Will Ryan Reynolds play with Wrexham team at Cary soccer tournament? What we know
Updated March 8: A spokesperson for The Soccer Tournament said Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney won’t play with their team at the tournament. For details, see this story.
Marvel star Ryan Reynolds will bring his Wrexham soccer squad to its first-ever US tournament in Cary this June, but the former Sexiest Man Alive will not suit up to play for the historic Welsh squad.
ESPN and several other national sports outlets reported in February that Reynolds and co-owner Rob McElhenney, star of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” would join Wrexham’s squad alongside player-coach David Jones.
But a spokesperson for The Soccer Tournament told The News & Observer March 8 that wouldn’t be the case.
The Hollywood pair bought the National League club, known as The Red Dragons, in 2020. Founded in 1864, Wrexham ranks as the oldest club in Wales and third-oldest professional football team in the world.
But the club, something of an underdog, found fame overseas due largely to its FX documentary series “Welcome to Wrexham,” which Reynolds and McElhenney narrated.
TBT Enterprises announced the $1 million event, The Soccer Tournament, in October, scheduling it over four days in June at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Wrexham AFC was announced as one of the first eight teams in the tournament along with Necaxa, the Mexican team that includes former U.S. captain Clint Dempsey; a team run by U.S. women’s midfielder Heather O’Relly; and Hashtag United, a semi-pro English league founded by YouTuber Spencer Carmichael-Brown.
Will the Hollywood co-owners come to Cary to watch their team play?
Jake Pavorsky, the director of player personnel and public relations for The Basketball Tournament and The Soccer Tournament, could not confirm their plans on March 8. He said that decision is “up to the club.”
“We’re not sure of what their plans are specific to those two as of right now,” he said.
Group play begins June 1 with the final $1 million winner-take-all final on June 4.
Tickets have not gone on sale yet, but a waitlist is available on the TST website at thetournament.com.
Kristen Johnson contributed to this report.
This story was originally published February 23, 2023 at 3:59 PM.