Fulham meet Southampton in the FA Cup fifth round on March 8, 2026, renewing a cup rivalry that stretches back over a century. The Cottagers enter the tie with momentum on their side, backed by a player in the form of his life and a head-to-head record that firmly favors the west London club in recent seasons.
The numbers reveal a pattern that Southampton will find difficult to ignore. The Saints have lost three of their last four meetings against Fulham across all competitions, with only one draw to show from that run. For a Southampton side navigating a difficult stretch of fixtures, this fifth-round assignment presents a steep challenge.
Fulham vs Southampton FA Cup Head-to-Head History
Fulham and Southampton have met four times in the FA Cup, producing a split record that tilts toward the Saints in the earliest encounters but swings back to the Cottagers in the modern era. The historical record spans more than a century of cup football, with both clubs claiming notable victories at different stages.
Southampton won the second-round tie in 1914-15 and then claimed a third-round victory in January 2018, the latter coming under manager Mauricio Pellegrino. Fulham, however, progressed after a replay in the third round during the 1998-99 season, and the Cottagers now carry the stronger recent form into this fifth-round meeting. Based on available data, the 2018 result stands as the last time Southampton eliminated Fulham from this competition.
That 2018 defeat is particularly relevant as a reference point. Oriol Romeu started for Southampton in that 1-0 win at Craven Cottage, and the Spanish midfielder could make his 20th FA Cup appearance if selected for this fixture. His presence would add a thread of continuity across two separate spells at the club and two different encounters with Fulham in this competition.
What Makes Fulham’s Kevin So Dangerous in This FA Cup Run?
Kevin has been the standout attacking force in Fulham’s cup campaign this season, combining goals, assists, and sheer volume of threat in the opposition’s penalty area. His numbers across the third and fourth rounds are exceptional by Premier League standards and suggest Fulham’s best route to goal runs directly through him.
Breaking down the advanced metrics, Kevin contributed to three of Fulham’s five FA Cup goals in the 2025-26 season, scoring twice and providing one assist. He also led all Premier League players in shots taken across the third and fourth rounds, registering 11 attempts, and topped the same sample for touches inside the opposition’s box with 22. Those figures reflect a player operating with consistent access to high-value positions — a concern Southampton’s defensive structure must address directly.
The numbers suggest Kevin’s box presence is not incidental. Twenty-two touches inside the opposition’s penalty area across just two rounds of cup football points to deliberate movement patterns and service from teammates. Southampton’s defensive scheme will need to track his runs aggressively and deny the delivery lines that feed him.
Key Developments Ahead of the Fifth Round Tie
This is the fourth FA Cup meeting between Fulham and Southampton in recorded history, making it a relatively rare cup fixture despite both clubs’ long tenures in English football.
Southampton have lost three of their last four matches against Fulham, with the sole positive result being a draw — all four of those recent meetings came in the Premier League during the 2022-23 and 2024-25 seasons.
Kevin leads all Premier League players in both shots (11) and touches in the opposition’s box (22) across the FA Cup third and fourth rounds in 2025-26.
Oriol Romeu is one appearance away from his 20th FA Cup cap and started the last time Southampton beat Fulham in this competition, a 1-0 win in January 2018 under Mauricio Pellegrino.
Fulham have scored five FA Cup goals this season, with Kevin directly involved in three of them through two goals and one assist.
How Does Fulham’s Form Shape Their FA Cup Prospects?
Fulham’s recent record against Southampton, combined with Kevin’s output, positions the Cottagers as clear favorites to advance. The club’s cup trajectory in 2025-26 reflects a squad capable of rotating intelligently while maintaining attacking threat through a single high-volume creator.
Southampton’s recent form against Fulham offers little encouragement for the Saints. Three losses from four Premier League meetings in the 2022-23 and 2024-25 seasons establish a pattern of dominance that Fulham will look to extend into cup competition. The alternative interpretation is that cup football introduces variables — venue, rotation, tactical surprise — that can disrupt form-based predictions. A single set-piece or counter-attack can neutralize an xG advantage built over 90 minutes of controlled possession.
Tracking this trend over three seasons, Fulham’s physical and technical superiority over Southampton in direct matchups has been consistent rather than circumstantial. The Cottagers’ ability to generate high-quality chances through Kevin’s movement, combined with a defensive record that has held Southampton at bay repeatedly, gives Marco Silva’s squad a structural edge entering this tie. Southampton will need a disciplined defensive block and clinical finishing on the break to overturn that advantage at Craven Cottage.
For Fulham, progression to the FA Cup quarter-final would represent a meaningful step in a season that has already produced strong cup performances. The Cottagers’ five goals across two rounds signal an attack that has not conserved its intensity for league fixtures alone. Southampton, meanwhile, must find a way to break a losing sequence against this opponent that now spans multiple seasons and competitions.
