The world’s biggest celebrity football match returns this weekend with a whole host of famous faces taking part. Soccer Aid will see the likes of Liam Payne, Usain Bolt, Tom Grennan and Martin Compston take to the pitch to battle it out in the annual competition.
The match between England and the Soccer Aid World XI will feature debuts from players Alex Brooker and Lucien Laviscount. Celebs returning to the pitch this year include Mo Gilligan, Harry Redknapp, Gary Neville, Fara Williams and Chunkz.
There are other famous faces to look for off the pitch as well. In the dugout, Harry Redknapp and Vicky McClure will join forces to manage the England team, while the World XI FC team will be managed by Arsène Wenger, Robbie Keane and Idris Elba.
READ MORE:
In case you're wondering who will be doing the match commentary and who will be this year's referee, we have some answers. Commentary will be provided by Sam Matterface and Iain Stirling.
Matterface is an English sports broadcaster who you may be used to hearing on TalkSPORT and ITV Sport, after he replaced Clive Tyldesley. Matterface also does the commentary for Dancing on Ice.
Stirling is best known as the voice of ITV's Love Island. The comedian is married to model and presenter Laura Whitmore, who has appeared alongside her husband on Celebrity Gogglebox.
Every football match needs a referee and this year the service will be provided by Mark Clattenburg, who has so far refereed six Soccer Aid matches since 2012. In fact, he loves the events so much that he has a Soccer Aid tattoo on his left arm.
Meanwhile, presenting the night of entertainment on ITV will be Dermot O’Leary, who will be joined by Maya Jama providing her thoughts as a pundit. Meanwhile, Alex Scott will be the Soccer Aid 2022 pitch-side reporter.
Former Arsenal and England defender Scott is the host of the BBC’s Football Focus, after she replaced Dan Walker to become the first female presenter of the Saturday lunchtime programme. The pro made 140 appearances for the England national team during her playing career and represented Team GB at the London Olympics in 2012.
Former X Factor host O'Leary presents the Friday edition of This Morning on ITV alongside Alison Hammond and has his own regular show on BBC Radio 2. The presenter is a UK ambassador for UNICEF and the regular host of Soccer Aid. Jama has presented a number of TV shows including BBC One's Peter Crouch: Save Our Summer, alongside Peter Crouch and Alex Horne.
The match will take place at the London Stadium at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford on June 12. During half-time Soccer Aid co-creator Robbie Williams, 48, will perform his 1997 hit ballad Angels.
The charity match raises money for Unicef, which helps to support the organisation's vital work protecting children in the UK and globally. Since its creation in 2006, Soccer Aid has raised more than £60 million.
READ NEXT:
