Soccer sensation Wrexham is coming to America. Not simply on tv screens, however on the pitch.
The fifth-tier Welsh facet, which has turn out to be a fan favourite since Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney purchased it and launched a documentary sequence, “Welcome to Wrexham,” will play Manchester United in a pleasant on July 25 at San Diego State’s 35,000-seat Snapdragon Stadium.
“We hope to turn out to be America’s staff — sorry,” McElhenney stated at information convention Monday, the place he shared the dais with Andrew Cole, a former Manchester United participant who’s now an envoy for the massively widespread staff, and former U.S. nationwide staff star Landon Donovan, who’s co-owner and govt vice chairman of soccer operations for the San Diego Loyal.
Wrexham will compete in a $1 million, winner-take-all, seven-on-seven event in June in Cary, North Carolina. However the match in opposition to Manchester United in america will probably be a lot larger for a lot of causes.
“Not unhealthy, not unhealthy,” McElhenney stated. “We have been very clear from the very starting that our final objective is to get to the Premier League, which lots of people laughed at, however I do not assume they’re laughing at us a lot now. The reality is, the system is in place for that very factor to occur.
“We had hoped that in some unspecified time in the future we might be enjoying Manchester United within the Premier League,” he added. “We did not notice it will be in three years. Clearly this can be a pleasant. We had hoped that possibly in eight to 10 years time we might truly be enjoying with you guys,” McIlhenney stated to Cole.
McElhenney stated Wrexham will play different friendlies whereas in america with particular particulars to return.
Reynolds and McElhenney took over beleaguered Wrexham in February 2021 and their documentary — about their journey, the staff, its followers and its metropolis — premiered in August. Wrexham is the third-oldest soccer staff on the planet and performs within the English Nationwide League, the fifth tier {of professional} soccer.
“I imagine we are able to turn out to be America’s soccer staff as a result of we don’t have to fret in regards to the regionalization, proper?” McElhenney stated. “I’m a large Philadelphia Eagles fan, so American soccer, and clearly when you’re making an attempt to develop that fan base within the U.S. it is difficult as a result of there are numerous areas the place individuals have their very own groups. So with an English soccer staff, or a Welsh staff that performs within the English system, we do not have to fret about that regionalization. So that you may be from Des Moines, you may be from Minnesota, you may be from West Texas and be a Wrexham fan.”
McElhenney, who was carrying a Wrexham cap, stated the staff retains promoting out of its gear and is aware of it has a fan base on this facet of the Atlantic Ocean.
“We all know it is loads of People, we clearly know the postal codes, but additionally as a result of loads of baseball caps are getting offered and that is not an enormous market within the UK,” he stated.
A number of native United supporters attended the information convention and McElhenney informed them: “Another factor I’ve discovered about soccer, too, is you possibly can have two groups. As a result of we’re separated by so many leagues — in the interim — you possibly can have two groups. They’re going to play their hearts out. Possibly you possibly can fall in love with our staff as effectively.”
The match will probably be a part of a summer time U.S. tour by Manchester United. A youth-focused staff drawn from its touring squad, supplemented by academy prospects, will face Wrexham as a part of a week-long coaching camp in San Diego.
Cole stated he hasn’t seen “Welcome to Wrexham” however is aware of that the documentary is “spreading soccer. Soccer is a worldwide sport. Even when you do not know about soccer, with regards to World Cup time, everybody watches soccer. It is a language, soccer is. I believe what Wrexham are doing is totally improbable, having the chance to return out right here and play soccer out right here and unfold it all through the world.”
Donovan stated it is a huge deal that this match is coming to San Diego, which is rising in stature within the soccer world.
“You may argue that these are the 2 most related soccer golf equipment, actually by American requirements,” Donovan stated. “I’ll say this anecdotally — my spouse is aware of nothing about soccer/soccer in any respect. She is aware of who Manchester United is and he or she is aware of who Wrexham AFC is now, most likely as a result of two cute guys run the present.”
On Saturday night time, a crowd of 30,854 at Snapdragon Stadium — a document for a Nationwide Ladies’s Soccer League opener — watched star Alex Morgan rating on a penalty kick within the 88th minute of the San Diego Wave’s 3-2 win in opposition to the Chicago Purple Stars.
San Diego reportedly is in line for an MLS enlargement staff by December.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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