Blogs

5 Potential FA Cupsets We Can See Happening This Week

Stories

Up For The Cup-Set - Potential Shock Results This Weekend

The FA Cup tends to provide a dramatic story or two, from non-league heroics to Premier League giant-killings. We are in search of potential upsets from this weekend's round of fixtures and predict that these five sides are most likely to throw their hat in the ring to cause a shock.Potential FA Cupsets

Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest (Sorry, Louis)

Wrexham and Nottingham Forest headline the Friday night fixtures , and there is good reason to believe that the Championship side can get the better of the Premier League visitors. The history of this fixture has proven that an upset is more than possible, and Phil Parkinson's side will be hoping to take a slice of inspiration from that historic cup win in 1982. Wrexham comes into this fixture with four successive league wins, including impressive home wins against both Sheffield United and Preston. Their last victory was topped off with a remarkable strike by midfielder Matty James away at Derby County to bring Wrexham to within just one point of the play-off places. Alongside chasing a fourth successive promotion, the Welsh side will fancy their chances of a cup run on the side

"I don't think it'll be a game that Nottingham Forest will be relishing coming to The Racecourse because it's a very difficult place to play." - former Reds' star Waynne Phillips on @Wrexham_AFC against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup third round.https://t.co/aeN1SaGyaT
— LeaderLive (@leaderlive) January 8, 2026

.It has not been all so joyous at Nottingham Forest this season. Managers in and out of the door, injuries to key players , and poor form see The Reds just above the relegation zone. They picked up a crucial win at the London Stadium last time out, perhaps very fortunate to do so as crucial decisions failed to go the way of the home side. Forest fought their way to the semi-final of this competition last season, where they were defeated by a classy Manchester City outfit. Meanwhile, Forest is without prominent goalscorer Chris Wood through injury, and the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Morgan Gibbs-White have failed to have the same impact as they did last season. Wrexham has been given very favorable odds of 3/1 for this fixture, and it would be worth a shot at rooting for the home side here.

West Ham vs QPR

Having already mentioned The Hammers, quite possibly everything that could go wrong has gone wrong for Nuno. West Ham has claimed just two victories in 16 attempts since he took charge, falling to defeat in nine of these matches. The board has expressed their trust in the Portuguese manager to turn things around, but seven points adrift from safety brings quite the fear that relegation may be on the cards. West Ham has failed to win in ten attempts, a run that stretches to the beginning of November.

The test of Championship outfit Queens Park Rangers is not what the home side would have been hoping for. The R's have had a mixture of results in the league this season, but a comfortable 3-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday ahead of this game is sure to be a confidence booster. QPR has great strength in attack; the striker partnership of Richard Kone and Rumarn Burrell is one of the deadliest in the division. While Burrell is set to miss the FA Cup tie through injury, Kone has proven that he can lead the line, allowing room for Rayan Kolli to feature from the start after scoring a brace off the bench. The speed and quality of the QPR attack can pose a huge threat to the West Ham defense, which has shown its vulnerabilities time and time again this season. We are siding with the Championship side to cause a shock in this one at 5/1 odds.

QPR have sold out their 9,000 ticket allocation for West Ham away, on the same day tickets went on sale. That is pretty incredible numbers 👏 pic.twitter.com/yK7b9hsthY
— Football Away Days (@footyawayday) December 19, 2025

Cheltenham vs Leicester

You may not think it at first glance, but this fixture is made to be one of the great FA Cupsets. League Two Cheltenham Town, positioned toward the bottom of the league table, hosts a Leicester City side that was fancied for Championship promotion at the start of the season. Cheltenham has reached this stage of the competition for the first time since the 2020/2021 season, where they met Manchester City in the fourth round. The Robins have an impressive record on home soil, where they have been victorious in four of their last five matches. They scored six goals at home to the National League North side Buxton in the second round and will be well up for being the surprise package of the third round with a favorable home tie.

They take on Marti Cifuentes' Leicester City, and it is safe to say that the Spanish manager has been bailed out on more than one occasion in recent weeks. The Foxes grabbed a stoppage-time winner against West Brom in their last outing, courtesy of an Abdul Fatawu strike. Despite this, the side has been underwhelming, and little to no one would have expected Leicester to be sitting in 12th place at the halfway stage of the Championship season. Leicester shows underwhelming form away from home, including heavy defeats to both QPR and Southampton of late. Questions have been asked if Cifuentes is the right man to take Leicester forward, and Cheltenham Town can capitalize on the uncertainty surrounding the club at favorable odds.

Cheltenham Town are set for their biggest home crowd in more than 13 years as Leicester City visit for the FA Cup third round on Saturday. It will be the highest Whaddon Road attendance since 6,891 watched Everton in January 2013 #ctfc pic.twitter.com/bPkbnHCeQa
— Jon Palmer (@JonPalmerSport) January 6, 2026

Wolves vs Shrewsbury

It just had to be. All the discussions surrounding Wolves and record-breaking low points tallies do have their effect on one's way of thinking, which is how we have got here. In their defense , Wolves have looked much more like a competent Premier League outfit in recent displays, even picking up their first league win of the season against West Ham. In the spirit of the cup, when everything seems to be on the up, it can all come crashing down very quickly. Wolves manager Rob Edwards is likely to experiment with the squad against Shrewsbury, and it will be interesting to see if striker Jorgen Strand Larsen plays any part, having been heavily linked with a move away from the club in this window.

The visitors, Shrewsbury, come into this fixture after a poor run of results. Four consecutive league defeats and just two goals scored in five matches is enough to put any manager under severe pressure. Michael Appleton was brought in as permanent manager in March and has won just eight matches in 39 attempts since taking charge. Shrewsbury Town sit just two points off the relegation zone in 22nd but will view the cup tie against Premier League opposition as a free hit to express themselves. A side winless in six, battling relegation in two divisions below. You cannot tell me that this doesn't have all the makings of a severe FA Cup upset.

Two dramatic clashes when we last faced Wolves in the FA Cup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/U39sj914Hh
— Shrewsbury Town FC (@shrewsburytown) January 6, 2026

Burnley vs Millwall

Last but not least, the Clarets host the Lions in what has the makings of a very intriguing third-round tie. Burnley have failed to register a win in 12 attempts but fought from behind to pick up a point against Manchester United last time out. Scott Parker has already been open and honest about the inevitability of relegation, just what the Burnley fans would've wanted to hear not even halfway through the season. Burnley are set to have a host of players sidelined through injury and unavailability but will welcome the likes of Lyle Foster and Axel Tuanzebe returning from AFCON. Former Millwall midfielder Zian Flemming is facing a race against time to be fit to face his former club. Burnley have picked up two of their three league wins on home soil this season and will be eager to have that taste of victory again.

On the topic of injury, step aside as Millwall have absentees in abundance. There was a point where the Lions were without an available recognized central midfielder throughout the whole club, having to rely on the versatile nature of Alfie Doughty to cover their tracks in the middle. Alex Neil's side sit fifth in the Championship table, coming off the back of an important victory against Swansea City at The Den. Millwall will be out for revenge after being defeated by Burnley at Turf Moor on the last day of the season, a defeat that ruined any chance of a play-off finish. The Lions can take advantage of Burnley's woes and book their place in the fourth round with victory here.