FA Cup fifth-round draw: League One Mansfield to host Arsenal as Man City head to Newcastle
The FA Cup draw for the fifth round has produced a mix of David-and-Goliath fixtures and heavyweight Premier League clashes. League One side Mansfield Town will host Arsenal, while Manchester City travel to Newcastle United in a high-profile repeat of a recent domestic cup semi-final. Fifth-round ties are scheduled across the weekend of March 7-8, 2026.
Mansfield earn rare trip into the spotlight
Mansfield Town’s reward for a stunning comeback at Turf Moor is a home tie with 14-time winners Arsenal. The Stags reached the fifth round for the first time since 1975 after overturning a deficit to beat Premier League Burnley 2-1, a result that will live long in the club’s modern history and create a major day out for supporters at Field Mill.
For Arsenal, a visit to a part-time-turned-higher-league club in a packed, fervent stadium presents the classic FA Cup test: a favourite up against a lower-league side buoyed by momentum and belief. The draw hands Mansfield a once-in-a-generation fixture, while Arsenal must guard against complacency as they negotiate a cup tie away from home.
Big-name ties, a historic meeting and scheduling notes
The draw produced two all-Premier League matches, including Newcastle United hosting Manchester City — a replay of a domestic cup semi-final this season — and Wolverhampton Wanderers drawn at home to Liverpool. Other intriguing ties see Fulham take on Southampton and Leeds United paired with Norwich City.
One of the weekend’s more storied fixtures is Wrexham welcoming Chelsea. The two clubs have not met competitively since February 1982, but recent friendly meetings and Wrexham’s rise back up the English pyramid have added spice to this encounter. Wrexham were promoted to the Championship after finishing second in League One and currently sit close to the play-off positions; the visit of an eight-time FA Cup-winning side represents a major test and an opportunity for the club to showcase how far it has progressed.
Another tie to note involves West Ham United, who will face the winner of the postponed fourth-round match between Macclesfield and Brentford. That postponed fourth-round match will now be resolved before the fifth round fixtures are finalised.
A fourth-round replay that was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch — Port Vale versus Bristol City — has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 3 at 2: 45 PM ET. The winner of that match will travel to face Sunderland in the fifth round.
Stakes and next steps for clubs
Winning a fifth-round tie brings progress towards the latter stages of the competition and a significant financial boost: successful clubs at this stage will receive £238, 500 from the competition prize fund. Fixture dates and kick-off times for the individual ties will be confirmed after discussions between clubs, broadcast partners and local authorities, but supporters can pencil the weekend of March 7-8, 2026 into their calendars.
For lower-league clubs such as Mansfield and Wrexham, the draw offers both sporting reward and potential revenue gains from gate receipts and attention. For elite sides, the cup represents a route to silverware and a chance to rotate squads while maintaining momentum in domestic and European campaigns. Expect managers to weigh those choices carefully as the fifth round approaches.
With an appealing blend of mismatches and marquee showdowns, this FA Cup draw keeps alive the competition’s reputation for drama and opportunity. The next few weeks promise intense football and a fresh set of storylines as clubs prepare for the weekend of March 7-8, 2026.
