US tour highlights Wrexham's stock higher than ever

July 30, 2026

Wrexham AFC has significantly elevated its global profile through a pre-season tour of the United States, including matches against Premier League clubs and a kit launch ceremony at New York's Times Square Nasdaq bell. The Welsh Championship club, owned by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, is undertaking its third American tour in four summers, drawing substantial crowds with over 42,000 fans attending their match at Yankee Stadium against Liverpool. This represents a dramatic transformation from 2021 when Wrexham played against lower-league and youth teams during pre-season.

Who is affected

Wrexham AFC players and management team
Co-owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds
American Wrexham supporters and fans worldwide
Former Wrexham players including Mickey Thomas, Steven Fletcher, Ben Tozer, and Ben Foster
Manager Phil Parkinson
Printers Alley sports bar in New York and its patrons
Opposition clubs: Leeds United, Liverpool, and Sunderland
Middlesbrough and Cardiff City (upcoming competitive fixtures)

What action is being taken

Wrexham is currently conducting a pre-season tour of the United States
The club is playing friendlies against Premier League and Championship clubs
The team is launching their new 2026-27 home kit with a new global sponsor
Printers Alley sports bar in New York regularly shows Wrexham matches
The club is building toward competing for promotion next season
Wrexham is growing its brand internationally

Why it matters

This represents a unprecedented level of global recognition and commercial success for a Championship-level club, demonstrating how Wrexham has transformed from playing non-league and youth teams to competing against Premier League giants in front of massive American audiences. The club's appeal in the US market is extraordinary for a team outside England's top division, with jerseys sold alongside Real Madrid's and dedicated fan bars hosting hundreds of supporters. This global brand expansion creates significant commercial opportunities and establishes Wrexham as having a cross-Atlantic profile unmatched by most Championship or even many Premier League clubs, fundamentally changing the club's financial and competitive prospects.

What's next

Wrexham will complete their US tour by playing against Sunderland at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania on Sunday, August 2 at 17:00 BST
The team will face Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup first round on Friday, August 7 (which Parkinson suggests may serve as a final pre-season warm-up)
Wrexham's Championship season opener is scheduled against Cardiff City on Monday, August 17

Read full article from source: BBC