Manchester United will play Wrexham in San Diego this summer as part of their pre-season preparations in the United States.
For Wrexham – the fifth-tier club brought to prominence Stateside by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s takeover in November 2020 – it will be the first trip to the US in the Welsh club’s history.
United football director John Murtough said: “Pre-season tours are always a great occasion to give opportunities for our most promising young academy players to gain valuable experience in the first-team environment, and this match against Wrexham is a great example of that.
“Manchester United has a history of nurturing and promoting youth and this is a chance for not only [manager] Erik [ten Hag] but also our US supporters to assess the homegrown talent that is developing within our academy, and hopefully to be able to say, ‘I saw him here first’ if some of those players go on to establish themselves as first-team regulars.”
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson added: “We’re looking forward to being able to play in the United States for the first time in the club’s history.
“The tour will be an excellent opportunity for us to prepare for the 2023/24 season and the match against Manchester United will be a competitive fixture and a good test for us as we look ahead to the new campaign.
“We enjoy welcoming supporters from the US to the Racecourse Ground, and we’re looking forward to being able to play in front of some of these new fans on American soil in the summer.”
United are currently third in the Premier League table, are 20-times champions of England, and one of the world's most successful clubs. Wrexham, who have never played in England's top tier, are top of the National League – four divisions below United – three points above Notts County with a game in hand.
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Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in a scene from the docuseries 'Welcome to Wrexham', which follows the actors as they purchase non-league Welsh football team Wrexham AFC. Photo: FX -
The series begins with the initial late-night conversation between the actors where the idea was formed. Photo: FX -
Club striker Dior Angus and Reynolds in a scene from 'Welcome to Wrexham'. Photo: FX -
Reynolds and McElhenney at a match between Wrexham and Grimsby Town at the Racecourse Ground, the team's home stadium, in May. Getty Images -
Reynolds and McElhenney after a match. The pair say they've fallen head over heels in love with football. Reuters -
Reynolds and McElhenney going through the highs, and many lows, of being football fans. Reuters -
Reynolds and McElhenney say they initially knew very little about football. Reuters -
Reynolds at a football match with friends. Reuters -
Reynolds said it was another close friend, David Beckham, who helped him understand 'soccer'. Reuters -
Reynolds, Beckham and Will Ferrell at a match. Reuters -
Reynolds with wife Blake Lively and Beckham at a match at Wembley Stadium, London, in May. AP -
McElhenney and Reynolds prior to the FA Trophy final between Wrexham and Bromley in May. AP
