Wrexham’s dream is far from over in the 2025-26 season, as they are currently pushing for a playoff place in pursuit of a fourth consecutive promotion to England’s top flight while also remaining alive in the FA Cup. The draw for the fifth round has been completed, and Hollywood star and co-owner Ryan Reynolds reacted to the team being paired with Premier League powerhouse Chelsea.
The FA Cup draw took place Monday with 17 clubs remaining (Port Vale and Bristol City still to play their fourth-round tie), setting the matchups for the next stage. After earning their spot with a narrow but historic 1-0 win over Coventry City, Wrexham were drawn against Chelsea — the second Premier League opponent of their run in the oldest competition in world soccer.
The matchup quickly became major news for the Welsh side, who will host the game at the Racecourse Ground on March 7, giving the city of Wrexham another chance to experience top-level opposition at home. Chelsea secured their place in the next round after thrashing Hull City 4-0 on the road last Friday.
Despite entering as underdogs, the clash with Chelsea is being met with excitement by Reynolds. On social media, the Deadpool star and fellow actor Hugh Jackman were shown reacting to the draw, with Reynolds’ expression saying it all as he looked ahead to a match he is expected to attend.
Are Wrexham ready for the Premier League?
One key point to consider ahead of the Chelsea FA Cup matchup is that the Blues recently dismantled Hull City, who currently sit fifth in the Championship, three places above Wrexham. In addition, the Tigers defeated the Red Dragons 2-0 in their last meeting, while the prior encounter (in the EFL Cup) saw Wrexham advance via penalty shootout.
see also
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney set roadmap for Wrexham to success amid Premier League aspirations
Currently on 47 points through 31 matches with one game in hand, Wrexham sit eighth and must overtake Preston North End and Derby County, both on 48 points, to climb into the final playoff position. While not among the most dominant teams in the Championship, the club co-owned by Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have already made a statement in the FA Cup by eliminating Premier League side Nottingham Forest.
Questions about Wrexham’s readiness to compete in the top division continue to surface, and in an interview with ESPN earlier this month, head coach Phil Parkinson addressed the topic directly: “Listen, is the structure of this club behind the scenes ready for the Premier League and would there be an immense amount of work to take place (if we get there)? Of course, but wouldn’t it be great to have that chance? You’d probably say we weren’t ready for Division One, certainly not the Championship, but I think in football, you just keep evolving as you go along.“
FA Cup fifth-round full draw
All matches scheduled for the FA Cup fifth round are as follows:
- Wrexham vs. Chelsea
- Fulham vs. Southampton
- Leeds United vs. Norwich City
- Mansfield Town vs. Arsenal
- West Ham United vs. Brentford
- Port Vale or Bristol City vs. Sunderland
- Newcastle United vs. Manchester City
- Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Liverpool
