Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds has shared his shocked reaction upon learning that his club, Wrexham AFC, will host Chelsea in the FA Cup.
Joined by fellow actor Hugh Jackman, Reynolds recorded an expletive-filled Instagram video as the pair watched the draw live.
Reynolds and Rob McElhenney became co-owners of Wrexham in a £2 million takeover in 2021, following a vote by the Wrexham Supporters Trust.
Wrexham will face Chelsea at the Racecourse Ground in the fifth round of the FA Cup on 7 March. The competition, which has operated on a random draw since its inception in 1871, now sees the historic Welsh club take on one of England’s top-flight sides.
“Wait, wait, wait… we’re home to Chelsea?” Reynolds exclaims in the video, before he and Jackman clap and high-five as the news sinks in. Jackman jokes: “That’s what you wanted!” Reynolds captioned the clip: “Chelsea at the Racecourse!”
Jackman, who has supported the club since Reynolds and McElhenney brought it global attention, added in a comment: “I’m telling him what he wants to happen?! The madness.”
Wrexham has never won the FA Cup but has a storied history in the competition, reaching the quarter-finals twice — in 1973-74 and again in 1996-97. Under Reynolds and McElhenney, the club has reached the fourth round in consecutive seasons (2022-23 and 2023-24).
The draw against Chelsea has sparked excitement among supporters, with one fan posting: “OMG Wrexham is definitely capable of beating any Premier League team. I can’t even imagine how excited I’ll be if the Red Dragons win.”
A statement on the Wrexham AFC website said:
“Wrexham AFC will host Chelsea in the Fifth Round of the Emirates FA Cup.
The Red Dragons secured their place in the Fifth Round for the first time since 1997, defeating fellow Championship side Ipswich Town thanks to a 34th-minute strike from Josh Windass.
Wrexham and Chelsea last met in the FA Cup in 1982, with The Blues emerging victorious after a second replay. The sides have since met twice in pre-season: at Kenan Stadium in 2023 in front of 50,596 supporters, and at Levi’s Stadium, the Super Bowl LX venue, in 2024.
All Fifth Round ties will take place on the weekend of Saturday 7 March, with ticket information for supporters to be released in the coming weeks.”
