Rob McElhenney reveals masterplan to grow Wrexham's US support to the next level

Rob McElhenney has revealed how he plans to use two key events to boost the profile of Wrexham and football in general in the United States.

The US is set to become a hotbed of sports over the next few years as it hosts both the 2026 men's World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games.

The creator of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia believes the two occasions will be an ideal opportunity to grow the status of the club he co-owns with Ryan Reynolds.

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The Red Dragons already enjoy a large following over the pond thanks to the Welcome to Wrexham documentary and recent pre-season tours of the country.

However, McElhenney thinks the way EFL TV viewing figures have increased stateside since Wrexham climbed out of the National League in 2023 suggests there is potential to harness an even bigger audience.

Speaking to Sports Business Journal, he said: “I don't know how many League One games were watched in the United States prior to 2022 or 2021, but I can surmise it’s probably not as many as are being watched right now.

“We love the idea of being a part of growing the entire sport here in the US, especially as the Olympics are coming, and the World Cup.

“It just feels like a great opportunity to spread the word and to evangelise for football.”

McElhenney was talking at the Cosm shared reality theatre in Los Angeles, where Wrexham's 1-0 win against Barnsley was screened live earlier this week.

Despite being located more than 5,000 miles away from the Racecourse Ground, the viewing event helped the North Wales side's international fanbase feel closer to their adopted team.

The occasion was also used to officially launch Wrexham Lager in the US after it was bought by McElhenney and Reynolds in October.

McElhenney said the pair were passionate about the brand and indicated they could make further investments.

He said: “We like the idea of a flywheel where each investment is something we really support and enjoy, and it’s not just a cash grab.

“Anytime we look at a new investment or new opportunity, it’s only because we believe in it.”