Rob McElhenney hails Sunderland ahead of pre-season friendly on US tour | OneFootball

Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney has paid a warm tribute to Sunderland ahead of their pre-season meeting in the United States later this year, praising the Black Cats and welcoming their return to the Premier League last year. The friendly forms part of Sunderland’s tour ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

The club said in a statement that Sunderland will spend one week in Nashville, finishing with a match against reigning Premier League champions Liverpool at Geodis Park on Saturday 25 July. They will then travel to Harrison, New Jersey, to face Leeds United on Thursday 30 July at the Sports Illustrated Stadium, home of the New York Red Bulls and Gotham FC. Sunderland’s stateside tour will conclude on Sunday 02 August against Wrexham at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania.

McElhenney spoke while on the commentary gantry alongside fellow co-owner Ryan Reynolds during Wrexham’s 2-0 Championship win over fellow Welsh side Swansea City on Friday evening.

He said he had watched Sunderland Til’ I Die and found it a beautiful documentary. He called playing them in Philadelphia an honour, and added that he had rooted for them in the play-offs and was delighted when they went up, saying they deserved it.

At the time of writing, Wrexham could join Sunderland in the Premier League next term. The Championship club, under former Black Cats boss Phil Parkinson, have enjoyed three successive promotions and are sixth, on course for a play-off spot after winning four of their last five league matches.

Source: Sunderland Echo