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Wrexham AFC clawed back from a halftime deficit to equalize against Birmingham City in an EFL Championship match at the Racecourse Ground on August 28, 2026. The fixture, sometimes called the “Hollywood Derby” for reasons that have nothing to do with the quality of football, pitted two celebrity-owned clubs against each other in what has become one of English football’s most unusual rivalries.
Phil Neumann had given Birmingham the lead in the 13th minute, heading home from an Alex Cochrane corner. Wrexham found their answer shortly after the break, leveling the score early in the second half as both teams continued their search for a first league win of the 2026-27 campaign.
A rivalry built in boardrooms, not on the pitch
Wrexham is co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, whose stewardship of the Welsh club became a global sensation through the documentary series “Welcome to Wrexham.” On the other side, Birmingham City counts NFL quarterback Tom Brady among its ownership group.
Wrexham’s recent form included a 1-1 draw against Watford and a loss to Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup. Birmingham, meanwhile, drew 2-2 with Bristol City and suffered a heavy defeat to Brentford in the cup. Neither side had managed to collect three points in the league this season.
Recent history between the two sides
The last meeting between Wrexham and Birmingham ended in a 1-1 draw on October 3, 2025. Before that, Birmingham took all three points with a 2-0 win on April 12, 2026.
Wrexham’s rise from the National League to the Championship under Reynolds and McElhenney has been one of English football’s better stories, a club climbing two divisions in remarkably quick fashion. Birmingham, under Chris Davies’ management and with significant investment backing, has its own ambitions of pushing toward the upper reaches of the table.
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