FA Cup quarter-final LIVE: West Ham vs Leeds score, teams, commentary & updates, plus semi-final draw

Could either follow in Wigan's footsteps?

West Ham v Leeds (16:30 BST)

Ben Ramsdale

BBC Sport

How many major finals have you had the pleasure of watching your team play in - and win - during your lifetime?

If you're not a supporter of one of the Premier League's "big" clubs, the answer to that is probably very few, if any.

The second part of this question is, would you like to?

The answer to that would be a resounding yes, but would it remain so if the cost of silverware was relegation from the top flight?

That is a real possibility for two of the sides going head-to-head in the FA Cup quarter-finals - Leeds United and West Ham United.

Both are just two games away from making it to a rare domestic final but, at the same time, there is a real possibility one of them will be relegated from the Premier League come May.

Wigan became the first team to win the FA Cup and go down from England's top flight in the same season, back in 2013.

Now, languishing at the wrong end of League One, was their day of glory worth what followed?

BBC Sport speaks to West Ham and Leeds supporters to get their views.

Cup history

West Ham v Leeds (16:30 BST)

Both of these sides have tasted FA Cup glory before... it has just been a while.

West Ham are three-time winners of the competition as they lifted the trophy in 1964. 1975 and 1980. The third success was the last time Hammers fans got to celebrate a major piece of silverware.

While Leeds won the Cup in 1972 when Don Revie's side beat Arsenal in the final. The last time got their hands on a major domestic trophy was 1992, when they lifted the final First Division title before the league was revamped to the Premier League.

Manchester City and Chelsea will be the favourties in this season's FA Cup after Arsenal's exit yesterday but the winner of today's tie will have a real chance of going all the way.

'We might as well try to go all the way now'

West Ham v Leeds (16:30 BST)

Leeds United striker Lukas Nmecha believes the club's FA Cup run this season has been "really good" for the players and says "the goal is just to win" against West Ham on Sunday afternoon to seal their spot in the semi-finals.

The 27-year-old is also looking forward to playing in front of the club's 9,000 travelling fans at London Stadium, despite the stands being "quite far away from the pitch".

"This season has definitely been relentless," Nmecha told BBC Radio Leeds. "We've had to rotate a lot in the cup competitions to reduce the load on the players who are playing more in the Premier League.

"But this FA Cup run has definitely been really good for the squad. We've maybe seen a slightly different style of football in the cups compared to the league, and we've shown that we are still able to do the things we were doing last season.

"I've never played at Wembley Stadium before, so it would be amazing for me and the fans [to get there]. It would be a good day out. We are close so we might as well try to go all the way now."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

'Winning FA Cup and getting relegated would be better option'

West Ham v Leeds (16:30 BST)

Simon Rix

Kaiser Chiefs bassist from the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Radio 5 Live

As a fan, surely winning the FA Cup or winning something, as a Leeds fan, winning the FA Cup and getting relegated would be by far the better option for me.

We've won one league title in the entire time I've supported Leeds. For me, going to Wembley and winning, even an FA Cup semi-final will be a big deal.

There is a bit of a route to the final. Arsenal have been the only team that we have been dominated by. Everyone else, we have been competitive against.

'Both in the thick of the relegation battle'

West Ham v Leeds (16:30 BST)

The most intriguing thing about this tie is how both teams are going to approach it.

They are both in the thick of the relegation battle at the bottom of the table and will surely have at least one eye on that, rather than being fully focused on the FA Cup.

Leeds don't play in the league until the following Monday, when they go to Old Trafford, but West Ham are back in action on Friday, at home to bottom side Wolves.

Out of the two games, Wolves is surely the one that Hammers boss Nuno Espirito Santo will prioritise, because it has to be seen as 'must win' for them - but you could argue Leeds manager Daniel Farke will do the same before his side play Manchester United too.

The one thing both teams definitely don't want here is extra time, and what usually happens in that scenario is that the tie goes the distance.

So, that's what I am going to say we will see here, too. You won't be able to split the teams over 90 minutes, but then Leeds will be the ones who find a winner.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2 (after extra time)

'We want to go to Wembley'

West Ham v Leeds (16:30 BST)

Leeds United

Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk, speaking on TNT Sports about having a few days off before this game: "We've had a good few days off. Time to recover for us. I think [for] most players, it's been quite an intense period over what we had before the break. Well recovered, rested and ready to go.

"Today is a dfferent game, new game. Home stadium for them so I think it will be tough one, so we need to be up for the challenge.

"For us, we really want to go to Wembley. I think it's a good step as a club. It's great if we can do that. Just like any other game, try and win."

'A Wembley trip would be incredible'

West Ham v Leeds (16:30 BST)

Michael Emons

BBC Sport at London Stadium

There are some good quotes from West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen on what getting to Wembley would mean to him and the fans.

Writing in the matchday programme, Bowen says: "We can really turn what's been an underwhelming season into a really special one in the last seven league games and three potential FA Cup ties we've still got to play.

"It's proper business time, with no other breaks between now and the end of the season. A Wembley trip for everyone associated with this club would be incredible. This is the FA Cup, the competition we all grew up watching and dreaming of winning.

"A win today would take us to the national stadium, so it's a big opportunity, a big moment and one I'm really looking forward to.

"We can't underestimate Leeds, they're a good side - a disciplined, physical side and they've had some good results against top teams. As a club, they've got a very similar fanbase to us - loyal, passionate - who will want a day out at Wembley too so they're going to be right up for it and we have to match that and be better in every single sense."

From London Stadium to Wembley

West Ham v Leeds (16:30 BST)

Michael Emons

BBC Sport at London Stadium

The winners will be heading to Wembley, a rare venue for fans of either club.

Three-time winners West Ham have not reached the FA Cup semi-finals since they reached the 2006 final. After beating Middlesbrough 1-0 at Villa Park in the semi-final, they lost 3-1 on penalties to Liverpool in the final after it had finished 3-3 in Cardiff.

The Hammers did play two matches against temporary Wembley tenants Tottenham while Spurs' own stadium was being redeveloped in 2017-18, with West Ham winning in the League Cup in October 2017 before drawing in the Premier League three months later.

Before that, you have to go back to the 2012 Championship play-off final, when West Ham beat Blackpool 2-1 to win promotion at the national stadium.

For Leeds, 1972 winners, they have lost on their past three trips to Wembley - 1-0 v Southampton in the 2024 Championship play-off final, 1-0 v Doncaster in the League One play-off final in 2008 and 3-0 v Aston Villa in the 1996 League Cup final.

You have to go back to August 1992 for Leeds' last victory at Wembley, a 4-3 success over Liverpool in the Charity Shield. Leeds are aiming to get into the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1987, when they lost 3-2 to eventual winners Coventry City at Hillsborough.

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