Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest FA Cup Showdown: Start Time, Live Stream & Must-Know Match Facts

The FA Cup magic returns to the Racecourse Ground tonight as Championship high-flyers Wrexham welcome Premier League outfit Nottingham Forest in a third-round showdown that has all the ingredients of a classic cup upset. Kick-off, venue and how to watch • Date: Friday 9 January 2026 • Time: 7:30 pm GMT (2:30 pm ET) • Venue: STōK Cae Ras (Racecourse Ground), Wrexham • Live TV: TNT Sports 1 (build-up from 6:30 pm) • Live stream: discovery+ Premium or the TNT Sports add-on on Amazon Prime Video Form guide • Wrexham arrive on a four-game Championship winning streak that has propelled Phil Parkinson’s side into the play-off conversation. • Forest snapped a four-match Premier League skid with a gritty 2-1 victory over West Ham on Tuesday, easing relegation fears and lifting morale. Team news & predicted line-ups Wrexham (3-2-4-1, expected): Okonkwo; Doyle, Hyam, Scarr; Sheaf, Dobson; Cacace, Broadhead, Rathbone, Longman; Smith. Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1, expected): Sels; Aurier, Morato, Niakhaté, Aina; Ndoye, Danilo; Bakwa, Gibbs-White, Cunha; Gabriel Jesus. Parkinson must decide whether to risk veteran winger James McClean from the start, while Forest boss Sean Dyche hinted at rotation but has flown talisman Gabriel Jesus to Wales after his brace in mid-week. Key storylines 1. Hollywood sequel? Owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney watched from the stands when Wrexham dumped Arsenal out of the Cup in 2023. Another Premier League scalp would light up streaming screens worldwide. 2. Jesus vs Dragons: Gabriel Jesus has scored in every domestic cup tie since arriving at the City Ground; shutting him down will fall to loanee keeper Arthur Okonkwo and a back three marshalled by Dominic Hyam. 3. Stormy weather: Met Office forecasts gusting winds across North Wales—ideal for under-dogs pressing high and unsettling Forest’s back-line. Match odds (bet365) Wrexham 4/1 | Draw 3/1 | Nottingham Forest 8/13 — but cup night drama often ignores the bookies. Prediction The atmosphere under the floodlights will be electric and Forest’s heavy schedule could tell late on. Wrexham 2-2 Forest (Wrexham win on penalties). SEO keywords to rank for: Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest live stream, FA Cup third round kick-off time, how to watch Wrexham Forest, Wrexham prediction, Nottingham Forest team news.