Sunderland will meet Wrexham in a high-profile friendly in Philadelphia as part of Wrexham’s third pre-season tour of the United States, a fixture that has prompted warm words from the Welsh club’s Hollywood co-owner.
McElhenney praises Sunderland after 'Til I Die documentary
Rob McElhenney, who bought Wrexham alongside Ryan Reynolds and helped turn the club into a global brand, said he was inspired by Sunderland’s story and that it “will be an honour” to play the Black Cats in America. McElhenney told reporters he had watched Sunderland: Til I Die and described it as “a really beautiful documentary”.
“I watched Sunderland ‘Til I Die and thought it was a really beautiful documentary… It will be an honour to play them in Philadelphia. I was rooting for them in the play-offs and so happy when they went up, and thank God they did because they deserve it.”
The comments underline how Sunderland’s recent return to the top tier of English football has attracted international attention and admiration from beyond the usual British and Irish fan base. For supporters in the North East, the match represents recognition of the club’s profile following promotion.
Wrexham’s US tour and recent results
Wrexham are on their third pre-season tour of the United States. So far on that trip they have recorded mixed results, beginning with a victory over Leeds United before suffering a defeat to Liverpool. Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson, who previously managed Sunderland, has also spoken positively about the club in recent months, pointing to Sunderland’s approach as an example of how newly promoted clubs can consolidate at a higher level if run correctly.
| Fixture | Result |
|---|---|
| Wrexham v Leeds United (US tour) | 3-2 to Wrexham |
| Wrexham v Liverpool (US tour) | 0-1 to Liverpool |
What it means for Sunderland supporters
For fans travelling to Philadelphia or watching from home, the fixture offers a chance to see Sunderland tested against an increasingly high-profile Wrexham side. The meeting will bring together two clubs whose recent off-field stories have drawn global interest — Sunderland through its documented revival and Wrexham through ownership and the Welcome to Wrexham series. The match also affords Sunderland an opportunity to sharpen up ahead of the new campaign against an opponent who have climbed rapidly through the English pyramid in recent years.
- High-profile meeting: a friendly in the United States between Sunderland and Wrexham.
- International attention: Rob McElhenney’s praise highlights Sunderland’s wider profile.
- Preparation value: the game forms part of Wrexham’s US tour and offers Sunderland a competitive pre-season test.
Phil Parkinson’s comments about Sunderland — noting they had “spent the money from the TV revenue wisely” and were “in a great position” — add a tactical and managerial dimension to the fixture, coming from someone familiar with both clubs. That endorsement from an experienced coach will mean something to supporters who remember Parkinson’s previous spell at Sunderland and who want to see the club cement its place at the top level.
While the match itself is a friendly and therefore not competitive in league terms, fixtures like this are increasingly important as clubs balance commercial opportunities, preparation and supporter engagement. For Sunderland fans, the encounter will be a marker of how far the club’s profile has travelled — from the terraces of the North East to a pitch in Philadelphia watched by a global audience.
Expectations will be tempered by the pre-season context, but the game is emblematic of the modern game: clubs building brands, overseas tours and new audiences. For Sunderland, the fixture is a reminder that the club now occupies a stage that attracts praise from across the footballing world.
