fa cup draw delivers blockbuster ties — Mansfield to host Arsenal, Wrexham get Chelsea
The fifth-round draw of the FA Cup has produced a mix of high-profile Premier League clashes and feelgood David-versus-Goliath matchups. Ties will be played across the weekend of March 7-8, with one fourth-round replay set for Tuesday, March 3 at 2: 45 PM ET.
David-and-Goliath fixtures headline the ties
League One Mansfield Town will enjoy a rare run in the competition, drawn at home to 14-time winners Arsenal. The Stags reached the fifth round for the first time since 1975, having staged a dramatic second-half comeback to beat Premier League Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor. That victory underlines the unpredictable nature of the cup and gives Mansfield fans a marquee home tie against one of England's most decorated clubs.
Championship hopefuls Wrexham will host Chelsea at the Racecourse Ground, a draw that drew an audible reaction from the club's high-profile co-owner. The Red Dragons have not won the FA Cup and their last deep run to this stage came decades ago, but recent progress and growing momentum make this a major fixture for supporters and a significant revenue opportunity for the club.
Premier League rematches and scheduling notes
Two all-Premier League ties stand out. Manchester City will travel to Newcastle United in a repeat of one of this season's League Cup semi-finals, setting up another high-stakes test on neutral turf. Liverpool are away to Wolves, a matchup that will pit the Reds against a side eager to upset one of the traditional heavyweights.
Sunderland face an uncertain path into the fifth round while waiting for the outcome of a postponed fourth-round replay. Their next opponent will be either Port Vale or Bristol City; that replay is rescheduled for Tuesday, March 3 at 2: 45 PM ET after a waterlogged pitch forced a delay. The winner will travel to Sunderland for their fifth-round tie.
All confirmed fifth-round fixtures are set for the weekend of Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8. Exact kickoff times and ticketing details will be announced by the competing clubs in due course, but fans and neutrals can expect a concentrated weekend of knockout drama with plenty at stake as teams chase silverware and the tradition-laced reward of FA Cup progression.
What the draw means for smaller clubs and fans
For lower-league sides, a favourable draw can transform a season. Home ties against top-flight opposition deliver financial boosts, national attention and the possibility of historic cup runs. Mansfield's victory over Burnley and Wrexham's progress to host Chelsea both highlight how the FA Cup continues to provide meaningful opportunities for clubs outside the Premier League.
For the elite clubs, the draw offers a reminder that the domestic cup is an obstacle course with minimal margin for error. Premier League sides drawn against one another will need to manage squad rotation and form, while the prospect of an upset looms large when travelling to an atmosphere-charged lower-league stadium.
With the fifth round on the horizon and one replay still to settle, the FA Cup calendar promises a weekend of football that could deliver both predictable heavyweight battles and fresh, unforgettable cup stories.
