Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
Mark Wyatt

Who is playing for England and the World XI at Soccer Aid 2022? Confirmed team news

Soccer Aid is back for another year as the world of football and celebrity come together in aid of charity UNICEF.

This year’s match takes place at the London Stadium, home of West Ham United, and will see the England and World XI FC teams battle it out once again where the competition will be fiercer than ever before. That’s because both teams are now level in the overall winner’s tables, meaning tonight’s victors will pull ahead as outright leaders.

England are being managed by Harry Redknapp, David Seaman, and Emma Hayes while Line of Duty star Vicky McClure will also act as a coach. Former One Direction singer Liam Payne will make his debut and will act as captain of the England team. The World XI team will be managed by Arsene Wenger and Robbie Keane meanwhile, with Usain Bolt making his return as captain.

READ MORE: What time does Soccer Aid 2022 kick-off and where is it being played?

England team news

England start with a familiar face in goal as David James returns between the sticks for the third year running. A back four consisting of Gary Neville at right-back, Jamie Carragher and Mark Wright at centre-back and Sir Mo Farah at left-back will then play ahead of him in the defence.

In midfield, captain Liam Payne starts on the left with England legend Fara Williams and recently-retired West Ham United captain Mark Noble playing in the middle of the park together. Musician Tom Grennan starts at right midfield while Teddy Sheringham and comedian and presenter Alex Brooker lead the line.

Actor David Harewood is on the bench as a substitute goalkeeper for the second half along with social media star Chunkz, rapper Aitch, comedian and presenter Russell Howard and actor Damian Lewis. There are also ex-pros Joe Cole, Stewart Downing, Anita Asante and Eni Aluko to feature off the bench.

England XI: James, Neville, Carragher, Wright, Farah, Payne, Williams, Noble, Grennan, Sheringham, Brooker.

World XI team news

Chelsea legend Petr Cech starts for the World XI in goal behind a menacing back line featuring Brazilian icons Cafu and Roberto Carlos at right and left-back plus former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra and comedian Mo Gilligan at centre-back.

Social media personality Noah Beck then joins Line of Duty star Martin Compston and actor Mark Strong in a midfield three, with United States legend Heather O'Reilly and Olympic icon Usain Bolt playing either side of Andriy Shevchenko to complete a terrifying strikeforce.

British strongman Tom Stoltman is ready on the bench as substitute keeper, with social media star and former Love Island winner Kem Cetinay, comedian Lee Mack, television personality and entrepreneur Steven Bartlett, singer Chelcee Grimes and comedian Munya Chawawa also on the sidelines. Robbie Keane, Carli Lloyd and Dimitar Berbatov can all be called on from the bench too.

World XI: Cech, Cafu, Evra, Gilligan, Carlos, Beck, Compston, Strong, O’Reilly, Shevchenko, Bolt.

You can donate to this year's Soccer Aid for UNICEF by clicking here.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.