FA Cup fifth-round draw: Mansfield to host Arsenal as Man City head to Newcastle, Wrexham get Chelsea
The FA Cup fifth-round draw has thrown up a mix of David-and-Goliath tests and heavyweight Premier League clashes. League One Mansfield Town, making their first appearance at this stage since 1975, will host Arsenal, while Manchester City travel to Newcastle in a repeat of this season's League Cup semi-final. The ties are scheduled across the weekend of March 7-8, 2026 (ET).
Mansfield's big night and other notable pairings
Mansfield's reward for a memorable upset over Premier League Burnley is a home tie against 14-time winners Arsenal. The Stags staged a second-half comeback to win 2-1 at Turf Moor, setting up what will be one of the feel-good stories of the fifth round if they can make the most of their rare run.
Among the headline Premier League matchups, Manchester City will visit Newcastle — a fixture with recent domestic cup history and plenty of intrigue. Liverpool travel to Wolves in another high-profile tie, while Leeds host Norwich in a clash that could carry momentum for both sides as they eye the business end of their seasons.
Wrexham, who have risen back up the divisions in recent seasons, will host Chelsea. The Blues advanced to this stage with a convincing 4-0 win over Hull City, a night that featured a hat-trick from one of their forwards and a clear statement of intent heading into March.
Blocked fixtures, postponed ties and timing
Not every fifth-round opponent is fixed yet. Sunderland were drawn to visit the winners of Port Vale or Bristol City, but that fourth-round tie had been postponed and rescheduled for Tuesday, March 3 at 2: 45 PM ET because of a waterlogged pitch. The outcome of that game will determine Sunderland's next destination in the competition.
Other scheduled fifth-round ties include Fulham vs Southampton and West Ham facing either Macclesfield or Brentford, depending on a pending fourth-round match. The bulk of matches are set for the weekend of March 7-8, giving clubs and supporters a clear target for ticketing and travel plans.
What to watch: upset potential and big-picture stakes
As ever in the FA Cup, there are genuine upset possibilities alongside the bigger fixtures. Mansfield hosting Arsenal is the quintessential cup tie: a lower-league side riding momentum and a top-flight opponent who cannot afford to underestimate the occasion. Wrexham at home to Chelsea offers another storyline — a lower-tier club with recent upward momentum against an eight-time winner keen to avoid cup embarrassment.
For the Premier League heavyweights, matches such as Newcastle vs Manchester City and Wolves vs Liverpool present midseason tests that could shape domestic momentum. Managers will have to balance league priorities with cup ambitions, and squad depth could play a decisive role come March.
Supporters now have a clear idea of what promises to be an entertaining and unpredictable fifth round. The mix of historic home ties, rematches and heavyweight clashes ensures the next stage of the competition will deliver compelling drama across the weekend of March 7-8, 2026 (ET).
