Wrexham v Nottingham Fore t Timeline: Hi tory, Re ult & 2026 FA Cup Thriller

Two clubs separated by decades of history and league divisions met on a cold January night. By the end, Wrexham had pulled off a result that felt scripted — even for a team owned by Hollywood stars.

Most recent meeting: 9 January 2026, FA Cup 3rd Round ·
Result: 3-3 (Wrexham won 4-3 on penalties) ·
Venue: Racecourse Ground, Wrexham

Four competitive meetings, one clear pattern: the two clubs have only crossed paths in knockout competitions, and every tie has produced goals.

Have Wrexham ever played Nottingham Forest?

Yes — four times in competitive matches, all in cup competitions. The first meeting came in the FA Cup in 1982, when Wrexham traveled to the City Ground and won 3-1 (11v11). They then faced off twice in the League Cup in 1993: a 3-3 draw in Wrexham followed by a 3-1 Forest win in the return leg. After a 32-year gap, the clubs met again in the FA Cup in 2026.

When was the first meeting?

• 2 January 1982, FA Cup 3rd Round at the City Ground. Wrexham won 3-1 (11v11).

The pattern: Wrexham have never hosted a match against Forest in the FA Cup until 2026 — all previous FA Cup ties were at Forest’s ground.

How many times have they met?

• Four competitive meetings as of January 2026 (11v11).
• Two in the FA Cup, two in the League Cup.

The catch: despite being only 90 miles apart, the two clubs have rarely crossed paths because they have spent most of their histories in different divisions.

What competitions have they met in?

• FA Cup: 1982, 2026
• League Cup: 1993 (two legs)

The pattern: Wrexham’s only home FA Cup match against Forest came in 2026, and it delivered the most dramatic result of the four ties.

What happened in the 2026 FA Cup match?

On 9 January 2026, Wrexham faced Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup third round at the Racecourse Ground. The match finished 3-3 after extra time, and Wrexham won the penalty shootout 4-3 (ESPN).

What was the final score?

• Full-time: 3-3. Extra time: 3-3. Penalties: Wrexham won 4-3 (Sky Sports).

Who scored for Wrexham?

• Liberato Cacace, Oliver Rathbone, and Dominic Hyam scored in open play (ESPN).
• Josh Windass, Callum Doyle, George Thomason, and Jay Rodriguez converted penalties (Sky Sports).

Who scored for Nottingham Forest?

• Igor Jesus and Callum Hudson-Odoi (two goals) scored for Forest (ESPN).

How did Wrexham win on penalties?

• Arthur Okonkwo saved penalties from Igor Jesus and Omari Hutchinson (Sky Sports).
• Jay Rodriguez scored the decisive penalty (YouTube – official Wrexham highlights).

What this means: Wrexham’s penalty shootout win broke a 26‑year drought against Premier League opposition and pushed them into the FA Cup fourth round for the first time since the 1990s.

What’s next for both clubs?

Wrexham advanced to the FA Cup fourth round, their first time reaching that stage since their 1990s heyday (Sky Sports). Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, return to Premier League action after their cup exit. The long-term trajectory for both clubs remains positive: Wrexham continue their rise under Hollywood ownership, and Forest are consolidating in the top flight.

The implication: The 2026 FA Cup result accelerates Wrexham’s narrative of resurgence, while Forest’s focus shifts back to league survival.

What time is kick off for Wrexham v Nottingham Forest?

• Kick-off was 19:45 GMT on 9 January 2026, broadcast on BBC One Wales and iPlayer in the UK, and on ESPN+ in the US (BBC Sport (UK public broadcaster)).

Why did Mullin leave Wrexham?

Paul Mullin was loaned to a club (details undisclosed) after a public dispute with Wrexham’s management. In a social media post, he expressed disappointment over the handling of his departure (BBC Sport (UK public broadcaster)).

What were the reasons for the loan exit?

• Reported differences over playing time and contract terms (BBC Sport).

Is Paul Mullin mad at Wrexham?

• Yes — he publicly criticized the club’s communication and said he felt “let down” (BBC Sport).
• No apology was issued; instead, he doubled down on his stance in subsequent interviews.

Why is Rob McElhenney so rich?

Rob McElhenney has an estimated net worth of $50 million, largely from his role as creator and star of the long‑running sitcom “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (Celebrity Net Worth (wealth tracker)). He co‑owns Wrexham AFC with Ryan Reynolds.

What is his role at Wrexham?

• McElhenney serves as co‑chairman and has been instrumental in the club’s commercial growth and media exposure (BBC Sport).

Timeline of all known meetings

The pattern: All four competitive meetings have produced at least three goals, with the 2026 match the highest‑scoring in the series.

For other football head‑to‑head timelines, read: Bayern Munich vs Celtic F.C. Timeline – Complete Head-to-Head History and Stoke City vs Bradford City: Head-to-Head, Stats & 2025 Result.

Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Wrexham beat Nottingham Forest 4-3 on penalties after a 3-3 draw on 9 Jan 2026 (ESPN)
• The match was at the Racecourse Ground (Sky Sports)
• Three prior competitive meetings exist, all in cups (11v11)
• Wrexham’s win was their first over Premier League opposition in 26 years (Sky Sports)

What’s unclear

• Exact number of historical friendly meetings (if any) – only competitive matches are recorded by 11v11
• Whether Paul Mullin will return to Wrexham after his reported loan dispute – no official confirmation
• Full ownership financial returns for Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds – not publicly disclosed
• Wrexham’s fourth round opponent and venue (home or away) had not been drawn at the time of writing

What this means: The known facts are well‑sourced, but several key details about Mullin’s future and ownership finances remain opaque.

What the match reports said

“Wrexham beat Premier League opposition in the FA Cup for the first time in 26 years.”

— Sky Sports (UK sports broadcaster)

“Wrexham’s victory over Nottingham Forest was their first win over Premier League opposition in 26 years.”

— ESPN (international sports broadcaster)

Fans can explore the Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest timeline for a comprehensive look at the head-to-head record and the dramatic penalty shootout.

Frequently asked questions

Wrexham’s penalty‑shootout victory over Nottingham Forest in the 2026 FA Cup third round stands as their most significant result in 26 years, propelling the club deeper into the competition and reinforcing its upward trajectory under Hollywood ownership.