Leeds United travels to London to face West Ham United in the quarterfinals of the Emirates FA Cup this Sunday, April 5th, following the international break. Both clubs are navigating a delicate balance of player availability, with one confirmed absence, three players listed as doubtful, and four returning to contention. The match, set to kick off at 4:30 PM at the London Stadium, carries significant weight as both teams battle for progression in the prestigious tournament.
The fixture takes on added importance considering the league standings of both sides. West Ham currently sits just above the relegation zone, while Leeds United are striving to secure their Premier League status. The two clubs are direct rivals in the fight to avoid relegation, with West Ham in 18th place and four points ahead of Leeds, who are 15th. Tottenham and Nottingham Forest sit between them in the table.
Injury Updates and Team News
A key storyline heading into the match revolves around the fitness of several players. Crysencio Summerville, formerly of Leeds United and now with West Ham, sustained a calf injury during the fifth-round victory over Brentford. This injury kept him out of subsequent matches and prevented his inclusion in the Netherlands national team squad. Reports suggest he could be available after the international break, but his participation on Sunday remains uncertain.
Further compounding West Ham’s concerns, Jean-Clair Todibo is a doubt due to a calf problem picked up during the warm-up ahead of a match against Aston Villa. Konstantinos Mavropanos suffered a head injury while representing Greece in a 1-0 defeat against Paraguay and is reportedly unavailable for Greece’s upcoming match against Hungary, casting doubt over his availability for the Leeds clash.
There’s positive news for West Ham, however, with defender Oliver Scarles returning to the squad. He was included on the bench against Aston Villa after recovering from a fractured clavicle sustained in October, followed by a knock during the fifth round.
Leeds United as well have players returning to fitness. Left-back Gabi Gudmundsson is available after serving a one-match suspension. Despite a knee knock during Thursday’s victory with Ukraine, Gudmundsson indicated it was precautionary and confirmed his availability for Tuesday’s playoff match against Poland, suggesting he’ll be fit to face West Ham.
Forward Noah Okafor has also returned to contention for Leeds, ending a five-match absence due to a hamstring injury. He made a substitute appearance in the draw against Brentford and subsequently joined the Switzerland national team, potentially pushing for a starting role against West Ham.
Recent Form and Head-to-Head Record
Leeds United reached the FA Cup quarterfinal stage for the first time in over two decades after a convincing 3-0 victory over Norwich City. Prior to that, Daniel Farke’s team overcame Derby County and Birmingham City in earlier rounds. West Ham, meanwhile, needed penalties to defeat Brentford in the fifth round, following earlier wins against Queens Park Rangers and Burton Albion.
Looking at the recent head-to-head record between these two sides, the matches have been closely contested. On October 24, 2025, Leeds United defeated West Ham 2-1 in the English Premier League. Prior to that, West Ham secured a 3-1 victory on May 21, 2023, also in the Premier League. Earlier encounters saw a 2-2 draw on January 4, 2023, and a 2-3 win for Leeds at West Ham on January 16, 2022. West Ham also defeated Leeds 2-0 in the FA Cup on January 9, 2022. [1, 2]
What to Watch For
This FA Cup quarterfinal promises to be a tightly fought contest. The availability of key players like Summerville and Mavropanos will be crucial for West Ham, while Leeds will be hoping Okafor can make an immediate impact after his return from injury. The tactical battle between the two managers will also be fascinating to observe, as both teams look to exploit their opponents’ weaknesses. The match is a significant opportunity for both clubs to progress in a major cup competition and potentially secure a European spot for next season.
For Leeds, a strong performance in the FA Cup could provide a much-needed boost in confidence as they continue their fight against relegation in the Premier League. West Ham, similarly, will see the FA Cup as a potential route to silverware and a positive complete to a challenging season.
The game will be played at the London Stadium, with a kickoff time of 4:30 PM on Sunday, April 5th (11:30 AM ET). Coverage will be available on ESPN2/ESPN+. [2]
Next up for both teams will be Premier League fixtures following the FA Cup quarterfinal. Details of those matches will be announced in due course.
What are your predictions for the match? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
