Chelsea FC, Wrexham to play international friendly soccer match at UNC’s Kenan Stadium
The University of North Carolina’s main campus is dipping into the international soccer scene, adding to an already robust summer soccer slate in the Triangle.
Thursday, officials announced that Chelsea FC of the English Premier League will face Wales-based Wrexham AFC at Kenan Memorial Stadium on July 19 as part of the 2023 FC Series.
The match will be the first neutral-site meeting of the two historic clubs. It will also be the first international soccer competition held at Kenan Stadium.
“We are excited to bring Chelsea and Wrexham to Chapel Hill for this fun and historic event,” UNC Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham said in a news release. “We look forward to welcoming fans from all over the world, filling Kenan Stadium and creating a fantastic atmosphere for international competition.”
The match will be Wrexham’s second stop in the Triangle this summer. The Welsh club is making its U.S. debut in early June by playing in The Soccer Tournament (TST) at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary with a $1 million championship on June 4.
“Our tour of the United States will be an exciting part of the summer’s build-up to the new season and something we will all be looking forward to in July,” Wrexham AFC manager Phil Parkinson said in a release. “To have the opportunity to play a team of Chelsea’s caliber ... will be a terrific test for our players and form an important part of our preparations for the 2023-24 season. We’re looking forward to meeting some of the fans who have supported us so passionately from afar this season at a renowned athletics stadium.”
History of Chelsea FC, Wrexham
Wrexham, the world’s third-oldest professional club, has undergone a major turnaround since actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney purchased the fifth-level club in 2020. They’re one win away from promotion to League Two after a win earlier this week.
The team has gained attention in the United States after being featured in the FX docuseries, “Welcome to Wrexham.” The first season streamed on Hulu and a second season is in the works.
Chelsea FC, meanwhile, was founded in 1905. It’s based at the 41,000-capacity Stamford Bridge stadium in London. Nicknamed “The Blues,” the club won its second UEFA Champions League title in 2021 and has also won the Premier League five times, the FA Cup eight times, the Football League Cup five times, the UEFA Europa League twice, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup twice, the UEFA Super Cup twice, the Football League Championship once, and most recently the FIFA Club World Cup in 2022.
This summer’s meeting will be the first ever between the two clubs.
Chelsea FC competed in North Carolina a year ago, battling MLS side Charlotte FC to a 1-1 draw in regulation before earning a victory via penalty kicks on July 20.
Unified Events will host the event in partnership with Orlando, Florida-based Florida Citrus Sports. The Chapel Hill match is the first of the 2023 FC Series, an international soccer exhibition that grew from Florida Citrus Sports’ Florida Cup event.
Last year, Arsenal defeated Chelsea in the headline match in Orlando. This summer’s FC Series schedule also includes the Orlando stop of the Premier League Summer Series when Fulham and Aston Villa meet on July 26. Additional FC Series and Florida Cup events will be announced later this year.
How to see Chelsea vs. Wrexham in NC
Who: Chelsea FC (England) vs. Wrexham AFC (Wales)
When: Wednesday, July 19
Time: TBD (Evening)
Where: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC
Tickets: Group and single-match presale information is available at FCSeries.com. Public tickets go on sale Thursday, April 27. A portion of every ticket sold will be donated to the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Clinic at UNC Children’s Hospital.
