Welcome to our live coverage of the FA Cup fifth-round clash between Wrexham and Chelsea at the Racecourse Ground. The Premier League giant travels to North Wales hoping to avoid a potential upset against one of the most ambitious clubs in English soccer. Chelsea enters the tie as the clear favorite, but Wrexham’s impressive rise and strong home form mean the Blues will need to stay focused from the opening whistle.
Wrexham arrives full of confidence after a remarkable few seasons that have seen the club climb from the fifth tier to the EFL Championship in just three years. The Welsh side has already shown its giant-killing ability in this competition, eliminating Nottingham Forest on penalties before beating Ipswich Town 1-0 to reach the round of 16. Currently pushing for a Championship playoff spot, the Red Dragons hope to deliver their biggest FA Cup moment since the famous upset over Arsenal in 1992.
The Blues, meanwhile, continue their cup campaign after dominant wins over Charlton (5-1) and Hull City (4-0) in the earlier rounds. The London club is also coming off a 4-1 Premier League victory over Aston Villa, a result that restored confidence after a brief dip in form. Despite having one eye on an upcoming Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea remains eager to end its long wait for FA Cup glory, with the club last lifting the trophy in 2018.
History favors Chelsea, which has lost to lower-division opposition in the FA Cup only twice since 2000, but Wrexham’s strong form and passionate home crowd could make this a tricky evening. With the Welsh club dreaming of a famous upset and the Blues chasing another step toward Wembley, everything is set for an intriguing cup battle.
Stay with us for live updates, key moments, and full coverage as Wrexham and Chelsea battle for a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Full-time!
The referee blows his whistle to signal the end of the second half, and the score remains level after 90 minutes. Both Wrexham and Chelsea had their chances, but neither side could find a decisive goal in regulation time, meaning this FA Cup tie will now head into extra time to determine who progresses to the quarter-finals.
93' – RED CARD for Wrexham! (2-2)
George Dobson is sent off following a VAR review after a dangerous sliding tackle on Alejandro Garnacho. The midfielder raised his studs and made contact with Garnacho’s shin at pace, leaving the referee with little choice. Wrexham is now down to 10 men, making its task even tougher against Chelsea.
91' – Six minutes of added time (2-2)
There will be six minutes of stoppage time.
90' – What would happen if the final score is tied?
If the Wrexham vs Chelsea FA Cup tie finishes 2-2 after 90 minutes, the match will go to extra time. In the FA Cup from the fifth round onward, games cannot end in a draw on the day.
If the score remains level after two 15-minute periods of extra time, the winner will then be decided by a penalty shootout.
So the sequence would be: 90 minutes → Extra time (30 minutes) → Penalties if still level.
85' – Another double substitution for Chelsea (2-2)
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior shakes things up with two more changes. João Pedro replaces Liam Delap up front, while Malo Gusto comes on for Josh Acheampong, giving the Blues fresh legs as they look to maintain their advantage in the FA Cup tie.
82' – GOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAL AS CHELSEA EQUALIZES AGAIN (2-2)
Josh Acheampong receives a perfectly timed pass inside the box and fires a stunning shot into the top-right corner, giving Chelsea the lead. What a clinical and delightful finish to put the Blues ahead in this FA Cup tie!
79' – GOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAL FOR WREXHAM (2-1)
Wrexham has regained the lead! Callum Doyle inadvertently deflects a teammate’s shot into his own net, handing Chelsea an unexpected gift. The ball sneaks past Arthur Okonkwo, and Wrexham are forced to chase the game once again after this unlucky moment.
76' – Young Chelsea star marks major milestone (1-1)
Dario Essugo makes his domestic debut for Chelsea, coming on 352 days after first joining the club. The midfielder finally gets his opportunity in the FA Cup clash, marking a significant moment in his first season with the Blues.
64' – Double substitution for Chelsea (1-1)
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior makes a double substitution, looking to freshen things up in the second half. Romeo Lavia makes way for Dário Essugo in midfield, while Jorrel Hato is replaced by Marc Cucurella as the Blues adjust their shape and inject fresh energy into the side.
62' – Wrexham makes strong penalty appeal for handball, but VAR says no! (1-1)
Wrexham players launch strong appeals for a handball penalty following a corner, claiming the ball struck Marc Guiu inside the box. However, VAR reviews the incident and decides there is no penalty, allowing play to continue.
58' – First substitution for Chelsea (1-1)
Chelsea will go to a back four after Rosenior made his first substitution of the match, substituting Marc Guiu for Mamadou Sarr.
Wrexham's Parkinson has not yet made his first substitute.
55' – Chelsea scored a goal with 0 shots on target (1-1)
Chelsea had zero shots on goal in the first half of their match against Wrexham. Yet, the score is 1-1!
49' – Wrexham chases the lead again (1-1)
Wrexham’s Max Cleworth heads a cross towards the goal after meeting it inside the area. However, he puts the ball just beyond the crossbar. What an opportunity!
Second half underway!
Referee Peter Bankes blows the whistle, and the second half between Wrexham and Chelsea is underway.
Halftime (1-1)
Wrexham stunned Chelsea early with Sam Smith’s 18th-minute opener, but the lead was quickly canceled out by an own goal from Arthur Okonkwo. The half was competitive, with Chelsea’s Romeo Lavia booked and both sides creating chances, ending 1‑1 at the break.
