Ryan Reynolds has already achieved an historic promotion with Wrexham – and now he is aiming to win a $1million prize by lacing up his boots.
Reynolds and fellow Hollywood A-lister Rob McElhenney have overseen a remarkable story with Wrexham, who won the National League to return to the Football League after a 15-year exile. Wrexham’s squad have been given the VIP treatment in Las Vegas by their famous owners, who are already targeting a new success.
That is because they are entering a team into an eye-catching seven-a-side tournament that is taking place in America next month. Wrexham Red Dragons are one of 32 teams who have entered The Soccer Tournament, which takes place in Cary, North Carolina between May 31 and June 4.
The Wrexham team won’t contain any of the stars of their promotion-winning season. Instead co-owners Reynolds and McElhenney will be joined by player-coach David Jones and former players Paul Rutherford, Shaun Pearson and Mark Carrington on the pitch.
And they won’t have it easy, with World Cup winner Cesc Fabregas one of their opponents. The former Arsenal midfielder will be turning out for a team representing Serie B side Como.
The tournament will work like a World Cup, with an eight-group round robin followed by a knockout stage. The winner of the final will claim the entire $1m (£800,000) prize pot, providing a large incentive for competition.
One of the teams bidding for glory is called Blade & Grass, which is made up of former Premier League players Stephen Ireland, Chris Eagles, Emile Heskey, Oumar Niasse, Geoff Cameron, Brek Shea and Keiren Westwood.
Between them the group has collectively made 1,183 Premier League appearances. Former Liverpool striker Heskey will be expected to provide the goals, having scored 110 times in his Premier League career.
Borussia Dortmund, West Ham and Wolves are all sending teams, while the US National Team will have a men’s and women’s side and Fulham legend Clint Dempsey is entering his own team.
The list of those involved is diverse and includes Canadian Olympic medallist Lauren Sesselman, MMA star Gregor Gracie and lots of social media personalities, including YouTuber team Hashtag United. West Ham will be coached by former Apprentice contestant Tom Skinner.
The seven-a-side games will be played on a 65x45-yard pitch over two 20-minute halves. There will be no draws, with winners determined by a 'target score time'. The target score will be one goal more than what the winning team has after 40 minutes.
For example, if after 40 minutes the score is 3-1, the winner will be the first side to reach four goals. There are no draws or offsides and throw-ins are replaced with kick-ins.
Here is the list of teams taking part.
Group A
Borussia Dortmund, Hoosiers Army (Indiana Alumni), Kingdom FC, Newtown Pride FC
Group B
Wolves, Blade & Grass FC, Villita FC, DMV Diplomats
Group C
Club Necaxa, Hapoel Tel Aviv, SLC FC, Virginia Dream
Group D
West Ham, Dallas United, Culture by Mo ALi FC, Far East United
Group E
Wrexham Red Dragons, Como 1907, US Women, Say Word FC
Group F
Hashtag United, Conrad & Beasley United, Nati SC, Gracie FC
Group G
Team Dempsey, Sneaky Fox FC, Zala FFF, Jackson TN Boom
Group H
Charlotte FC, Duke Sevens (Duke Alumni), NCFC, Raleigh Rebels FC
