Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest: Live Score, Prediction, How to Watch

It’s become one of the more unlikely storylines in English football: a small Welsh club owned by Hollywood A-listers hosting a Premier League side in the world’s oldest cup competition. On January 9, 2026, Wrexham welcome Nottingham Forest to STōK Cae Ras for the FA Cup third round — a tie that pits the Championship’s form team against a top-flight club still finding its feet after a shaky run. The Racecourse Ground will be rocking, Ryan Reynolds will likely be in the stands, and for 90 minutes (or more), the gap between the leagues tends to shrink.

Date: 9 Jan 2026 · Venue: STōK Cae Ras, Wrexham · Competition: FA Cup third round · Kick-off: 19:30 UTC

Is the Wrexham v. Nottingham Forest on TV?

Yes — and across three continents, at least. UK viewers can catch the action on TNT Sports 1, with the match scheduled for 7:30 PM GMT on Friday evening (Sporting News). Across the Atlantic, ESPN holds the rights in the United States, while Canadian audiences can follow via Sportsnet (Athlon Sports).

How to watch Wrexham vs Forest

• United Kingdom: TNT Sports 1 — 7:30 PM GMT kick-off
• United States: ESPN and ESPN+ streaming
• Canada: Sportsnet channels and streaming
• Highlights: Match highlights typically available on BBC Sport and the official FA Cup YouTube channel within hours of the final whistle

Has Nottingham Forest ever played Wrexham?

Not in any meaningful number. The two clubs have met sparingly over the decades, with their most recent encounter coming in the 1993-94 League Cup — a tie that saw Forest advance (The Analyst). The last FA Cup meeting between them dates back to January 1982, when Wrexham claimed a 3-1 victory.

In other words, this is not a rivalry with deep historical roots — it’s the kind of occasion that makes the FA Cup special. A third-tier Welsh club hosting a Premier League side with genuine European ambitions just doesn’t happen every season.

Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest last match

The most recent meeting — and the one freshest in memory — ended 3-3 after 90 minutes, with Wrexham prevailing 4-3 on penalties. Goals came from Cacace (37′), Rathbone (40′), and Hyam (74′) for Wrexham, while Forest scored through da Cruz (64′) and Hudson-Odoi (76′, 89′) (Sky Sports). The match drew 10,603 spectators to the Racecourse Ground.

Head-to-head stats

These are the documented competitive fixtures between the clubs:

The historical record favors Forest in terms of advancement, but Wrexham’s penalty shootout victory on home soil in January 2026 flipped the narrative.

Is Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest extra time?

It might have to be — and if it does, there’s no safety net. The 2025-26 FA Cup season abolished replays entirely, meaning any drawn tie proceeds directly to extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shootout (Sporting News). For neutral fans, this is excellent news. For Wrexham, who thrive in the chaos of cup upsets, it removes one traditional obstacle: the dreaded away replay.

Match report details and shootout

In the previous 3-3 thriller between these sides, the match swung one way and then the other before penalties decided it. Wrexham led 2-0 through goals in quick succession, only for Forest to equalize twice in the final quarter. The shootout went to sudden death, and Wrexham held their nerve.

The Opta supercomputer gives Forest a 52.6% chance of winning in 90 minutes versus Wrexham’s 24.5%, with the draw — and therefore extra time — accounting for the remainder (The Analyst). Sporting News’ prediction model tips Wrexham to push Forest into extra time.

Highlights and key moments

Match highlights will be available through Sky Sports’ match centre and BBC Sport’s online platforms following the final whistle. For those seeking real-time updates, SofaScore and FotMob offer minute-by-minute commentary.

Was Ryan Reynolds at Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest?

Ryan Reynolds has attended nearly every significant Wrexham match since he and Rob McElhenney took ownership of the club in late 2020. Given that the previous meeting drew more than 10,000 spectators and the global attention around the club’s Hollywood ownership, it’s a safe assumption the Deadpool star would be in the stands on January 9.

The ownership duo has been unambiguous about their ambition: they want Wrexham climbing the English football ladder, and the FA Cup has become the primary stage for that storyline. Every cup tie against a Premier League opponent generates worldwide coverage that no Championship fixture can match.

