Chelsea FC are headed back stateside this summer, and it all starts when they take on the Hollywood club, Wrexham AFC. We call Wrexham the Hollywood club due to the fact that they are owned by famous actors, and thus have a reality tv series focused on them. That is why they are on the tour, and taking on clubs that reside at a tier much higher than they are in the football pyramid. Wrexham AFC have publicity going for them, which is nice.
It’s a preseason tour of the United States, publicity is what it’s all about.
Preseason Friendly FYIs
Wrexham AFC vs Chelsea FC
Kickoff (local time): wed July 24, 7:30 pm, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA, USA
Chelsea Preview Content: Team News Part 1 Team News Part 2 Starting XI Prediction Transfer Talk
Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK
These two clubs faced each other at Kenan Memorial Stadium, on the campus of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, last summer as well. Chelsea won that matchup at UNC-Chapel Hill, 5-0. Now they’ll place at the home of the iconic NFL franchise, the San Francisco 49ers, in suburban Santa Clara.
It’s a big stadium, and a large crowd is expected. New manager Enzo Maresca will fill out the team sheet for the first time as Chelsea manager.
Chelsea FC Starting XI Prediction vs Wrexham AFC (Preseason Friendly)
Kepa Arrizabalaga; Reece James, Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill; Kenan Dewsbury-Hall, Renato Veiga; Noni Madueke, Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling; Marc Guiu
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to Ravens Wire, part of the USA Today SMG’s NFL Wire Network and the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Tribune and the Washington Times. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.