Wrexham AFC head to Australia and New Zealand for their 2025 pre-season tour. With new signings and global fanfare, here’s everything you need to know—fixtures, squad, tickets, and how to watch live.
Wrexham AFC’s rise through the English football pyramid continues to captivate fans worldwide, and their latest move only adds to the club’s global footprint. For the first time, the Red Dragons will head to Australia and New Zealand for pre-season preparations ahead of their 2025–26 Championship campaign.
Under the spotlight of Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, Wrexham’s pre-season tours have become high-profile events—and this summer’s journey Down Under is no exception.
Why Wrexham Chose Australia and New Zealand
After consecutive summer tours in the United States, Wrexham are switching continents. The decision was partly driven by fan engagement metrics from the Welcome to Wrexham documentary series, where Australia ranks as the club’s third-largest viewing market behind only the U.S. and U.K.
“There is a lot of love for Wrexham,” McElhenney told Rolling Stone. “Australia is our third-biggest audience for the show, which I find fascinating.”
This new frontier represents both a commercial and cultural opportunity as Wrexham continue building a loyal international fanbase.
Full Pre-Season Schedule and Squad Highlights
| Date | Game | Kick-off | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 11, 2025 | Melbourne Victory 3-0 Wrexham | 5:30 am ET / 10:30 am BST | Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia |
| July 15, 2025 | Sydney FC vs Wrexham | 5:30 am ET / 10:30 am BST | Allianz Stadium, Moore Park, Australia |
| July 19, 2025 | Wellington Phoenix vs Wrexham | 3 am ET / 8 am BST | Sky Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand |
Wrexham kicked off their Tour Down Under with a 3-0 win against Melbourne Victory on July 11 at the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, following which they are in line to take on other Australian A-League teams, Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix on July 15 and 19 at Allianz Stadium and Sky Stadium, respectively.
Unlike their pre-season ahead of their League Two campaign in 2023, the Red Dragons may follow the approach of playing a pre-season game at home, like they did in 2024, before heading into the new season.
Head coach Phil Parkinson has named a 30-man squad for the tour, with several fresh faces joining the ranks. Wales international goalkeeper Danny Ward and striker Ryan Hardie, who arrived from Plymouth Argyle in a £700,000 deal, will both feature prominently.
Also on board is veteran forward Jay Rodriguez, bringing Premier League pedigree with 46 top-flight goals from his time at Burnley, Southampton, and West Brom. Club captain James McClean, with 103 caps for the Republic of Ireland and 158 Premier League appearances, adds leadership and experience to the mix.
How to Watch Wrexham’s Pre-Season Fixtures
Fans across the globe will have multiple options to catch Wrexham’s Down Under tour live:
- In the U.S., matches will be shown on Fubo and Paramount+
- Worldwide (excluding Australia & New Zealand): Games can be streamed via the Wrexham AFC Match Pass
A full-tour pass is available for £24.99, while individual matches can be purchased for £9.99.
For full streaming information, visit Wrexham AFC’s official match pass page.
Opening Fixtures and Key Dates
Wrexham’s Championship campaign begins with a stern away test against recently relegated Southampton. The club will also find out their opponents in the Carabao Cup first round and EFL Trophy group stage on June 26.
Fans can secure tickets for upcoming fixtures via Wrexham’s official ticketing portal.
Big Expectations for 2025–26
Having secured back-to-back promotions in recent seasons, Wrexham now face a higher level of competition in the Championship. The club’s summer preparations—anchored by a high-quality pre-season schedule and smart transfer activity—signal serious intent to keep the momentum going.
The Australia and New Zealand tour won’t just test the team’s readiness on the pitch, but it will also further solidify their global status as one of football’s fastest-growing cult clubs.
| Wrexham squad for pre-season 2025: | |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers: | Arthur Okonkwo, Callum Burton, Danny Ward |
| Defenders: | Max Cleworth, Aaron James, Dan Scarr, Eoghan O’Connell, Max Purvis, Lewis Brunt, Jacob Mendy |
| Midfielders: | Tom O’Connor, Ryan Longman, Ryan Barnett, Matty James, George Evans, George Dobson, Andy Cannon, Alex Moore, Ollie Rathbone, Elliot Lee, Harry Ashfield, James McClean (C), Seb Revan |
| Forwards: | Ryan Hardie, Sam Smith, Callum Edwards, Mo Faal, Ollie Palmer, Jack Marriott, Jay Rodriguez |
