Wrexham’s FA Cup match this Saturday will be broadcast live on ESPN2, a source revealed to World Soccer Talk. ESPN2’s Wrexham FA Cup game will also be broadcast on ESPN+.
Surprisingly, the start time for Blyth vs. Wrexham was moved specifically to accommodate viewers in the United States. The FA Cup match was originally scheduled for 10am ET. Instead, Saturday’s game between the Blyth Spartans and Wrexham kicks off at 8 a.m. ET. Pregame coverage begins at 7:30 am ET. It is not yet known if Wrexham’s star owners will appear on television.
ESPN2 Wrexham FA Cup game
Wrexham AFC is a major story in the United States this season due to the success of the television series Welcome to Wrexham. The two co-owners of the club are actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Both play a leading role in the TV series fly-on-the-wall, which was inspired by Sunderland ‘Til I Die.
Playing at Blyth’s Croft Park in the North East of England, the stadium is a picturesque venue that is perfect for an FA Cup match. With a capacity of over 4,000 and expectations from a huge audience on ESPN2, this promises to be a fun game to watch.
The winner of the Fourth Qualifying Round game advances to the First Round of the world’s oldest national soccer competition. During the First Round, teams from League One and League Two enter the competition. So the prospect of a non-league team taking on a much bigger club creates a tantalizing David versus Goliath opportunity.
Wrexham, currently in the National League, are hoping to rise from the fifth tier of English football.
Wrexham’s chance to break the television barrier
This season, Ryan Reynolds took to Twitter to express his frustration over the live to fans both domestically and internationally. With the FA Cup, the competition provides Wrexham with an ideal opportunity to progress through the tournament and reach a global television audience.
In the United States, many of the FA Cup games are broadcast exclusively on ESPN+. That ESPN decides to broadcast a fourth-round qualifying match on US television is remarkable.
Coincidentally, both Reynolds and McElhenney appeared on the SportsCenter studio set in a skit that aired on Welcome to Wrexham.
Welcome to Wrexham airs Wednesday nights on FX and is shown on demand via Hulu.
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