Wrexham will look to pull off one of the standout shocks of the FA Cup third round when they welcome Premier League side Nottingham Forest to the Racecourse Ground on Friday night.
With the spotlight firmly on north Wales, the Championship club will see this tie as a major opportunity to test themselves against top flight opposition.
What channel is the game on?
Friday’s tie is scheduled to kick off at 7.30pm GMT on 9 January 2026 and will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1, with streaming available via discovery+. The match will be played at the Racecourse Ground.
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The Welsh side arrive in buoyant mood as they continue to find their rhythm in the Championship.
Wrexham sit just one point outside the play off places after winning four matches in a row, strengthening their claim as genuine promotion contenders. With momentum firmly on their side, they will believe they can trouble a Forest team operating at a higher level.
Much of Wrexham’s remarkable rise has been overseen by their high profile owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, whose takeover in 2021 transformed the club’s fortunes.
What began as a blaze of publicity has developed into a sustained footballing success, with Wrexham now chasing a fourth consecutive promotion.
The FA Cup has always held a special place in Wrexham folklore, and memories of past giant killings remain vivid. Few moments are recalled more fondly than the famous 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the third round back in 1992, when Mickey Thomas curled a sensational free kick past England goalkeeper David Seaman to send the Racecourse Ground into raptures.
Nottingham Forest, however, will travel to north Wales with confidence of their own. The visitors are fresh from a hugely significant 2-1 victory away at West Ham United on Tuesday night, a result that lifted them seven points clear of the Premier League relegation zone and eased growing pressure on the club.
That win brought an end to a difficult spell for Forest, who had suffered four consecutive league defeats prior to the trip to London Stadium. The result not only restored belief but also provided vital breathing space as the Premier League season enters a demanding phase.
Despite the gap in divisions, Forest will be wary of the challenge posed by a Wrexham side in such strong form, particularly in front of a packed and vocal home crowd. Cup ties at the Racecourse Ground have a habit of taking on a life of their own, and the hosts will be eager to channel that history.
For Wrexham, victory would represent another landmark moment in their modern revival. For Nottingham Forest, progression is essential as they look to build on recent league momentum and avoid becoming the latest Premier League casualty of the competition’s enduring magic.
