How Brighton & Hove Albion are benefitting from intelligent investment before Adobe Women's FA Cup final meeting with Manchester City

Now the south coast side will face 2026 Women's Super League champions Manchester City in Sunday's showpiece event at Wembley, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

The Seagulls face the daunting task of keeping Bunny Shaw and company in check as Manchester City go in search of a fourth FA Cup triumph in their history and a first since 2020.

However, Brighton's rise up the Women's Super League ladder shouldn't come as a surprise.

The Seagulls have been intelligently investing in the squad and, crucially, the infrastructure in recent years and in April released plans to build a purpose-built women's football stadium.

"It is key," TNT Sports expert Lucy Ward explains. "Brighton building a new stadium will be brilliant."

On the stadium, TNT Sports columnist Fara Williams added: "I think it’s fantastic the route they’re taking, the way they’re trying to engage the fans and I think it’ll be a real success for them."

While the purpose-built stadium will only have a 10,000 capacity, Williams continued that a smaller arena does have its positives.

"I think the way in which they’re doing it, and how they’re trying to build the fan base, because even if you know this purpose-built 10,000-seater stadium has only got 5,000 in it, it doesn’t look as empty as a 60,000-seater stadium that only has 20,000 in it," she added.

It is all part of a project for Brighton, who are looking to secure a first major piece of silverware in their history. "There’s been a few years in the making. I think they’ve got a project," Ward outlined.

"Everything at Brighton is a project. From the academy, first-team, women’s, they look to the long term; they’re data-driven. So the way that they recruit, the way that they play, the way that they get the managers in is all about the long-term. It’s not short-term."

The manager is key. Dario Vidosic took over as head coach back in 2024 after leaving his role as Melbourne City Women boss.

Vidosic succeeded Melissa Phillips two years ago and has been building on the foundation to bolster their chances of domestic success.

"I think Vidosic is so good as a manager that it’s enabled the players to believe," Ward added. "They believe in what he’s doing because he makes tactical changes within the game, and it’s positive and the players look and think: 'This works.'

"I think he’s got them believing and they’ve just, in the last few games, become a lot more consistent and obviously that ends up in the FA Cup final."

Ward's praise for Vidosic is echoed by fellow TNT Sports pundit Anita Asante: "I think those players really believe in what they can achieve.

"They really respect their manager, Dario Vidosic, and his team behind him, and you can see that in their performances.

"They've taken points off two of the top four in the league in Man United, got a draw, Man City… Arsenal, knocked them out of the FA Cup."

Former England striker Ellen White, who will also be part of the TNT Sports coverage, believes that the run to the FA Cup final serves to highlight the positives that come with investing in the team.

"I think for Brighton it's huge in the fact that the investment that they've given to the women's team is showcasing what can happen if you do invest in the women's team.

"Give them great facilities, great standards, a really good manager, good culture and philosophy. I feel like if all those things come together - yes, you need a little bit of luck as well - great things can happen, and you can make history."

White continued that Brighton's progression to Sunday's showpiece should "inspire" other teams that they, too, can achieve what The Seagulls have done, adding: "I think it's a dream and aspiration to see Brighton reaching their first ever FA Cup final, that if you see it and dream it, it can happen.

"It's amazing for them."

Of course, Sunday's final will be a completely new challenge for Brighton.

They did beat Manchester City 3-2 in the Women's Super League last month, but the league champions have silverware-winning experience to call upon.

And having retained Shaw's services, the Golden Boot winner penning a new deal until 2030 on Monday, Manchester City will be confident that the Jamaican will see out the domestic campaign on a high.

White, who won the FA Cup with Manchester City in 2020, has offered her advice to the Brighton players as they look to spring an upset.

"It's OK to feel nerves. I think you've got to play the occasion, not let the occasion play you, basically," the 37-year-old said.

"It's going to be loud. It's obviously going to be a new place. Wembley is absolutely huge when you're stepping out to that pitch.

"It's going to be a filled stadium, a lot of nerves, a lot of anxiety, but I think it's just trying to enjoy it as soon as you step over that white line. There's a reason why you're in the FA Cup final.

"They've already proven that they can beat Man City, they can beat Arsenal. They can go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the WSL, so they've got nothing to fear."

Asante, meanwhile, believes the Brighton players should "enjoy every moment" of Sunday's clash, adding: "Don't let the occasion overawe them. You know, it's just another football match at the end of the day."

Williams, though, is backing Manchester City to come away with a fourth FA Cup success when they face Brighton.

"I think I edge Manchester City slightly just through the experiences they’ve had of being at the top and competing at the top for a longer period of time," she said.

But she didn't rule out an upset, continuing: "We know this competition, it throws up so many different things, and maybe for Brighton, it might throw up a surprise for them, and they’re going to win it."

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You can watch the Adobe Women's FA Cup final on TNT Sports and HBO Max