Soccer Aid 2026 live
- England take on World XI for Soccer Aid 2026 at the London Stadium | live on ITV 1
- England XI: Joe Hart; Owen Cooper, Angry Ginge, Joleon Lescott, Sam Thompson; Jack Wilshire, Tom Grennan; Damson Idris, Wayne Rooney, Toni Duggan, Wayne Rooney
- World XI: Edwin van der Sar; Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Jen Beattie, Richard Gaad, Jordi Alba; Nemanja Matic, Dermot Kennedy, Michael Essien; Behzinga, Dimitar Berbatov, Nabhaan Rizwan
- 31' GOAL! F1 actor Damson Idris scores opening goal with clever finish with outside of foot [ENG 1-0 WXI]
- 14' NO PENALTY! Adolescence star Owen Cooper escapes conceding a penalty after a challenge on Berbatov
HALF TIME! England 1-0 World XI
19:31 , Jamie Braidwood
The celebrity goalkeepers will be on in the second half, including former England rugby star Joe Marler.
HALF TIME! England 1-0 World XI
19:18 , Jamie Braidwood
A couple of late chances for England as Rooney shoots straight at Van der Sar and Damson Idris looks to find Jermaine Defoe but overhits his cross. That’s half-time and England lead thanks to a goal from Damson Idris!
England 1-0 World XI
19:15 , Jamie Braidwood
43 mins: A very strange moment as Tom Grennan looks to find GK Barry with a pass. But the I’m a Celebrity star was facing the wrong way, gesturing to the crowd, so the ball dribbled out of play.
England 1-0 World XI
19:10 , Jamie Braidwood
40 mins: What a save from the 55-year-old Edwin van der Sar to deny Wayne Rooney! Rooney was through on goal and looked to beat Van der Sar with his eyes. But his former Manchester United team-mate got down extremely well and tipped it onto the post.
England 1-0 World XI
19:09 , Jamie Braidwood
38 mins: Great defending from Joleon Lescott at the back post to clear a dangerous cross that was looking for Gladiators star Nitro. From the corner, Dimitar Berbatov tried to flick the ball up and volleyed but saw his shot blocked.
GOAL! England 1-0 World XI
19:03 , Jamie Braidwood
31 mins: We have the opener! F1 actor Damson Idris finds the net with an excellent finish and drops like a fish in celebration. He looks offside, to me, but he flicks the finish with the outside of his boot to beat Edwin van der Sar.
He then went to shush World XI coach Usain Bolt.
England 0-0 World XI
18:58 , Jamie Braidwood
28 mins: A typically stylish attempt at the volley from Dimitar Berbatov from the edge of the box. He can’t keep it down and it zips over the bar.
England 0-0 World XI
18:55 , Jamie Braidwood
25 mins: Time and space for Wayne Rooney in the box! He goes for the chip, but doesn’t quite pull it off - it drifts harmlessly wide.
England 0-0 World XI
18:51 , Jamie Braidwood
21 mins: Ouch! Nabhaan Rizwan attempts an overhead kick at the back post but Angry Ginge is brave to put his head in there and clear, and gets caught by a high boot in the chest.
Night Manager star Tom Hiddleston is on for England, replacing Sam Thompson.
England 0-0 World XI
18:49 , Jamie Braidwood
18 mins: England are very open at the back. Behzinga is the latest attacker to get through on goal but he shoots straight at Joe Hart.
England 0-0 World XI
18:45 , Jamie Braidwood
14 mins: Nemanja Matic plays a clever pass to Dimitar Berbatov. Owen Cooper stops the former Tottenham and Manchester United striker at first, but then lunges in and clearly fouls the attacker in the box. That’s a certain penalty, but the 16-year-old gets away with it! World XI boss Usain Bolt was demanding the penalty.
England 0-0 World XI
18:43 , Jamie Braidwood
13 mins: A cheeky little attempt from former Barcelona and Spain left back Jordi Alba, who had the pace to get through on goal. He cleared Joe Hart’s bar.
England 0-0 World XI
18:42 , Jamie Braidwood
11 mins: Jermaine Defoe, a scorer of five goals in Soccer Aid, blasts over from 30 yards. Nabhaan Rizwan, who has been busy to start this game, makes an inside run and forces another stop from Joe Hart.
At the other end, Defoe sets up Damson Idris but he shoots wide of the near post and covers his face with his shirt. That was a chance, too.
England 0-0 World XI
18:39 , Jamie Braidwood
8 mins: Chance! Oh what a pass from Rooney, with the outside of his foot through to former Lionesses Toni Duggan. She can’t find Jermaine Defoe in the middle. He was waiting for the tap-in.
