Battle for Glory: Chelsea vs. Wrexham – The Epic Showdown in the Florida Cup

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Football fans are counting down the days until the new season commences, but it’s less than a month before Premier League giants Chelsea return to the pitch, so there’s no need to wait until August for your football fix. The Blues’ pre-season tour in North America begins on July 19, as the EPL side clashes with a famed Wrexham squad in Chapel Hill as part of the 2023 Florida Cup Series. 

Chelsea vs. Wrexham 

Where: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina 

When: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 

It will be the first time two English clubs battle at Kenan Stadium, and if you haven’t already booked your tickets, the highly anticipated clash is unfortunately sold out. However, the 51,000-seater stadium selling out is a huge win because a percentage of every ticket sold has been donated to the Paediatric Haematology Clinic at UNC Children’s Hospital. 

The London-based stars of Chelsea Will be spearheaded by their new manager Mauricio Pochettino and newly signed French international Christopher Nkunku is expected to be travelling with the team. 

In addition to the potential Chelsea debut of Nkunku, we can expect to see the Portuguese duo of Enzo Fernandez and Joao Felix, as well as USMNT superstar Christian Pulisic and England internationals Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling. 

Wrexham doesn’t own the elite-level prestige of their F.C. Series opening-day opponents. Still, the Welsh club has a diehard fan base – even more so in recent years, as the “Red Dragons” were brought out by Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds and fellow actor Rob McElhenney. This small club from Wales is the third-oldest football club on the planet (Est. 1864) and recently won the National League to pull themselves from non-league action to compete in EFL League Two next term.   

Wrexham’s transformation under the helm of Reynolds and McElhenney was documented and released in the hit series “Welcome to Wrexham.”

The celebrity-owned club will have their work cut out for them. Chelsea is one of the world’s most adored clubs and for a good reason. The Blues are five-time EPL title holders, two-time UEFA Champions League winners, eight-time F.A. Cup winners, five-time Europa League winners, and recently won the FIFA Club World Cup in 2022.

Skill-for-skill, the Blues undoubtedly own an advantage, but who’s your money on? As Chelsea and Wrexham clash in the Florida Cup Finals, fans and bettors alike are eagerly awaiting the outcome. Will Chelsea’s prowess prevail, or will Wrexham emerge as the unexpected victors? Get in on the action with sports betting apps.

When evaluating the two sides’ head-to-head history, they’ve competed against one another on ten occasions throughout the years, with Chelsea winning five, three games ending in a draw, and Wrexham with two victories. With that said, it’s been decades since they’ve met, and July’s clash will be their first on-pitch battle since 1984.  

Happy to be in the USA

Wrexham manager, Phil Parkinson, commented on the upcoming U.S. tour: “Our tour of the United States will be an exciting part of the summer’s build-up to the new season and something we will all be looking forward to in July. 

To have the opportunity to play a team of Chelsea’s calibre at the Kenan Stadium, North Carolina, will be a terrific test for our players and form an important part of our preparations for the 2023/24 season. We’re looking forward to meeting some of the fans who have supported us so passionately from afar this season at a renowned athletics stadium.” 

Chelsea is also pleased with the American tour this summer. 

“We are delighted to return to North Carolina as part of our U.S. tour this summer and play in what I’m sure will be a fantastic atmosphere at Kenan Stadium,” said Tom Glick, Chelsea’s President of Business. 

“Our strong U.S. fanbase supports us all year round, and we look forward to meeting them in Chapel Hill.” He added. 

This fixture won’t be the lone Premier League offering this summer, as the F.C. Series also includes a fixture between Aston Villa and Fulham at the Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Elsewhere on the tour, European giants Juventus will face Real Madrid at the Camping World Stadium in the Sunshine State.