Wrexham Set Sights on World Cup Stars in Bold Scouting Hunt

Phil Parkinson has confirmed that Wrexham will send scouts to identify potential transfer targets at the 2026 World Cup this summer.

The competition kicked off on Thursday as co-hosts Mexico defeated South Africa 2–0 at the Estadio Azteca, with 48 nations battling across 104 games for football's most coveted trophy.

For the first time in the club's history, the Red Dragons will have two active players participating in the tournament, after Scotland named club captain Dom Hyam in their squad and New Zealand called upon his defensive partner, Liberato Cacace.

Further Wrexham connections could emerge if the club pursues a transfer for a World Cup participant, with the Welsh side scheduled to head to the United States next month for the final three fixtures of their preseason tour.

Sports Illustrated has learned that Parkinson's squad will make wingback reinforcements their top priority this summer. The club is also expected to target a central midfielder, a striker, and a goalkeeper in the transfer window.

Wrexham's World Cup Scouting Mission

Wrexham are looking to bolster their roster after narrowly falling short of a Championship playoff spot last season. The Red Dragons achieved the finest finish in the club's history, placing seventh in England's second division — just two points adrift of Hull City, who ultimately secured promotion to the Premier League.

Despite having strong foundations in place, sources suggest the club anticipates a tougher Championship campaign in the upcoming season. Three recently relegated Premier League clubs are set to benefit from substantial parachute payments, making it increasingly difficult for Wrexham to mount a challenge near the top of the table. Club officials are well aware that shrewd recruitment this summer will be essential if they are to have any realistic hope of earning a fourth promotion in five years.

"There are a few players on our radar who are involved in the World Cup," Parkinson told The Leader. "It's a case of monitoring them while they are over there in the United States.

"We obviously dipped into the foreign market with Libby Cacace last year and, of course, we are always looking at players who we feel can improve what we already have, regardless of the country they play in.

"But it's always about balancing the leagues they have been playing in and the strength of those competitions, then correlating that with the Championship. You never rule anything out."

The Risk of Signing Unproven Championship Talent

Parkinson has generally favored recruiting players with a proven track record at the relevant level and existing familiarity with the domestic game.

Wrexham departed from that approach when they brought in defender Cacace from Serie A outfit Empoli last season. Despite showing promise when called upon, the 25-year-old managed just 13 appearances across all competitions during an injury-hampered year.

Cacace acknowledged that he struggled to handle the "relentless" tempo of Championship football, finding it far more physically taxing than the tactical demands of Italy's top division.

Liberato Cacace 2025–26 Season Stats

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"In terms of the football, it is just relentless here," Cacace told The Unused Subs podcast. "It is almost like a basketball game; it is end-to-end, especially with the position I play. It is a massive demand for me.

"I think that is also a reason why things happened the way they have happened with my season. It's just relentless, high quality. I think that is the biggest difference. Italy is so tactical—it's like a chess game. Here, the pitch is so open, you are running so much at a high speed. It is almost about which team is the fittest and can score."