WEMBLEY — Brighton & Hove Albion Women contested their first major final in the 2025/2026 Adobe Women’s FA Cup, losing 4-0 to Manchester City at Wembley on May 31, 2026. The match marked the culmination of a historic campaign under head coach Dario Vidošić, who had led the team to the final after a last-minute semi-final victory over Liverpool.

Vidošić, in his second year as head coach, had returned to the Women’s Super League in February 2026 following a month of compassionate leave after the death of his father, Rado Vidošić, Brighton’s former head of women's and girls' coaching, who died in January 2026 at age 64 after a battle with cancer. Ahead of the final, Vidošić acknowledged the emotional weight of the occasion, saying, “I carry dad every single day with me into every game and I think about what he would tell me and what I've learned from reading back through his notes from when he was a coach.”

The team had shown strong form leading up to the final, including a 3-2 win over Manchester City in the Women’s Super League in April 2026. Still, Vidošić tempered expectations, noting before the match, “A little bit [of confidence] but it’s a new game. It’s the same teams but the context is different, the game is different. Both teams have had two weeks to prepare, so we have to be ready for something a little bit different.”

Despite the loss, Vidošić reflected on the journey with pride, saying, “For us, it’s a very joyous occasion when you win, especially in the manner that we did at Liverpool [in the semi-finals] but you get more joy when it brings other people joy as well.” He added, “We want people to come out, enjoy, give up their weekends to watch good football. If we can bring them a first major trophy along with that, you’ll probably see me take a backward step, taking it all in and observing the scenes.”

Vidošić also described the build-up to the final as grounded in routine, saying, “In the preparation, it feels like any other game. I don’t think the excitement really hits until you are there or are on the bus then you feel the atmosphere around the stadium, from our fans, from the opposition fans or just the build of the day.”