Ryan Reynolds and Rob McIlhenney are set to play for Wrexham in a tournament in the USA - and the Hollywood duo have learned who they will be facing in their footballing debut for the National League winners.
Reynolds and McIlhenney have helped put Wrexham back on the map since their takeover of the north Wales club. In addition to leading the Red Dragons back to the Football League after a 15-year hiatus, the pair have also cultivated a huge US following for Wrexham thanks to the successful Disney+ TV series following the side’s trials and tribulations under their ownership.
Wrexham head stateside this summer to take part in The Soccer Tournament in June. Taking place in Cary, North Carolina, it will see 32 teams compete in a new seven-a-side competition.
Both Reynolds and McIlhenney are registered in Wrexham’s squad for the event which boasts $1million in prize money. They are joined by Wrexham player-coach David Jones and a trio of ex-players in Paul Rutherford, Shaun Pearson and Mark Carrington.
The soon to be League Two side - who will compete under the name Wrexham Red Dragons - start their group against Italian club Como 1907, who boast Cesc Fabregas among their players. Also in Group E is a US Women’s team made up of USWNT legends including Cat Whitehill, Lori Chalupny and Lori Lindsey and Say Word FC, a side who represent black colleges and universities in America.
Among the other sides competing at the tournament are Borussia Dortmund, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers. The English YouTube side Hashtag United are also sending a squad.
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The Soccer Tournament's round robin stage gets underway on Thursday, June 4 while the final takes place on Sunday, June 4. Tickets have already sold out while the matches are expected to be streamed live on YouTube.
It is no ordinary seven-a-side competition - there are no draws and a winner is determined by what the organisers call ‘target score time’. After the two, 20-minute halves have been played, the winners will be the team who reach the target score first.
For example: If Team A has six goals and Team B has four goals, the target score will be set at seven goals and the Teams will play until a team reaches seven goals. If the scores are level after normal time, then it’s next goal wins.
In a statement, Wrexham advisor Shaun Harvey explained: "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 continue their tour of North America after the competition. They face Premier League sides Manchester United and Chelsea in pre-season friendlies, as well as LA Galaxy II.
