FootyChatter.com

Rob Mc Elhenney (left) and Ryan Reynolds attended Wrexham's first home game of the 2025-26 Championship season against West Bromwich Albion Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney has revealed the "legacy" role of Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mc Elhenney in their 2035 Women's World Cup plan. The United Kingdom is the sole bidder to host an expanded 48-team tournament in 2035 - and the FAW has targeted two venues among the 16 stadiums planned. The FAW wants one in the south of the country - probably Cardiff City Stadium rather than Welsh rugby's Principality Stadium home - and one in the north, Wrexham's redeveloped Stok Cae Ras home. Wrexham's Hollywood owners Reynolds and Mc Elhenney are seeking to expand the Red Dragons' stadium, with a proposed 7, 750-seater Kop stand taking capacity to about 18, 000. The pair - who were at the Stok Cae Ras on Saturday to watch newly promoted Wrexham play their first home game in the Championship - said in May 2024 that development on all four sides of the ground could lead to "between 45, 000 and 55, 000 people in there". "The Kop development is a significant first step and the vision for the stadium is incredible, " Mooney told the PA news agency. "What Ryan and Rob are doing is amazing. They are looking to invest in the stadium and build up the Cae Ras, which is the oldest international ground in the world, and there is a potential north star for them. "The city and the club have a chance to bring a World Cup to north Wales. What a story that would be. What a legacy for Ryan and Rob to leave Wrexham. " Reynolds and Mc Elhenney 'don't make football decisions' Wrexham AFC West Brom beat Wrexham to maintain winning start The FAW and Wrexham held talks over the Women's World Cup last week and Wales will host the 2026 European Under-19 Championship next summer. All games will be played in the north at Bangor, Colwyn Bay, Deeside, Denbigh, Deeside and Wrexham, with the Stok Cae Ras hosting the final. "It's our 150th anniversary next year, we were founded in Wrexham, and the story is very powerful for us, " added Mooney, who said the FAW will launch a 10-year strategy for Welsh football in 2026. "The impact of Ryan and Rob has been manna from heaven for us, the timing of it. "We've been very fortunate over the last few years to get to a men's World Cup, first women's Euros, and have our young teams starting to qualify for major championships. " "That has coincided with Ryan and Rob coming in. " Under Reynolds and Mc Elhenney Wrexham have risen from the National League to the Championship with three successive promotions, and manager Phil Parkinson has been able to spend about £20m on player recruitment this summer, including Wales internationals Nathan Broadhead, Kieffer Moore and Danny Ward. "Wrexham has already started collecting a lot of our national team players, and will produce lots of players for us in the future with their investment in youth development and academy, " noted Mooney. "There is a symbiotic relationship there where we can create a lot of value for each other. "People all over the world are talking about Wrexham and that inspires partners like Fifa, commercial bodies and governments to get involved. " The UK's formal bid for the 2035 Women's World Cup will be submitted in November and likely to be approved by Fifa next year, with all four home nations automatically qualifying for the tournament. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Counter-attack Liverpool - what we learned from Premier League weekend Spurs captain Romero signs new four-year contract Isak not expected to attend PFA awards gala Why are so many people taking ketamine? Why was this French film so controversial? Military drama starring Lacey Turner and Michelle Keegan A battle between two activists and a fast food giant The rule that disallowed Eze's free-kick - analysis. Video The rule that disallowed Eze's free-kick - analysis Perseverance through resistance - the history of the Women's Rugby World Cup Arsenal profit from Bayindir error to beat Man Utd. Video Arsenal profit from Bayindir error to beat Man Utd 'Back with a bang! ' - Hodgkinson wins 800m in world lead time. Video'Back with a bang! ' - Hodgkinson wins 800m in world lead time 'People think I'm uneducated' - getting to know Wayne Rooney Red Roses partner with Barbie before World Cup Watch: Mic'd up Livingstone captains team in real time. Video Watch: Mic'd up Livingstone captains team in real time 'He has made young players dream' - the making of Liverpool icon Salah Lewandowski, Man Utd and the transfer that got away. Video Lewandowski, Man Utd and the transfer that got away When England won by two runs - the greatest ever Test match? Video When England won by two runs - the greatest ever Test match? Becky Zerlentes - the first female boxer to die in fight in US Hansie Cronje, match-fixing and plane crash that left a complex legacy Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.