‘Hollywood Derby’ helps Wrexham and Birmingham tap US boom after World Cup | OneFootball

Wrexham and Birmingham’s celebrity rivalry is primed to ride a post World Cup US boom as the Championship pair chase promotion.

According to NY Times, all five meetings since Tom Brady arrived have been televised internationally. Birmingham won 2-1 at The Racecourse on Friday under Chris Davies and are unbeaten across those games with three wins and two draws.

Fan-data firm CLV Group estimates the US soccer audience has grown from 83 million in 2024 to about 129 million, with only 20 per cent tied to a club. CEO Neil Joyce sees scope for celebrity-owned teams that value fans and prioritize direct revenue from merchandise, digital subscriptions, collaborations and sponsors.

Wrexham landed on the East Coast within days of Spain’s 19 July final in New Jersey, their third US tour in four years, and played Liverpool, Leeds United and Sunderland. Backed by Welcome to Wrexham, they reported 57.7 per cent of £33.35 million revenue from outside the UK and Europe in 2024-25.

Birmingham’s income for the same year was £35.6 million, a League One record without parachute money. The club has leaned into social media around this rivalry, with Brady, Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac keeping the conversation lively.

Joyce says storytelling will be central, pointing to Wrexham’s rise and a new Firefox tie-up in gaming and technology, while Birmingham can harness Brady’s profile, a planned new stadium and the Peaky Blinders link. First-mover advantage helps, he adds, but continuity and narrative will determine engagement.

Source: NY Times

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”