COM & GET IT Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney set to make PLAYING debut against Cesc Fabregas’ team

Posted Friday, May 12, 2023 by Thesun.co.uk

HOLLYWOOD duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are set to play for Wrexham - and they have now learned who they face on their debut.

The movie stars are still celebrating the Welsh side’s return to the Football League following a 15-year absence after the Red Dragons secured the National League title.

COM & GET IT Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney set to make PLAYING debut against Cesc Fabregas’ team
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds will make their debut for Wrexham next month

COM & GET IT Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney set to make PLAYING debut against Cesc Fabregas’ team
Cesc Fabregas could play against them in the US for Como 1907

McElhenney and Reynolds then took the players on an all-expenses-paid holiday to America following their promotion.

They have also helped grow a huge following for Wrexham thanks to the successful Disney+ documentary that has followed the club since their takeover.

But Wrexham will be back in America next month to compete in The Soccer Tournament along with 31 other teams in a new seven-a-side competition in North Carolina for a $1m prize fund.

Both Reynolds and McElhenney are registered in Wrexham’s squad for the event and are joined by player-coach David Jones along with ex-players Paul Rutherford, Shaun Pearson and Mark Carrington.

And now they have discovered who their opposition will be - and they will start their group against Italian club Como 1907, who have ex-Arsenal and Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas amongst their ranks.

A US Women’s team, made up of legends such as Cat Whitehill, Lori Chalupny and Lori Lindsey, are also in Group E with them as well as Say Word FC, a team representing black colleges and universities in America.

West Ham and Wolves are also sending sides out to represent them at the tournament as well as Borussia Dortmund, a team featuring ex-Prem stars incuding Stephen Ireland and Chris Eagles and YouTube side Hashtag United.

The Soccer Tournament's round robin stage begins on June 1 with the final on June 4 as tickets have already sold out.

There will be no draws in the competition and a winner will be decided by what organisers call “target score time” where, after two 20-minute halves, the victors will be the side that reach the target score first.

In a statement, Wrexham advisor Shaun Harvey said: “We look forward to debuting in the US with a legends team and the ambition of winning the tournament.

“Should we be successful, $500,000 of the prize money will be used to enhance the club's work in the local community. Wrexham AFC is more than just a first team. It represents the people of North Wales and this tournament will allow us to incorporate former players of the club like we have never been able to do before.”

Wrexham will then continue their tour of North America after the competition with pre-season friendlies against Manchester United and Chelsea as well as LA Galaxy II.