Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman stunned as Wrexham draw Chelsea in FA Cup
Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds and his friend Hugh Jackman were visibly stunned when the FA Cup fifth-round draw handed the Welsh club a home tie against Chelsea. The pair’s exuberant reaction to the draw underscored the scale of the occasion for the Racecourse Ground and the wider Wrexham community.
Owners celebrate on camera as Chelsea visit Racecourse Ground
The moment the draw was revealed, Reynolds and Jackman broke into an expletive-laced, celebratory video while watching live. Reynolds can be heard in disbelief asking, "Wait, wait, wait... we're home to Chelsea?" before the two clap, high-five and revel in the surprise. Reynolds later summed it up neatly with the caption: "Chelsea at the Racecourse!" Jackman chimed in with a laugh, telling Reynolds: "That's what you wanted!"
The pairing have overseen a rapid rise in profile for the club since their takeover, and this tie — due to be played on March 7, 2026 (ET) — promises one of the most high-profile nights at the Racecourse Ground in recent memory. Supporters have greeted the draw with excitement, with some fans insisting the Red Dragons are capable of toppling any Premier League opponent on the day.
Local voices urge focus but welcome the spectacle
Former Wrexham favourite Mickey Thomas welcomed the draw while cautioning that the cup tie should not distract from league priorities. Thomas described the fixture as a "good distraction" that could help maintain momentum, but stressed the immediate need to concentrate on upcoming Championship commitments.
“Bristol City tonight is a massive game. They have to focus on that, ” Thomas said, while also urging confidence in the squad and the manager. He pointed to Wrexham’s strong resources and a deep squad as reasons not to fear the visit of a top-flight opponent. Reflecting on the magic of the competition, Thomas reminded supporters that cup shocks happen and that once the whistle blows, previous form can count for little.
Thomas also highlighted demand for tickets, noting the Racecourse Ground’s current capacity limit of 10, 500 and observing that interest could easily outstrip supply for such a marquee fixture. For the local community and travelling fans alike, the game represents a rare chance to see Premier League quality on Welsh soil.
Fixture context and what’s at stake
The FA Cup draw pairs Wrexham with an eight-time winner of the competition, a club currently sitting in the upper tier of the Premier League. The Chelsea side set to travel to north Wales features several high-quality players and arrives as favourites on paper, but the unpredictability of knockout football leaves room for drama.
Wrexham have yet to win the FA Cup and their best runs were quarter-final appearances in 1973-74 and 1996-97. Since the new ownership took over, the club has advanced to the fourth round in consecutive seasons and now finds itself competing in the Championship after recent promotion. That rise has vaulted the club back into the national conversation and made ties like this not just sporting events but cultural moments for the town.
Both clubs will have to negotiate congested schedules as the season progresses, but the weekend of March 7-8, 2026 (ET) now marks a clear target for Wrexham supporters eager for a landmark evening at the Racecourse Ground. Whether the fixture serves as a springboard for league ambitions or a memorable cup upset, it has already delivered one unmissable moment: two Hollywood owners left genuinely gobsmacked by the luck of the draw.
