Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are name-dropped in Ted Lasso season 2 as Wrexham AFC's owners, but is this football club real? Apple TV+'s hit soccer comedy starring Jason Sudeikis constantly straddles the line between referencing real-life and creating its own fictional version of the world. While the show's main team AFC Richmond is an original creation for the series, Ted Lasso does have connections to the real world of soccer with the Premier League and Manchester City among the actual pillars of international football confirmed to exist.
This balance of non-fiction and fiction has been ever-present in Ted Lasso season 2. The Dubai Air controversy in episode 3 is another example of a fake company or establishment existing in the show. Now, Ted Lasso season 2, episode 5 may have once again caused some possible confusion for viewers: The episode includes Higgins mentioning that he received an email from Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in regards to a football club called Wrexham AFC. Ted Lasso has name-dropped plenty of actors during its two-season run, but is Reynolds and McElhenney's Wrexham AFC even real?
Wrexham AFC is a real football club that currently is in the fifth tier of the English football league system. The Welsh football team was founded in 1864 and has been promoted and relegated many times over the last 150 years. It has only been since late 2020, though, that Reynolds and McElhenney became the official owners of Wrexham AFC. They became controlling owners in the football club through RR McReynolds Company LLC. Since Ted Lasso didn't start filming until early 2021, the show moved quickly to include this reference to Reynolds and McElhenney's Wrexham AFC.
Ted Lasso's mention of Reynolds and McElhenney's involvement in Wrexham AFC is certainly a fun reference for viewers. It also holds a special connection for Apple TV+ too. McElhenney might be best known for his role in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but he also created Mythic Quest for the streaming service. The show's first two seasons were incredibly well-received, so highlighting him, even in this fashion, could bring more exposure to the show. Reynolds is also starring in the upcoming Apple TV+ original movie Spirited. Reynolds and McElhenney already responded in a funny fashion to the shout-out, with them issuing a cease and desist letter to Ted Lasso.
The biggest question that Ted Lasso's reference to Reynolds, McElhenney, and Wrexham AFC raises is whether or not the two actors could appear as themselves at some point. A cameo in season 2 is unlikely, but Ted Lasso's rising popularity could bring either or both of them to the show for a quick guest star appearance in season 3. Seeing how Ted Lasso would react to meeting the two celebrities is reason enough why this crossover should happen. How it could happen for the story might be a bit more difficult to explain, but hopefully, Ted Lasso can find a way to get Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney to appear.