It might be a very different kind of footy season in Melbourne, but football (you know, the one Messi, Salah, and Mbappe play) will be taking centre stage once again this July. Newly promoted to England’s second tier, the Championship, Wrexham AFC have announced plans to play a pre-season tour in Melbourne, Sydney, and Wellington this July – and whilst Championship teams on tour don’t usually pique that much interest, the identity of Wrexham’s owners makes it inevitable.
Since 2020, Wrexham AFC have been under the control of majority owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, previously known for their exploits on screen rather than owning a Welsh football club. (Yes, they’re Welsh, but they play in the English league, it’s a whole thing that I’m not going to get into right now.) The club’s popularity skyrocketed thanks to the Emmy-winning ‘Welcome to Wrexham‘ documentary, and their rise up the English league tables from the National League to the Championship, including three consecutive promotions, has captured the football world’s imagination.
Where are Wrexham AFC playing?
After a US tour last year, the team are venturing to Australia in preparation for their first season in the second tier since 1982, and they’ll kick things off in Melbourne, taking on Melbourne Victory at Marvel Stadium on July 11. After that, they’ll face Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on July 15, and Wellington Phoenix on July 19 at Sky Stadium.
How can I get tickets for Wrexham’s Australia tour?
Presale tickets for the game at Marvel Stadium are set to go on sale tomorrow – Wednesday, May 14 – at 11am AEST, with the general sale beginning at 9am on May 16. You can check out the ticketing page here.
What have Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney said about it?
Known the for offbeat humour and earnest passion they’ve brought to Wrexham’s story, the two actors had plenty to say about the Australia tour. “From the very beginning, we wanted to help make Wrexham a globally recognised team, town and brand,” they said in a statement. “We could not be more excited to bring the Red Dragons to Australia and New Zealand, and we are particularly proud that this announcement features neither a Men at Work or Hugh Jackman joke. The latter of which took maturity and tremendous restraint. We’re proud of Ryan.”
Wrexham will be aiming for a first-ever promotion to the Premier League in the 2025/26 season, and with a chance to connect with their Aussie fanbase beforehand, perhaps they’ll make history. Oh, and fingers crossed we’ll see Melbourne with a starring role in a future season of ‘Welcome to Wrexham’, too!