Wrexham owners link up with A-list actress for new soccer project

When Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought Wrexham AFC in 2020, expectations were high among the Dragons' fanbase. Five years on, they have more than delivered on that promise.

The publicity and money generated by the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ docuseries has allowed Wrexham to breeze from the fifth division of English soccer to the top of the third. That success has clearly piqued their interest in the game and they are now involved in a new project involving Colombian first division team La Equidad, alongside another well-known Hollywood star.

Former Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria is at the heart of the ownership group, along with McElhenney and Reynolds, MLB pitcher Justin Verlander and NBA All-Star Shawn Marion. Speaking to The Athletic about the purchase, she explained what the investors expect to gain from the deal.

Why has Eva Longoria purchased a Colombian soccer team?

Longoria, McElhelleny, Reynolds and others are part of the Tylis-Porter Group which has purchased La Equidad, along with 50% of Mexican side Club Necaxa and DC Pickleball in Major League Pickleball. In Mexico they have already filmed a series entitled ‘Bienvenido a Necaxa’ for FX and Disney+, following the playbook from the Wrexham project.

The Tylis-Porter Group is thought to have spent around $30 million to take control of La Equidad and they have big plans for the team and its fans. Hollywood’s rich and famous have got a taste for soccer and are leveraging it into new content opportunities.

“I feel like sports is entertainment,” Longoria said, when explaining the goals for the Colombian team. “Storytelling through soccer is so powerful because the stakes are so high.”

“The drama of winning and losing, injuries, firing a coach, bringing in a new player — the excitement is built-in drama. You could never write this. I was like, ‘Wow, this is this is the biggest soap opera I’ve ever seen’ Every player has a story. Every team has a story. Every town has a story.”

Rob McElhenney added: “We can make those connections all across the world; if you are a fan of Wrexham, you should be a fan of Necaxa or La Equidad. We all have the same needs, wants, loves and heartbreak, so let’s link arms and follow each other. If we believe in the story that I just laid out for you, we believe the business can work.”

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