40' – GOOOOOAAAAAAAL FOR CHELSEA (1-1)
Wrexham's Arthur Okonkwo deflects the ball into his own net, resulting in a heartbreaking own goal!
32' – Wrexham poses serious threat to Chelsea's defence (1-0)
Wrexham poses a danger once more! There wasn't much on for Longman when he carried the ball into the box from the right, but a cross or shot bounced off Badiashille's boot and almost reached the roof of the net. Sanchez made a fast adjustment to tip over the bar, giving the Chelsea goalkeeper some credit.
67' – Double substitution for Wrexham (1-1)
Wrexham also makes two changes midway through the second half as Josh Windass replaces Oliver Rathbone, adding fresh energy in attack. Moments later, Kieffer Moore comes on for goalscorer Sam Smith, as the host reshuffles its frontline for the final stages of the match.
23' – First yellow card of the game, and it's for Chelsea (1-0)
Chelsea's Romeo Lavia gets the first yellow card of the game after committing a foul (shirt pull).
18' – GOOOOOAAAAAAAL FOR WREXHAM (1-0)
Wrexham's Sam Smith races into the penalty area, meets a stunning cross, and smashes the ball into the back of the net.
The Championship side bursts out of the blocks as Smith finds the back of the net within the opening minutes, sending the home crowd at the Racecourse Ground into a frenzy. Chelsea is caught cold, and the Red Dragons already look dangerous, showing they’re not here just to make up the numbers in this FA Cup tie!
10' Ball possession belongs to Chelsea (0-0)
22:78 is the current ball possession percentage for both sides.
The game has started!
Referee Peter Bankes blows his whistle, and the game is underway!
What is Wrexham vs. Chelsea's H2H record?
Here’s the head‑to‑head record between Wrexham and Chelsea ahead of their FA Cup fifth‑round match:
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Total competitive meetings: 9
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Chelsea wins: 4
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Draws: 3
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Wrexham wins: 2
Their last competitive encounter was in 1982, and it ended in a 1‑0 Wrexham victory in the old Second Division. It is the most recent win in their historic rivalry. In all competitions, Chelsea has the edge overall, but Wrexham holds memorable results on home soil from that era as well.
Which are the other FA Cup ties played on Saturday?
Aside from Wrexham vs. Chelsea, two other FA Cup fifth-round ties are being played on Saturday (March 7, 2026):
FA Cup matches on Saturday
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Mansfield Town vs. Arsenal (1-2)
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Wrexham vs. Chelsea
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Newcastle United vs. Manchester City
The action began earlier in the day with Mansfield Town losing 1-2 at home to Arsenal, followed by Wrexham vs. Chelsea at the Racecourse Ground, and the evening game sees Newcastle United face Manchester City at St. James’ Park for a place in the quarter-finals.
Who's the referee for Wrexham vs. Chelsea?
The referee for the FA Cup fifth-round match between Wrexham and Chelsea is Peter Bankes.
Match Officials
- Referee: Peter Bankes
- Assistant Referees: Edward Smart, Blake Antrobus
- Fourth Official: Adam Herczeg
- VAR: Paul Howard
- AVAR: Sian Massey-Ellis
Bankes is an experienced Premier League referee who has been part of England’s top officiating group for several years and regularly handles high-profile matches across the Premier League and domestic cups.
Nine changes for Chelsea's FA Cup action
- Robert Sánchez is back in goal after being dropped against Villa.
- Roméo Lavia starts for the first time since returning from injury.
- Liam Delap, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Andrey Santos are in the starting XI.
- Pedro Neto returns to the starting XI after serving his suspension.
- Alejandro Garnacho starts after an impressive performance against Aston Villa.
Wrexham’s starting lineup confirmed!
Head coach Phil Parkinson confirmed the 11 players who'll start the game against Chelsea:
Formation: 3-4-2-1
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GK: Arthur Okonkwo
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DEF: Max Cleworth, Dominic Hyam, Callum Doyle
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MID: Issa Kaboré, George Dobson, Lewis O’Brien, George Thomason
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ATT: Josh Windass, Nathan Broadhead
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ST: Sam Smith
Chelsea’s starting lineup confirmed!
Head coach Liam Rosenior confirmed the 11 players who'll start the game against Wrexham:
Formation: 3-4-3
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GK: Robert Sánchez
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DEF: Mamadou Sarr, Benoît Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo
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MID: Jorrel Hato, Andrey Santos, Roméo Lavia, Josh Acheampong
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ATT: Alejandro Garnacho, Liam Delap, Pedro Neto
Where is Wrexham vs. Chelsea being played?
The FA Cup fifth-round clash between Wrexham and Chelsea will take place at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham, Wales, the historic home stadium of Wrexham. Known locally as SToK Cae Ras, the venue is one of the oldest international soccer stadiums still in use and has been Wrexham’s home since 1864.
The stadium is expected to provide a fierce atmosphere for this cup tie, with the home supporters hoping to inspire their team to another positively surprising performance against the Premier League giant. For Chelsea, the trip to North Wales represents a tricky away test in a compact and passionate soccer setting.
Kickoff time and how to watch
Wrexham and Chelsea's game will begin at 12:45 PM (ET).
You can watch the FA Cup match live on ESPN+.
Wrexham host Chelsea in the FA Cup
Welcome to our live coverage of the highly anticipated FA Cup fifth-round clash between EFL Championship outfit Wrexham and Premier League giant Chelsea. Stay with us for the most important information about both teams, and once the game kicks off, for minute-by-minute updates!
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