Olympic champions, award-winning actors, top musicians and social media sensations will help Soccer Aid raise millions for charity when they put together two soccer teams for a game at Old Trafford on Sunday.
There are also many former footballers familiar with the homeland of Manchester United: former Three Lions stars Jack Wilshere, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt are among the male outfield players, while Eni Aluko, Karen Carney, Jill Scott and Emma Hayes are legends of English women’s football.
Scott and world 100m record holder Usain Bolt are the team captains, with new Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino leading one of the coaching teams.
What is Soccer Aid about and who will be participating this year? Here are the names to reckon with.
MORE: When will Soccer Aid 2023 take place?
What is Football Aid?
Co-founded in 2006 by pop star and Port Vale fan Robbie Williams, Soccer Aid centers on a football game pitting two well-known teams against each other.
The game is usually played at Manchester United’s home ground, but has also been played at Wembley Stadium, Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge, Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium and West Ham United’s London Stadium.
It was held every two years until 2018, when its continued success made it an annual event, raising even more money for its important cause.
Soccer Aid is carried out for UNICEF, which protects and supports children around the world. According to the organizers, the game has raised more than £75million ($94.3million) for the charity and raised awareness with the help of high-profile names calling on the public to donate.
On the pitch, the rest of the world team has won six times, while the English team has recorded five wins. A number of stars have attended over the years, with Williams starting out as captain of the hosts against rival skipper Gordon Ramsay, the chef known for his hit TV series.
Sir Mo does Sir Mo things ????@statsports || @Mo_Farah pic.twitter.com/2tBBRrT6cy
— Soccer Aid (@socceraid) June 11, 2023
Soccer Aid 2023 England Squad
Scott just helped the Lionesses lift the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 title on home soil before retiring from football last summer. He leads a team consisting of rapper and actor Bugzy Malone, former One Direction singer Liam Payne and a coaching group with Hayes and former Tottenham and West Ham manager Harry Redknapp.
Bugzy Malone – real name Aaron Davies – has said he “will make it” while urging the sold-out crowd to support his team.
“That could be a football game that day,” he added. “But the legacy we are leaving for the world’s children goes much deeper. It’s huge.”
- Jill Scott
- Paddy McGuinness
- Jermain Defoe
- Karen Carney
- Gary Cahill
- Jack Wilshere
- Bugzy Malone
- Tom Grennan
- Sir Mo Farah
- Alex Brooker
- Gary Neville
- Paul Scholes
- chunkz
- Joel Corry
- The Prime Minister
- DavidJames
- Scarlette Douglas
- Nicky Butt
- Liam Payne
- Danny Dyer
- Asa Butterfield
- Tom Hiddleston
MORE: Soccer Aid 2023 live stream, TV details
England’s management and coaches
- Stormzy
- Emma Hayes
- Vicky McClure
- Harry Redknapp
- David Seaman
Soccer Aid 2023 Rest of World Squad
Social media star Noah Beck’s large online following makes the 22-year-old American arguably the most recognizable player among the glittering cast of the Rest of the World squad, but his fans may not be aware of his college football background so conscious in 2019 for the Portland Pilots.
The Mancun native, Tommy Fury is the half-brother of heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury and is used to competing in celebrity-sponsored competitions after beating YouTuber and former pugilist Jake Paul in February in a fight that cost millions around the world pursued .
Former United players Ben Foster, Nani and Patrice Evra are among the former elite footballers in the squad, as are ex-internationals Heather O’Reilly, Kalyn Kyle, Roberto Carlos, Francesco Totti, Gabriel Batistuta and Hernan Crespo. Republic of Ireland’s record goalscorer Robbie Keane is part of Pochettino’s coaching staff.
- Usain Bolt
- Lee Mack
- Steven Bartlett
- Kem Cetinay
- Mo Gilligan
- Maisie Adam
- Tommy Fury
- Heather O’Reilly
- Kalyn Kyle
- Noah Beck
- Ben Foster
- Robert Carlos
- nani
- Francesco Toti
- Gabriel Batistuta
- Leon Edwards
- Sam Claflin
- Herman Crespo
- Patrice Evra
- Niko
Management and trainers in the rest of the world
- Maurice Pochettino
- Robbie Keane
- Martin Compston
- Mel C