Renowned annual charity football match, Soccer Aid, celebrating its twentieth anniversary in 2026, will feature a La Liga legend on Sunday, May 31.
Soccer Aid was founded in 2006 by Robbie Williams and Jonathan Wilkes, taking place every two years until 2018 when it switched to an annual format.
Williams, who described the UNICEF-organised event as “one of the most important things to me”, will manage England’s star-studded line-up for the match and face off against a La Liga legend in the Rest of the World team.
Soccer Aid debutants include La Liga royalty, Champions League winners and Traitors stars
An English side made up of actors, sportspeople, former footballers, comedians, presenters and social media figures will take on a Soccer Aid World XI
Owen Cooper, known for his critically-acclaimed performance in hit Netflix series Adolescence, will join an England line-up featuring Wayne Rooney, Jill Scott, and debuting goalkeeper Joe Marler.
Rooney, who returns to the line-up after his appearance in last year’s Soccer Aid event, said: “Coleen travelled to Poland with UNICEF and saw first-hand how the money raised is supporting children with disabilities who fled the war in Ukraine… please, buy a ticket and support this amazing cause.”
Other celebrity names include Tom Hiddleston, Olly Murs and Paddy McGuinness, the latter set to extend his record as Soccer Aid’s highest-capped player with a tenth appearance in May.
Returning footballers at the event are Leonardo Bonucci, Jermain Defoe, Joe Hart and Edwin Van Der Sar, who will be accompanied by a La Liga legend in his Soccer Aid debut.
Jordi Alba, who ranked 23rd in FourFourTwo's list of the best Barcelona players of all time, is set to make his first ever appearance in the event, joining the World XI line-up managed for the first time by Usain Bolt.
Bolt, an eight-time Olympic gold medalist and six-time Soccer Aid participant, said: “We’re going for gold… I’m thrilled to have footballing legends like Leonardo Bonucci and Jordi Alba [in the line-up].”
Jordi Alba retired with Inter Miami last December, playing his final game in a 3-1 win vs Vancouver Whitecaps.
The twentieth anniversary of Soccer Aid for UNICEF takes place on Sunday 31st May at the London Stadium. Tickets are on sale now at socceraid.org.uk/tickets
