Wrexham’s remarkable rise through the English football pyramid continues to capture attention, and on Friday night which is on the 9th of January 2026, the Red Dragons face their biggest test yet as they welcome Premier League side Nottingham Forest to the Racecourse Ground in the FA Cup third round.
Since their takeover in 2021, Wrexham have climbed from the National League to the Championship in just three seasons and now sit ninth in the table with 40 points from 26 matches.
Phil Parkinson’s men arrive in excellent form, having bounced back from a difficult spell to record four consecutive league victories, strengthening their push for a playoff place. Confidence is high, but this fixture represents a significant step up in quality.
Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, are enduring a turbulent Premier League campaign. After finishing seventh last season and qualifying for Europe, instability has defined their current term.
Sean Dyche is now the club’s third manager of the season, and while Forest remain 17th, a vital 2-1 win over West Ham last time out eased relegation fears.
Softfootball noted that the Tricky Trees will be eager to build on that momentum in cup action, drawing confidence from standout moments this season, including their biggest win over Tottenham since 1987 and a narrow defeat to Manchester City where Rayan Cherki’s influence proved decisive against a resilient Forest side.
Forest have also looked ahead to this fixture on social media, posting on their X handle:
Focus turns to the @EmiratesFACup.
Team news
Team news sees Wrexham without several key players, including Elliot Lee, Kieffer Moore and Danny Ward, while Forest will miss Chris Wood, Ryan Yates and Dan Ndoye. Rotation is expected from Dyche, with fringe players likely to feature.
Possible lineups
Wrexham: Okonkwo; Cleworth, Hyam, Doyle; James, Sheaf; Longman, Windass, Broadhead, Thomason; Smith.
Nottingham Forest: Sels; Savona, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; Anderson, Luiz; McAtee, Gibbs-White, Bakwa; Jesus.
Softfootball prediction
Wrexham 1-3 Nottingham Forest. While the hosts’ fairytale run and home support cannot be ignored, Forest’s superior depth and top-flight quality should ultimately see them progress.
