fa cup draw: Mansfield to host Arsenal as Wrexham land Chelsea and Man City head to Newcastle

The fifth round of the FA Cup produced a compelling mix of David-versus-Goliath fixtures and heavyweight Premier League rematches. League One side Mansfield Town secured a home tie with 14-time winners Arsenal, Wrexham will host Chelsea at the Racecourse Ground, and Manchester City have been drawn to face Newcastle United. The matches are scheduled across the weekend of March 7-8, with one fourth-round replay set for Tuesday, March 3 at 2: 45 PM ET.

Mansfield’s reward: Arsenal visit a club in rare territory

Mansfield Town’s run to the fifth round is the club’s deepest FA Cup showing since 1975, and only intensified the romance of the draw when the Stags discovered they will welcome Arsenal. Mansfield clinched progression with a dramatic 2-1 comeback at Turf Moor against struggling Burnley, overturning a deficit with a second-half performance that stunned the home support and set up the glamour tie. For Mansfield, this will be an opportunity to test themselves against one of the competition’s most decorated teams and to generate a memorable night at their stadium. For Arsenal, a trip to a lower-league ground presents the familiar risks of cup football—intensity, atmosphere and the unpredictability that has defined the tournament since its inception.

Wrexham v Chelsea: celebrity owners celebrate as Racecourse set for big night

Wrexham will host Chelsea in what is arguably the fifth round’s most high-profile fixture off the pitch. The draw prompted an exuberant reaction from the club’s co-owner, with a celebratory video capturing genuine surprise and delight. The tie returns the Red Dragons to the competition’s later stages for the first time since the 1996-97 season, following a fourth-round victory over Ipswich Town. Hosting an eight-time winner like Chelsea at the historic Racecourse Ground will draw plenty of attention and is expected to produce a charged atmosphere as local supporters hope for a cup upset.

Premier clashes and remaining ties: City to Newcastle, Liverpool to face Wolves

There are also mouth-watering top-flight ties to look forward to. Manchester City travel to Newcastle United in a repeat of one of this season’s League Cup semi-finals, a fixture that pits two of the domestic game’s most in-form sides against one another on neutral ground. Liverpool were paired with Wolverhampton Wanderers, taking the Merseysiders away after their fourth-round win. Sunderland face a potential away tie depending on the outcome of a postponed fourth-round replay between Port Vale and Bristol City, the replay scheduled for Tuesday, March 3 at 2: 45 PM ET due to a waterlogged pitch. Championship promotion hopefuls Wrexham drawing Chelsea is another headline-grabbing tie, while a mix of other matchups will provide lower-league teams with more chances to produce memorable cup moments.

All fifth-round matches will take place across the weekend of March 7-8 (ET). With several ties featuring clubs from different tiers of the English game and others renewing high-stakes rivalries, the weekend promises to offer classic cup drama: giant-killing attempts, high-octane top-flight clashes and the unique narratives that have long made the competition a highlight of the calendar. Ticketing and exact kickoff times for individual fixtures will be confirmed by the clubs in the coming days.