Manchester United is set to play Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s Wrexham AFC in San Diego this summer
Manchester United will return to the United States for the first time in five years to play the third oldest club in the world and fan favourites, Wrexham AFC at Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, on Tuesday, July 25 at 7:30PM.
This is the first match of Manchester United’s 2023 Summer Tour to be announced after United revealed last week that Erik ten Hag and his squad will travel to the US in preparation for the 2023/24 season. A youth-focused team drawn from United’s travelling Tour squad supplemented by Academy prospects will take on Wrexham AFC on 25th July, as part of a week-long training camp in San Diego.
For Wrexham, this will be the first time in the club’s history that they will travel to the United States, an exciting next step for the club that was brought to prominence in the United States following the purchase of the club by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds in 2020, and the unveiling of their television series documenting the team and community called Welcome to Wrexham.
The last time these two clubs faced off in a competitive fixture was in the FA Cup in 1995, where Manchester United won 5-2 at Old Trafford.
Manchester United ambassador Andrew Cole travelled to San Diego to announce the match alongside Wrexham AFC Co-Chairman Rob McElhenney, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Qualcomm Incorporated, Don McGuire and City of San Diego Council President pro Tem, Monica Montgomery Steppe.
John Murtough, Manchester United Football Director, said: “This will be the first time the team has visited San Diego, and we are looking forward to playing in front of our passionate US fans at the Snapdragon stadium. Pre-season tours are always a great opportunity to give opportunities for our most promising young Academy players to gain valuable experience in the first team environment, and this match against Wrexham AFC is a great example of that.
“Manchester United has a history of nurturing and promoting youth and this is a chance for not only Erik but also our US supporters to assess the homegrown talent that is developing within our Academy, and hopefully to be able to say, ‘I saw him here first,’ if some of those players go on to establish themselves as first team regulars.”
Wrexham AFC manager Phil Parkinson said: “We’re looking forward to being able to play in the United States for the first time in the Club’s history. The match against Manchester United is sure to be a memorable occasion at the Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego.
“The tour will be an excellent opportunity for us to prepare for the 2023/24 season, and the match against Manchester United will be a competitive fixture and a good test for us as we look ahead to the new campaign.
“We enjoy welcoming supporters from the US to the Racecourse Ground, and we’re looking forward to being able to play in front of some of these new fans on American soil in the summer.”
Event promoters TEG Sport (TEG) and Left Field Live (LFL) are very proud to bring Manchester United and Wrexham AFC to San Diego, working alongside Snapdragon Stadium and Sports San Diego.
“We are thrilled to be able to bring this to life and excited to see football fans fill Snapdragon Stadium on July 25. Tickets are expected to sell fast, so we encourage anyone interested in attending to move quickly so they can enjoy the action live” said Bart Campbell, CEO of Left Field Live.
“A combination of San Diego, the world class Snapdragon Stadium, iconic powerhouse club Manchester United in the US for the first time since 2018 and the captivating story that is Wrexham AFC, creates a fascinating event in a sports town that fans from all over the world will enjoy visiting.”
Mark Neville, CEO of Sports San Diego echoed Campbell’s words and is eager for both teams to arrive in San Diego in July.
“We could not be more excited to welcome Manchester United and Wrexham to San Diego” said Neville.
“Sports tourism is critical to the health of our economy, and bringing these two clubs to our destination in July will surely be a highlight of our summer.”
Pre-Sale opens 12:00PM PDT Monday, March 27 and general public tickets go on sale 8:00AM PDT Wednesday, March 29.
Ticket prices start at $45 (USD).