World XI break at the other end and suddenly Nabhaan Rizwan is through on goal. Joe Hart has to make a stop to palm the ball over the bar. This is a good spell from the visitors, and Angry Ginge has to head behind for a corner.
England 0-0 World XI
18:35 , Jamie Braidwood
5 mins: Rooney looks to find the run of Jack Wilshire, but can’t produce the pass. Rooney then barges into former Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien, a former foe from the 2008 Champions League final.
England 0-0 World XI
18:33 , Jamie Braidwood
3 mins: Adolescence actor Owen Cooper, the youngest player to appear at Soccer Aid at the age of 16, is starting at right back and wins his first tackle against Nabhaan Rizwan.
KICK-OFF! England 0-0 World XI
18:30 , Jamie Braidwood
We are underway at the London Stadium. Wayne Rooney looks to pick out actor Damson Idris with an early ball over the top. Edwin van der Sar is quick off his line to collect.
Soccer Aid will be shown on ITV 1
Last year's Soccer Aid: Big Zuu's winner in 5-4 thriller
18:26 , Jamie Braidwood
£4.6m has been raised so far in Soccer Aid for Unicef. You can donate to, here.
Pure joy 🥰 @ItsBigZuu pic.twitter.com/2piXGt4e4h
— Soccer Aid (@socceraid) June 15, 2025
Here we go
18:25 , Jamie Braidwood
Right, kick off is imminent in east London. West Ham fans haven’t necessarily enjoyed their visits this year – this should provide more of a festival feel.
Wayne Rooney leads out the England team. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, the voices of Woody and Buzz Lightyear, bring out the match ball.
“Mr Rooney!” Hanks exclaims. “How are ya, what a pleasure.”
Getting in the spirit
18:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle
There were a few other associated activities this week, including Keir Starmer coming into Soccer Aid camp to show the ex-pros how it is done. A devoted Gunner, of course, could his beloved Arsenal could have done with the Prime Minister in the shootout last night?
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer scores a penalty for Soccer Aid. Soccer Aid is back for its twentieth anniversary with England battling the World XI in the name of charity with funds raised for Unicef. pic.twitter.com/3HU5psrDwl
— The Independent (@Independent) May 29, 2026
Last year's Soccer Aid: Carlos Tevez takes the mick
18:14 , Jamie Braidwood
Can we recreate the magic of Carlos Tevez taking last year’s Soccer Aid a bit too seriously and scoring four goals for World XI while being booed by Old Trafford?
Class is permanent. 🇦🇷
— Soccer Aid (@socceraid) June 15, 2025
Watch Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2025 live on @ITV, @ITVX and @WeAreSTV 📺 pic.twitter.com/gAoOBNW6AP
I’ve seen what aid can do. The world is making a grave mistake with cuts – and children are paying the price
18:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Kick off isn’t too far away now in east London. Remember that this is all for a charity doing hugely important work around the world, as Tom Hiddleston explains:
Tom Hiddleston: Children are paying the grave price of aid cuts around the world
World XI line-up
18:06 , Jamie Braidwood
Jordi Alba at left back is class. Dimitar Berbatov’s velvet touch leads the line and midfield generals Michael Essien and Nemanja Matic are joined by singer Dermot Kennedy.
World XI: Edwin van der Sar; Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Jen Beattie, Richard Gaad, Jordi Alba; Nemanja Matic, Dermot Kennedy, Michael Essien; Behzinga, Dimitar Berbatov, Nabhaan Rizwan
🤩 Berbatov up front
— Soccer Aid (@socceraid) May 31, 2026
🔥 Behzinga on the wing
😮💨 Just look at that defence
Your World XI starting line up 🌎@Primark @EASPORTSFC @adidasUK @CheryAutoCo @currys pic.twitter.com/ODZ7klQoX7
20 years of Soccer Aid
18:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It was a multi-day affair two decades ago when Soccer Aid launched, with practice matches and everything during a week-long programme of activities culminating in a 2-1 home win. Diego Maradona scored for the Rest of the World, arguably his most famous goal against England. Arguably.
England's line-up: Wayne Rooney leads the hosts
17:58 , Jamie Braidwood
Wayne Rooney to pull the strings at 10? Damson Idris is quick, apparently, so can he use his pace on the wing? Angry Ginge and Joleon Lescott is a tough centre-back partnership, while Owen Cooper starts at right-back.
