The "Hollywood" story of Wrexham AFC faces one of its most glamorous chapters tonight, Friday, January 9, 2026, as the Championship's high-fliers host Premier League outfit Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup Third Round. Kick-off is set for 19:30 GMT at the STōK Cae Ras (Racecourse Ground).
For Wrexham, this is more than just a cup tie; it is a measuring stick. Currently sitting 9th in the Championship and only one point off the play-off places after three consecutive promotions, the Red Dragons are looking to prove they belong on the same pitch as the top-flight elite.
Match Details: Kick-off & Official Info
Competition: FA Cup (Third Round)
Date: Friday, January 9, 2026
Kick-off: 19:30 GMT / 14:30 ET
Venue: STōK Cae Ras, Wrexham
Referee: Paul Tierney (VAR: Not in use)
Broadcast: TNT Sports 1 / discovery+ (UK), ESPN+ (US)
The Storyline: Giant-Killers vs. Premier League Pragmatism
Wrexham: The Script is Ready
Phil Parkinson’s side enters this match in blistering form, having won their last four Championship games. The atmosphere at the Racecourse is expected to be ferocious; Wrexham has a storied history of giant-killing in this competition, most famously defeating Arsenal in 1992.
The narrative tonight centers on Lewis O'Brien. The Wrexham midfielder was a Forest player during their 2022 promotion but saw his career at the City Ground stall due to registration issues. Facing his former employers, O'Brien will be the heart of a Wrexham team that believes it can pull off the shock of the round.
Nottingham Forest: Survival over Silverware?
Sean Dyche’s Forest arrive in North Wales with a bit of breathing room after a crucial 2–1 win over West Ham earlier this week. However, sitting 17th in the Premier League, survival remains the absolute priority.
Forest reached the semi-finals of this competition last season, but Dyche is known for his pragmatic squad rotation. With a busy January schedule and a Europa League campaign also on the horizon, the "Tricky Trees" may field a changed lineup, potentially leaving the door open for a Wrexham upset.
Team News & Probable Lineups
Wrexham Team News
Injury Crisis: The hosts are without top scorer Kieffer Moore (hamstring) and Ryan Hardie (knee). Key creative force Elliot Lee also remains sidelined.
The Stand-in: Sam Smith is expected to lead the line after scoring in his last two outings.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Okonkwo; Cleworth, Hyam, Doyle; James, Sheaf, O’Brien, James, Broadhead; Windass, Smith.
Nottingham Forest Team News
Absentees: Chris Wood (knee) and Ryan Yates (hamstring) are ruled out. Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangaré are away at AFCON.
Rotation: Dyche could hand starts to Douglas Luiz and James McAtee to keep the squad fresh for Premier League duties.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sels; Savona, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; Anderson, Douglas Luiz; McAtee, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus.
Head-to-Head (H2H) & Key Stats
First in Decades: This is the first competitive meeting between these two sides since a League Cup tie in 1993.
Historical Edge: Wrexham famously beat Forest 3–1 in the FA Cup back in 1982.
Home Fortress: Wrexham has lost only twice at the Racecourse in 13 matches this season.
Forest's Travel Woes: Forest had lost four consecutive games before their midweek win at West Ham.
Tactical Analysis: High Press vs. Defensive Low Block
Phil Parkinson will likely encourage his team to press high early, looking to use the tight confines of the Racecourse and the vocal home support to rattle Forest’s rotated defense. Wrexham’s set-piece prowess—a staple of their rise—will be their most potent weapon.
For Forest, the key will be weathered the "early storm." Sean Dyche will set his side up to be compact and disciplined, relying on the individual Premier League quality of Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi to clinical on the break.
Match Prediction
Wrexham is in the form of their lives and the Racecourse is a difficult place for even Premier League teams to visit. However, Forest’s squad depth, even with rotation, is significant. If Wrexham can't score while they have the momentum in the first 30 minutes, Forest’s top-flight conditioning may take over late in the game.
Final Score Prediction: Wrexham 1–2 Nottingham Forest
