Wrexham AFC Announces Two U.S. Stops for 2024 Tour

Wrexham AFC, the club featured in the FX documentary “Welcome to Wrexham,” have announced the 2024 Wrex Coast Tour, which will see the men’s team return to the United States and, for the first time, Wrexham AFC Women travel stateside as well.

The men’s first team, fresh from sealing their second consecutive promotion — into EFL League One — will play three matches on this year’s tour. The Red Dragons take on Premier League club Bournemouth at Harder Stadium in Santa Barbara, California, on July 20 before heading to Santa Clara to take on Chelsea at Levi’s Stadium on July 24.

For the first time, Wrexham will then head to Canada to face Major League Soccer’s Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place. The game in Vancouver is a homecoming for Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds, as the actor is a native of the area.

“Last year (co-owner) Rob (McElhenney) got to bring Wrexham to Philly. This year it’s my turn,” Reynolds, a longtime Whitecaps supporter, said in a statement. “I am so excited my hometown club the Whitecaps will get to square off against the Red Dragons.”

The Whitecaps are coming off an appearance last year in the MLS Cup Playoffs and enter the weekend in second place in the Western Conference this season.

“This is an exciting opportunity for our club, as we celebrate our 50th anniversary season, to play a team as storied as Wrexham AFC,” said Axel Schuster, Vancouver Whitecaps sporting director. “We’re delighted to be able to welcome our visitors from Wales and welcome Ryan Reynolds back home to Vancouver.”

The 2024 Wrexham Tour follows a 2023 Tour that featured a game against Chelsea at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina; a clash with LA Galaxy II at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles; a contest with Manchester United’s second team at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium and a match with Philadelphia Union II at Subaru Park.

Wrexham AFC has announced Ally Financial as a sponsor of the 2024 Wrex Coast Tour. Ally will also serve as the title sponsor of the Wrexham AFC Women’s summer tour. This year marks the debut of the Women’s team on the summer tour, with further details to follow.