England XI: Joe Hart; Owen Cooper, Angry Ginge, Joleon Lescott, Sam Thompson; Jack Wilshire, Tom Grennan; Damson Idris, Wayne Rooney, Toni Duggan, Wayne Rooney
🫡 Owen Cooper starts
— Soccer Aid (@socceraid) May 31, 2026
🧱 Angry Ginge in defence
🔥 Damson-Rooney-Duggan
Your England lineup 🏴@Primark @EASPORTSFC @adidasUK @CheryAutoCo @currys pic.twitter.com/0Y3WYDDzZR
Olly Murs in tears after completing gruelling Soccer Aid challenge to raise huge six-figure sum for charity
17:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Olly Murs is an England stalwart in this game, a talented footballer in his youth before the X Factor provided a route to singing stardom. Not content with just jogging around the pitch like the rest of them, he took on a physical challenge this week to bolster the charity coffers even more.
Olly Murs in tears after completing gruelling Soccer Aid challenge
Owen Cooper says Soccer Aid is ‘the highlight of it all’ despite BAFTA and Emmy success
17:43 , Jamie Braidwood
World XI managers
17:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It’s a two-pronged approach for the “visitors” to the London Stadium – both Clarence Seedorf and Usain Bolt are past scorers in this fixture. Heritage.
Usain Bolt (World XI)
Clarence Seedorf (World XI)
Managing England...
17:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It’s a managerial trio for England today in what looks like a chummy crew. Perhaps one for the FA to try after this summer’s shock group-stage exit.
Robbie Williams (England)
Harry Redknapp (England)
David Seaman (England)
World XI team news
17:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Also in action this evening are the World XI, several of which would also have been eligible for England. Fifa really need to clear up these qualification criteria.
World XI squad
Jordi Alba – Former Barcelona and Spain player
Leonardo Bonucci – Former Juventus and Italy player
Lukas Podolski – Former Arsenal and Germany player
Michael Essien – Former Chelsea and Ghana player
Dimitar Berbatov – Former Manchester United and Bulgarian player
Nemanja Matic – Former Manchester United and Serbia player
Ali Krieger – Two-time World Cup winner with United States’ Women
Behzinga – YouTuber and member of the Sidemen
Dermot Kennedy – Singer
Edwin van der Sar – Former Manchester United and Netherlands player
Maisie Adam – Comedian
Jen Beattie – Former Arsenal and Scotland player
Nicky Byrne – Singer (Westlife)
Nitro – Former Team GB sprinter and Gladiators star
Chris O’Dowd – Actor and comedian
Simon Neil – Singer (Biffy Clyro)
Richard Gadd – Actor and comedian
Nikolaj Coster Waldau – Actor
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – Former Commonwealth athlete and Gladiators star
Molly McCann – Former UFC fighter
TBJZL – YouTuber and member of the Sidemen.
Frankie Dettori – Former champion horse racing jockey
Who is playing in Soccer Aid? The England squad
17:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It’s another merry band of footballers and celebrities representing England this year, all in the name of a good cause:
Wayne Rooney – Former Manchester United and England player
Jermain Defoe – Former Tottenham and England player
Jill Scott – Former Manchester City and England player
Jack Wilshere – Former Arsenal and England player
Shaun Wright-Phillips – Former Manchester City and England player
Tom Hiddleston – Actor
Paddy McGuinness – Comedian and presenter
Owen Cooper – Actor
Danny Dyer – Actor and TV personality
Damson Idris – Actor
Theo Walcott – Former Arsenal and England player
Angry Ginge – YouTuber
Chloe Burrows – Former Love Island star and radio host
Jack Whitehall – Comedian
Jordan North – Radio presenter and podcaster
Sam Thompson – Reality TV star and podcaster
Olly Murs – Singer
Steph Houghton – Former Manchester City, Arsenal and England player
Toni Duggan – Former Manchester City and England player
Joe Marler – Former England rugby player
Joe Hart – Former Manchester City and England goalkeeper
GK Barry – Influencer and podcaster
Alex Brooker – Comedian
20 years of Soccer Aid
17:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Yes, it’s the 20th anniversary of the launch of this fixture, still popular among celebrities and (seemingly) fans. About £121m has been raised for Unicef over the years – some effort.
Soccer Aid LIVE
11:27 , Michael Jones
A fixture in the footballing and charitable calendars, Soccer Aid returns with another band of celebrities ready to take to the London Stadium in the name of raising money and not embarrasing themselves in a sporting sense. 20 years on from the first edition, England face a World XI (sort of) from 6.30pm BST.
