers field their strongest sides, knowing a semi-final place is on the line. The lineups for Leeds United vs West Ham on 5 April 2026 reveal how Daniel Farke and Nuno Espírito Santo approached this knockout tie—one that ended in extra-time drama and a penalty shootout. Here’s a breakdown of who started, what the selections meant tactically, and how the match unfolded.

Match date: 5 April 2026 · Competition: FA Cup Quarter-Final · Venue: London Stadium · Leeds manager: Daniel Farke · West Ham manager: Nuno Espírito Santo · Attendance: 62,260

The pattern is clear: the confirmed facts come from official club channels and authoritative match reports, while the unclear elements are details typically only revealed in post-match press conferences.

What were the confirmed starting lineups for Leeds United vs West Ham?

Leeds United starting XI (FA Cup quarter-final, 5 April 2026)

• Goalkeeper: Lucas Perri
• Defenders: Jayden Bogle, Ethan Ampadu (captain), Pascal Struijk, Joe Rodon, James Justin
• Midfielders: Ao Tanaka, Jaka Bijol, Anton Stach
• Forwards: Lukas Nmecha, Noah Okafor

According to the Leeds United official team news, Farke named a strong starting line-up with Ethan Ampadu wearing the armband.

West Ham United starting XI (FA Cup quarter-final, 5 April 2026)

• Goalkeeper: Alphonse Areola
• Defenders: Kyle Walker-Peters, Axel Disasi, Max Kilman, El Hadji Malick Diouf
• Midfielders: Freddie Potts, Soungoutou Magassa, Mateus Fernandes
• Forwards: Jarrod Bowen, Valentín Castellanos, Adama Traoré

This lineup, confirmed by ESPN and Sky Sports, excluded Crysencio Summerville, who was ruled out with a calf injury (Sports Mole).

Substitutes and unused substitutes

Leeds’ bench: Karl Darlow, Sean Longstaff, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Joel Piroe, Brenden Aaronson, Seb Bornauw, Sam Byram, Willy Gnonto, Ilia Gruev (Leeds United). West Ham’s substitutes were not detailed in the available sources, but the match report shows Calvert-Lewin and others entered the game.

How did the lineups reflect each manager’s tactical approach?

Daniel Farke’s selection choices for Leeds

• Farke started three centre-backs (Ampadu, Struijk, Rodon) with wing-backs Bogle and Justin, suggesting a 3-4-3 formation designed to control the flanks (YSScores).
• Double pivot of Ampadu and Stach aimed to shield the defence while allowing Tanaka and Bijol to push higher.
• Lukas Nmecha and Noah Okafor provided direct running behind the West Ham back line.

The pattern: Leeds packed midfield to counter West Ham’s possession threats while relying on pace in transition.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s lineup decisions for West Ham

• West Ham lined up in a 4-2-3-1 with Magassa and Potts as holding midfielders, giving Fernandes freedom to support the attack (YSScores).
• Bowen and Traoré offered width and direct running; Castellanos led the line as a target man.
• Kilman and Disasi formed an unfamiliar centre-back pairing—both right-footed—which may have contributed to the two goals conceded.

The trade-off: West Ham’s attacking firepower came at the cost of defensive balance, as the late equalisers showed resilience but also vulnerability.

Key tactical battles on the pitch

The midfield duel between Ampadu and Magassa was pivotal, but it was Tanaka’s 26th-minute strike that broke the deadlock (ESPN). West Ham’s inability to contain Leeds’ transitions in the first half forced Espírito Santo to adjust after the break.

What team news and injuries influenced the lineups?

Injury updates for Leeds United

Leeds had no major absentees. Gabriel Gudmundsson was left out of the matchday squad after picking up a knock on international duty with Sweden (Sports Mole), but that did not affect the starting XI.

Injury updates for West Ham United

Crysencio Summerville missed the game with a calf injury, ruling him out of a return to Elland Road (via Sports Mole). This forced Espírito Santo to start Traoré on the left wing, a tactical shift that limited West Ham’s directness.

Suspensions and player availability

Both teams had near full-strength squads available, with no suspensions reported by the Premier League official site. The lineups reflected managers’ preferences rather than forced changes.

How do the lineups compare to each team’s previous matches?

Leeds United changes from previous FA Cup round

Farke made two changes from the previous round, bringing in Noah Okafor and Ao Tanaka for the rested Willy Gnonto and Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United).

West Ham changes from previous Premier League match

Espírito Santo made three changes, resting key players for league fixtures. The introduction of Magassa, Potts and Castellanos showed a focus on rotation ahead of a midweek Premier League match (Sky Sports).

Consistency of starting XI selections

Leeds have used essentially the same core in recent weeks, while West Ham’s lineup saw the most disruption in midfield. The lack of continuity may explain West Ham’s slow start.

The implication: Farke’s stability gave Leeds an early rhythm; Espírito Santo’s rotation left his side disjointed until the final 10 minutes.

What is the match schedule and where can I watch the game?

Kick-off time and date

The match kicked off at 16:30 BST on Sunday, 5 April 2026 (Leeds United).

TV channel and live stream details

In the UK, the game was broadcast live on TNT Sports and could be followed via the Leeds United blog on LUTV (Leeds United). For international viewers, check local listings. For the latest team news and confirmed starting XIs, check out the Sunderland vs Leeds United blog. Sunderland vs Leeds United

Venue information

London Stadium, home of West Ham United, hosted the quarter-final. Attendance was 62,260 (Sky Sports).

The official team news from Leeds United stated: “Daniel Farke named a strong starting line-up to try to reach the semi-finals.” (Leeds United)

“Crysencio Summerville was left out of West Ham’s squad because of a calf injury and was not fit to face his former club.” (Sports Mole)

The match itself was a classic cup tie. Ao Tanaka opened the scoring in the 26th minute, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 75th minute. West Ham clawed back with stoppage-time goals from Mateus Fernandes (90+3) and Axel Disasi (90+6) to force extra time. With no further goals, the tie went to penalties, where Leeds triumphed 4-2 (ESPN).

Confirmed facts vs what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Leeds starting XI as above (Leeds United)
• West Ham starting XI as above (ESPN / Sky Sports)
• Match result: 2-2 after extra time, Leeds won 4-2 on penalties (ESPN)
• Attendance: 62,260 (Sky Sports)
• Broadcaster: TNT Sports (Leeds United)

What’s unclear

• West Ham’s exact formation—4-2-3-1 is likely based on player roles but not explicitly confirmed by the manager (YSScores)
• Specific tactical instructions for late substitutions

The pattern is clear: the confirmed facts come from official club channels and authoritative match reports, while the unclear elements are details typically only revealed in post-match press conferences.

For Leeds United, the FA Cup semi-final awaits—a reward for a disciplined performance and an unwavering belief in Farke’s system. For West Ham, the focus now shifts back to the Premier League, where a top-six finish remains the priority. For fans of both clubs, the lesson is that on any given cup day, lineups tell only half the story; the other half is written in 90 minutes of football and the nerve of penalty takers.

Related reading: Man City vs Tottenham Lineups: Confirmed XI, Team News

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