fa cup draw: Mansfield to host Arsenal as Man City head to Newcastle and Wrexham land Chelsea
League One side Mansfield Town will welcome Arsenal in the FA Cup fifth round, while Manchester City travel to Newcastle in a heavyweight Premier League tie and Wrexham get a blockbuster home draw with Chelsea. The remaining ties are scheduled for the weekend of March 7-8, with one fourth-round replay set for Tuesday, March 3 at 2: 45 PM ET.
Mansfield’s fairytale continues — first fifth round since 1975
Mansfield Town’s reward for a dramatic fourth-round win is a mouthwatering home tie with Arsenal. The Stags secured a 2-1 comeback victory at Turf Moor to eliminate struggling top-flight Burnley, producing their first fifth-round appearance since 1975. Hosting a 14-time winner in front of a partisan crowd will be a landmark moment for the club and its supporters.
For Mansfield, the fixture represents much more than a single match: financial benefits, national exposure and an opportunity to test their mettle against elite opposition. Arsenal will travel with heavy expectations, but cup history favours surprises and the Stags will back themselves after the recent scalp at Burnley.
Premier League heavyweight ties and Championship challenges
One of the most anticipated draws sees Manchester City head to Newcastle — a repeat of an earlier domestic cup semi-final this season that promises another intense encounter. Both sides have the depth and firepower to swing the tie, and neutral interest will be high as two top-tier teams meet away from home in a knockout setting.
Wrexham, riding momentum in the Championship, will host Chelsea at the Racecourse Ground on March 7. The draw has generated major excitement among fans and club owners alike. Chelsea arrive with eight FA Cup trophies in their cabinet, while Wrexham seek a rare deep run in the competition; the club has not lifted the trophy and last reached the quarter-finals in 1996-97. The fixture is notable both for its sporting stakes and for the global attention Wrexham attracts under its high-profile ownership.
Other intriguing pairings include West Ham versus Brentford, another tie that promises tactical battles in midfield, and a waiting game for Sunderland, who will travel for a fifth-round tie but must first await the result of a postponed fourth-round tie between Port Vale and Bristol City. That replay will be played on Tuesday, March 3 at 2: 45 PM ET due to a waterlogged pitch delaying the initial fixture.
Reactions, stakes and what to watch next
Reactions have ranged from giddy disbelief to cautious optimism. Wrexham’s ownership expressed high emotion on social channels when the Chelsea draw was revealed, a moment that encapsulates how much the cup can capture hearts beyond the usual fanbase. For smaller clubs such as Mansfield, a marquee visit from Arsenal will be a major occasion with potential long-term gains.
Beyond romance and theatrics, the fifth round tightens the route to Wembley. For Premier League contenders, these ties are a test of squad rotation and focus across competitions. For lower-league clubs, the FA Cup offers one-off opportunities to upset the hierarchy and secure financial windfalls through gate receipts, broadcasting and prize money.
All fifth-round ties will be played across the weekend of Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8 (times to be confirmed in local listings). Clubs and fans will now turn to ticketing details, travel plans and match build-up as the competition moves into a decisive phase.