Celebrity involvement and Wrexham owners

• Ryan Reynolds: Co-owner, attends matches regularly, active on social media promoting the club
• Rob McElhenney: Co-owner, less frequently in attendance but equally committed to the club’s growth
• Hollywood backing: The owners’ profile has transformed Wrexham from a lower-league curiosity into a global brand

Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest prediction

The numbers favour Forest. The Opta supercomputer simulations — which account for form, quality gap, and home advantage — give Nottingham Forest a 52.6% chance of winning inside 90 minutes (The Analyst). Wrexham’s probability sits at 24.5%, with extra time the most likely scenario if the tie is decided in regulation.

But Wrexham are not a typical Championship side. They are on a four-match winning streak in the league and sit one point outside the playoff places (Sporting News). Forest, by contrast, ended a four-match losing streak only on January 6 with a narrow win over West Ham and sit 17th in the Premier League (Athlon Sports).

Lineups and form

• Predicted Wrexham XI (Sports Mole): Okonkwo; Cleworth, Hyam, Doyle; James, Sheaf; Longman, Windass, Broadhead, Thomason; Smith
• Predicted Forest XI (Sports Mole): Sels; Savona, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; Anderson, Luiz; McAtee, Gibbs-White, Bakwa; Jesus
• Wrexham form: Four consecutive Championship wins, including 2-1 over Derby County on 4 January 2026
• Forest form: Recovered from four straight defeats with 2-1 win over West Ham United

Predicted lineups and team news

Lineup predictions vary across sources, but some patterns emerge consistently. Arthur Okonkwo is the consensus choice in goal for Wrexham, while Matz Sels is widely projected as Forest’s starting goalkeeper (Sports Mole). Hyam and Doyle form the likely central defensive partnership for Wrexham.

Wrexham will be without a significant list of players: Aaron James, Andy Cannon, Danny Ward, Elliot Lee, Kieffer Moore, Lewis Brunt, and Ryan Hardie are all ruled out (Sports Mole). Forest face their own availability issues: Chris Wood, Dan Ndoye, Ola Aina, and Ryan Yates are injured, while Ibrahim Sangare and Willy Boly are on AFCON duty with Ivory Coast (MightyTips).

Match steps: What to expect on the night

Here’s how to follow the evening if you’re tuning in from any supported region.

1. Pre-match (from 18:30 UTC): Team news, confirmed lineups, and previews start appearing on Sky Sports and BBC Sport platforms. Sky Sports’ match centre typically opens 30 minutes before kick-off.
2. Kick-off at 19:30 UTC: The match begins at STōK Cae Ras. Referee Paul Tierney takes charge.
3. Half-time (approx. 20:15 UTC): Brief update window — most streaming platforms offer halftime studio analysis.
4. Full-time or extra time: If the score is level after 90 minutes, extra time follows. No replay option exists this season.
5. Post-match: Highlights on BBC Sport and the FA Cup YouTube channel within hours. Full match report on Sky Sports.
6. Penalties (if required): Should the tie remain deadlocked after extra time, a shootout determines the winner. Both clubs have shown composure in previous penalty situations.

Confirmed facts vs. what’s still unclear

“Wrexham have just a 24.5% chance of victory, while the draw — which would send the tie to extra-time and potentially penalties — accounted for the remainder of simulations.”

— The Analyst / Opta supercomputer prediction model

“With replays eliminated in the 2025-26 FA Cup season, we predict Wrexham will push Forest into extra time.”

— Sporting News prediction

Match details and key figures

These are the core facts that define this FA Cup third-round encounter:

The table above consolidates the verified facts from multiple sources, establishing a clear factual baseline before predictions and opinion enter the picture.

For those watching from the United Kingdom, TNT Sports 1 is the primary channel. Stateside viewers have ESPN, and Canadian supporters can follow on Sportsnet. Those outside these regions may need to explore VPN options or wait for official highlight packages, which typically arrive within two to four hours of the final whistle on BBC Sport and the FA Cup’s official digital channels.

The implications cut both ways. For Wrexham, a win over a Premier League side would maintain their reputation as the FA Cup’s most compelling lower-league story and provide a significant financial boost through prize money and broadcasting revenue. For Forest, a defeat to a Championship club — on the back of that four-match losing streak — would intensify scrutiny on their league form, even if the Cup was never the priority.

Related reading: Ipswich Town vs Stoke City Match Report · Plymouth Argyle vs Leeds United Stats

Wrexham stunned Nottingham Forest in their FA Cup third-round clash, clinching victory through the gripping score, highlights & report after a pulsating 3-3 draw.

Frequently asked questions