Wrexham AFC, the football club from Wales that is co-owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, had their first overseas tour in the United States. Unfortunately, the tour ended on a slightly sour note as the final game was marred by a lengthy and frustrating weather delay. Reynolds, who couldn’t attend the match due to his filming commitments, received a message of comfort from McElhenney, who was present at the stadium.

Wrexham faced Philadelphia Union II on July 28, 2023, in their last match of the US tour. The game was supposed to kick off at 7:30 pm local time, but a severe thunderstorm forced the players and fans to wait for more than two and a half hours. The match finally started at 10 pm, but by then many spectators had left the stadium. Wrexham drew the game 1-1, ending their tour with one win, two defeats, and one draw.

Ryan Reynolds was absent from his team’s first US tour, as he was called for Deadpool 3 in the UK. The 46-year-old, however, had been following the tour on social media and sending supportive messages to the team. Meanwhile, co-owner Rob McElhenney, understanding the pain of delay, comforted Reynolds with a story on his Instagram that read, “…In the UK, you can probably still watch the rest of it. There are still some people shouting Wrexham, still lots of people that remain.”

The actor has been very passionate regarding Wrexham AFC. The star power he brought along changed the face and fortunes of the club as well as the town itself. Nonetheless, the Free Guy star achieved his goal of bringing his team to the global spotlight in their US tour.

However, the road was not easy for him to do so.

How Ryan Reynolds managed to pull Wrexham AFC out of oblivion

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney successfully rescued Wrexham AFC from obscurity by investing in the team, enhancing its infrastructure, attracting sponsors and supporters, and recruiting new managers and players. The actors committed to injecting £2 million into the club with the aim of transforming it into a global entity. Additionally, Reynolds utilized his celebrity status and wit to raise the club’s profile, considering it had been struggling in English football’s fifth tier for a decade and a half.

Ryan Reynolds documented his and McElhenney’s journey of their Wrexham takeover with a Disney+ documentary, Welcome to Wrexham. The show landed immense praise and attention along with six Emmy nominations! Moreover, it is streaming back soon with a second season. It would seem Wrexham and its owners have a roadmap planned to more success as things stand at the moment. 

What did you think of Wrexham’s performance on its US tour and McElhenney’s Instagram story? Let us know in the comments below.