FA CUP fifth round Draw: Man City Draw Newcastle While Wrexham Prep for Chelsea

The magic of the FA Cup continues as the 2025-26 edition moves into its business end. Following a dramatic fourth round that saw “quadruple-chasing” Arsenal dominate and Hollywood-backed Wrexham cause more ripples in the football world, the draw for the Fifth Round (Round of 16) has officially been set.

The ties are scheduled to take place around the weekend of Saturday, March 7, 2026. Notably, there are no replays at this stage; all matches will be decided on the night via extra time and penalties if necessary.

The FA Cup Fifth-Round Draw

The draw, conducted on February 16 at Macclesfield’s Moss Rose ground, has served up a mouth-watering selection of matches, including heavy-weight clashes and potential “giant-killing” opportunities.

Key Talking Points

1. The Heavyweight Clash: Newcastle vs. Man City

Undoubtedly the “tie of the round,” Newcastle United will host Manchester City at St James’ Park. Both teams are perennial contenders, and with City aiming to maintain their domestic dominance, a trip to the North East represents one of the toughest hurdles on the road to Wembley.

2. The Hollywood Script: Wrexham vs. Chelsea

Wrexham AFC continues to be the story of the competition. After dispatching Championship and Premier League opposition in earlier rounds, the Welsh side now welcomes Chelsea to the Racecourse Ground. It is a classic “David vs. Goliath” encounter that is guaranteed to be the center of global media attention.

3. Arsenal’s Trip to Mansfield

League One’s Mansfield Town have secured the “payday” of the round by drawing Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. While the Gunners are heavy favorites as they pursue a historic season, the compact atmosphere at Mansfield will provide a true “Magic of the Cup” test for the Premier League leaders.

4. All-Premier League Battles

Beyond the Newcastle/City blockbuster, two other all-top-flight matches ensure that at least two more Premier League giants will fall before the Quarter-Finals:

• Wolves vs. Liverpool: A tactical battle between two sides with deep recent histories in the competition.
• West Ham vs. Brentford: A London derby that promises intensity and high stakes.

Qualified Teams by League

The Fifth Round features a healthy mix of the English football pyramid:

• Premier League (11): Arsenal, Brentford, Chelsea, Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Southampton, Sunderland, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers.
• Championship (3): Leeds United, Norwich City, Wrexham.
• League One (1): Mansfield Town.
• TBD (1): Port Vale (League One) or Bristol City (Championship)

Competition Dates to Remember

As the road to Wembley narrows, mark your calendars for the remaining milestones of the 145th FA Cup:

• Fifth Round: Weekend of Saturday, March 7, 2026
• Quarter-Finals: Saturday, April 4, 2026
• Semi-Finals: Saturday, April 25, 2026
• Final: Saturday, May 16, 2026