Ryan Reynolds, Owner of Wrexham and Rob McElhenney, Actor and Co-Owner of Wrexham react prior to the Vanarama National League Play-Off Semi Final match between Wrexham and Grimsby Town at Racecourse Ground on May 28, 2022 in Wrexham, Wales.
Since acquiring Wrexham AFC in 2020, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been leading the charge on a modern-day fairy tale, aiming to restore the Welsh club to its former glory. However, a recent ruling by the English Football Association (FA) has dealt a major setback to their hopes of seeing the club compete in a UEFA tournament in the near future.
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) recently proposed the creation of an enhanced Welsh League Cup, which would bring together the country's top teams to compete for a prestigious national title. This plan included participation from the four Welsh clubs currently in the English Football League (EFL) — Cardiff City, Swansea City, Newport County, and Wrexham — alongside the 12 teams from the JD Cymru Premier (Welsh first division).
The revamped competition was set to feature 16 teams starting in the 2026-27 season, coinciding with the JD Cymru Premier's expansion to 16 clubs. Beyond the appeal of a £3 million ($3.6 million) prize and a coveted trophy, the proposed tournament held an exciting prospect: qualification for the UEFA Conference League. For Wrexham and their ambitious owners, this offered a potential path to European competition.
Described as a “game-changer for Welsh soccer” by FAW chief executive Noel Mooney, the competition promised to reinvigorate Welsh football and elevate its standing on the international stage. However, the FA ultimately rejected the proposal, extinguishing Wrexham’s hopes of participating in UEFA tournaments in the short term.
FA Blocks Welsh Clubs’ Participation
Despite strong support from the Football Association of Wales (FAW), the English FA has blocked the four Welsh clubs in the English Football League (EFL) from taking part in the restructured Welsh League Cup. The FA cited concerns about potential conflicts between the English and Welsh football systems as the primary reason for denying the request.
In a detailed statement, the FA explained its decision: “The FA board has considered a request made by four Welsh clubs to take part in a restructured version of the FAW League Cup, which would provide an opportunity to qualify for UEFA competition.
“After careful consideration, taking into account various factors such as equal opportunity for clubs to participate in the same competitions for the same rewards on an equal basis, concerns raised by stakeholders regarding competition integrity, fixture congestion, player welfare, and the impact on the standing of existing competitions, the FA board has rejected the request.”
“It was noted that it is open to the Welsh clubs to choose whether or not to participate in the English or Welsh system based on their own assessment of the relative merits of participation in each system, but if they choose to participate in the English system they must do so on the same basis as the English clubs which participate in that system,” the statement ended, addressing an unbalance in the opportunities for this 4 Welsh sides and the English clubs.
Currently sitting 3rd in EFL League One with 52 points in 27 games, Wrexham remains a strong candidate for promotion to the Championship alongside Birmingham City and Wycombe Wanderers. While the FA’s decision may have delayed their European ambitions, the club’s rise under Reynolds and McElhenney continues to gain momentum.