Wrexham's Blueprint for a Meteoric Rise to Premier League Glory
Wrexham have developed an appetite for the spotlight and their celebrity-backed dream of reaching the Premier League elite is now within reach.
The club's monetary dominance, courtesy of star-studded backing from Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, has certainly provided them with a significant edge over competitors during their remarkable ascent from National League to the second-tier EFL Championship, though this shouldn't diminish what the storied Welsh outfit has accomplished in such a brief timeframe.
Financial resources certainly assist, naturally, but numerous examples demonstrate that wealth alone doesn't ensure triumph.
Their run of successive promotions was anticipated to halt in the EFL Championship, with numerous betting companies predicting a middle-of-the-table campaign before the season began. Those adopting a more skeptical perspective on Wrexham's "storybook" journey relished their sluggish beginning to 2025–26, as a 1–0 loss at Stoke City positioned them 18th by mid-October, yet the Dragons surged back impressively toward year's end.
Currently, they appear solidly positioned for playoff contention and promotion possibilities. Surely they couldn't manage it, could they?
How Wrexham Can Get Promoted to the Premier League
How Wrexham Can Get Promoted to the Premier League
Following the conclusion of the 2024–25 campaign, the two clubs accumulating the highest point totals in the Championship receive automatic advancement to the Premier League. In recent seasons, the top two Championship sides have typically amassed between 90 and 100 points.
Should the Red Dragons place beyond the leading pair, they must participate in playoff competition to secure Premier League status. Only clubs finishing third through sixth in the final standings earn playoff qualification. Previously, 68 points proved sufficient for top-six inclusion, though typically 70 to 75 points are necessary.
EFL Championship Playoffs Format
EFL Championship Playoffs Format
Wrexham have yet to experience EFL playoff competition, having achieved direct promotion to League One and subsequently the Championship. Nevertheless, the Welsh side might encounter postseason action with Premier League qualification hanging in the balance during their inaugural second-tier campaign.
The Championship playoff structure is straightforward, involving the four clubs placing third through sixth inclusively. Third meets sixth while fourth confronts fifth across two matches, with semifinal victors progressing to the final, known as "football's most lucrative match."
The Championship playoff final champion then earns their position in the subsequent season's Premier League.
Can Wrexham Make It to the Premier League?
Can Wrexham Make It to the Premier League?
Four straight league victories during the holiday and New Year stretch strengthened Wrexham's promotion aspirations and there's genuine possibility they could mount a playoff challenge. Direct advancement to the Premier League would seem ambitious, though.
Anything remains achievable, naturally, so Wrexham's faithful can keep envisioning matches against clubs like Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal. To accomplish this goal, they must surpass intense competition from teams including Coventry, Middlesbrough, Ipswich Town, Preston North End, Millwall, Watford, Hull City and Stoke City.