Wrexham's US tour underscores club's soaring global profile
Wrexham AFC's third pre-season tour in four years to the United States, combined with record revenue and a hit documentary, highlights the club's unprecedented growth and brand appeal.
Wrexham unveiled their 2026-27 home shirt by ringing the Nasdaq bell in New York's Times Square, a fitting symbol of the club's soaring stock. Former players including Mickey Thomas, Steven Fletcher, Ben Tozer, and Ben Foster attended the launch.
Co-owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds expressed amazement at the reception in America, noting that the support continues to grow. This tour is the club's third transatlantic trip in four summers, a stark contrast to Phil Parkinson's first preseason in 2021 when they faced lower-league sides.
The tour started impressively with a 3-2 win over Premier League side Leeds United, followed by a narrow 1-0 loss to Liverpool at Yankee Stadium. The final friendly is against Sunderland in Pennsylvania.
Beyond football, the tour is a brand-building exercise capitalizing on the recent World Cup. Fans spotted Wrexham jerseys for sale next to Real Madrid's in New York, reflecting the club's American appeal. A sports bar in Times Square regularly shows Wrexham matches and hosted a fan podcast event.
The traveling squad covered nearly 9,000 air miles, plus trips to Poland and Finland. Manager Phil Parkinson acknowledged the balancing act between travel and preparation.
Wrexham's revenue hit a record £33.3m in 2024-25, with 57.7% from North America, largely due to the 'Welcome to Wrexham' documentary, renewed for three more seasons. Revenue is expected to rise to £46-50m by June 2026.
The club is investing in infrastructure, including a new 7,500-seat Kop stand at the Racecourse Ground, and will appoint former Newcastle United chief Steve Nickson as sporting director. With global expansion and investment from the Allyn family and Apollo Sports Capital, Wrexham's stock continues to climb.
