FA Cup fifth-round draw: Mansfield to host Arsenal as Man City head to Newcastle
The fa cup draw has produced a compelling line-up for the fifth round, with League One Mansfield Town handed a home tie against 14-time winners Arsenal and Manchester City set to visit Newcastle United. The eight ties are due to be played across the weekend of March 7-8, 2026, with one postponed fourth-round fixture set for Tuesday, March 3 at 2: 45 PM ET.
David v Goliath: Mansfield set for a historic night
Mansfield Town will play in the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 1975 after producing a dramatic comeback to beat Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor in the fourth round. The Stags overturned the deficit with a second-half resurgence to secure what is already one of the stories of this season's competition and now face one of the tournament's giants.
Arsenal, chasing further silverware, will travel to Field Mill for a tie that promises a classic cup dynamic: a lower-league side riding momentum and belief against a top-tier opponent accustomed to deep runs in the competition. For Mansfield this is an opportunity to generate a major upset on home soil and write a new page in the club's cup history; for Arsenal it presents the familiar pressure of ensuring there are no shocks along the way.
Premier clashes and intriguing matchups across the board
Several high-profile fixtures will test elite clubs and offer marquee dates for supporters. Manchester City are drawn away to Newcastle United in a repeat of one of this season's League Cup semi-finals, promising a heated and tactical encounter between two sides used to competing on multiple fronts. Wolverhampton Wanderers will face Liverpool, another top-flight tie that carries both prestige and progression at stake.
Other pairings include Fulham v Southampton and Leeds United v Norwich City, both featuring familiar domestic rivals. Sunderland await the winner of a postponed fourth-round meeting between Port Vale and Bristol City, while West Ham United will face either Macclesfield or Brentford, the latter still awaiting the outcome of their rearranged tie.
One of the more notable domestic stories sees Wrexham host Chelsea. The Championship side have risen rapidly back up the pyramid in recent seasons and return to host a club with a rich FA Cup pedigree. That fixture will draw added attention given Wrexham's recent progress and the historic gulf the tie seeks to bridge.
Schedule, stakes and what happens next
The fifth-round ties are provisionally scheduled for the weekend of March 7-8, 2026, though precise kick-off times and any broadcast arrangements will be finalised following discussions between clubs, competition organisers and local authorities. The lone postponed fourth-round fixture — Port Vale or Bristol City v Sunderland — is pencilled in for Tuesday, March 3 at 2: 45 PM ET, with the winner travelling for their fifth-round assignment.
There is tangible prize and prestige on offer: progression moves clubs a step closer to the quarter-finals and a significant share of the competition's financial rewards. Beyond money and silverware, the FA Cup's knockout format continues to produce its trademark narratives — from giant-killings to heavyweight clashes — and this draw provides several avenues for both the expected and the unexpected.
Clubs now have a fortnight to prepare logistically and tactically for their respective ties. For lower-league sides the draw represents a chance to galvanise their fan bases and, potentially, generate matchday revenue and national attention. For top-tier teams, the draw brings the familiar need to balance domestic priorities while ensuring progress in a competition that remains deeply valued by supporters and clubs alike.
