Welcome to Wellington: Phoenix to play host to Wrexham in July

The Wellington Phoenix are thrilled to announce they will play host to Wrexham AFC in the final leg of the popular Welsh club’s ‘Down Under Tour’.

The Phoenix will square off against the newly-promoted Red Dragons at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Saturday, July 19, with kick-off at 5pm.

Club members will receive access to a pre-sale from 1pm tomorrow (Wednesday, May 14) before tickets go on general sale via Ticketek from 11:30am Friday (May 16).

Wrexham has shot to international prominence since Hollywood stars and entrepreneurs Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds purchased the third oldest football club in the world in 2021, and it has since been featured in the Emmy award-winning Welcome to Wrexham docu-series.

WREXHAM, WALES – APRIL 26: Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, co-owners of Wrexham AFC, pose for a photo with the trophy following the club’s promotion to the Sky Bet Championship after the Sky Bet League One match between Wrexham AFC and Charlton Athletic FC at Racecourse Ground on April 26, 2025 in Wrexham, Wales. (Photo by Kya Banasko/Getty Images)

The Red Dragons last month clinched a record-breaking third promotion in three years to secure their place in English football’s Championship.

“We’re delighted to be welcoming Wrexham to Wellington,” Wellington Phoenix general manager David Dome said. “The capital has a proud history of hosting New Zealand’s biggest football events, and this promises to be another unmissable match at Sky Stadium.

“Wrexham have had an incredible rise to the Championship and I know our players can’t wait to test themselves against the Red Dragons.

“I also look forward to catching up with Rob and Ryan over a pint of Wrexham lager at The Welsh Dragon, the only Welsh bar in the southern hemisphere!”

WREXHAM, WALES – APRIL 26: James McClean of Wrexham lifts the trophy alongside teammates as they celebrate their side’s promotion to the Sky Bet Championship after the Sky Bet League One match between Wrexham AFC and Charlton Athletic FC at Racecourse Ground on April 26, 2025 in Wrexham, Wales. (Photo by Kya Banasko/Getty Images)

Wrexham will open their pre-season tour in Melbourne against Victory on Friday, July 11 before taking on Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on Tuesday night (July 15).

The Wrexham Down Under Tour follows on from two highly successful pre-season tours to the USA, the first in 2023 which included a clash against Manchester United followed by the Wrex Coast Tour in 2024 with the headline fixture against another Premier League side in Chelsea.

Wrexham AFC Co-Chairmen, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, commented:

“The summer tour to Australia and New Zealand promises to be the latest chapter in the amazing story of Wrexham Football Club.

“Following our record-breaking hattrick of promotions, which will see us playing in the Championship next season, we felt it was time for a new challenge on our summer tour.

“So, what better than playing three matches in Australia and New Zealand.

“It will be a great way for all our Wrexham fans down there to see the team and, anyway, we couldn’t resist signing off with a tag line so, Up The Town Down Under!”