Soccer Aid is an English annual charity event that has raised over £137 million in aid of UNICEF UK, through ticket sales and donations from the public. The televised event is an exhibition-style football match between two teams, England and the Soccer Aid World XI (formerly Rest of the World (ROW) until 2018), composed of celebrities and former professional players representing their countries. It is the only mixed-sex match officially sanctioned by The Football Association.
Event details Soccer Aid was initiated in 2006 by Robbie Williams and Jonathan Wilkes. It initially took place every two years, but since the 2018 edition it is now held annually. The television broadcast is produced by Initial and distributed by Endemol Shine Sport, a Dutch company that distributes Dutch Eredivisie coverage. Television coverage began on ITV on 22 May 2006 in a show presented by Ant & Dec. Dermot O'Leary took over as main presenter in 2010.
The ROW/World XI team narrowly leads the head-to-head, with eight wins to the England team's seven.
On 16 June 2019, the fixture was the first to include female players as part of the squads. On 6 September 2020, the match was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
EditionYearWinnersScoreRunners–upVenueAttendance12006England2–1Rest of the WorldOld Trafford, Manchester71,96022008England (2)4–3Rest of the WorldWembley Stadium, London45,00032010Rest of the World 2–2 (7–6 p)EnglandOld Trafford, Manchester65,49342012England (3)3–1Rest of the World67,34652014Rest of the World (2)4–2England65,57462016England (4)3–2Rest of the World70,00072018England (5)3–3 (4–3 p)World XI71,96582019World XI (3)2–2 (3–1 p)EnglandStamford Bridge, London39,83692020World XI (4)1–1 (4–3 p)EnglandOld Trafford, Manchester0102021World XI (5)3–0EnglandEtihad Stadium, Manchester51,674112022World XI (6)2–2 (4–1 p)EnglandLondon Stadium, London54,410122023World XI (7)4–2EnglandOld Trafford, Manchester74,000132024 England (6)6–3World XIStamford Bridge, London40,000142025World XI (8)5–4EnglandOld Trafford, Manchester74,000152026England (7)3–2World XILondon Stadium, London
Soccer Aid 2006
Soccer Aid 2006 was held between 22–27 May 2006, and broadcast in the UK on ITV.
Event schedule 22 May 2006 – Start of the television coverage, presented by Ant and Dec. Rest of the World defeats England in a penalty shoot-out 23 May 2006 – Practice match: England 1–0 England Legends (Craven Cottage, London) 24 May 2006 – Practice match: Rest of the World 3–7 Scotland Legends (Craven Cottage, London) 25 May 2006 – Rest of the World defeats England in a Football Quiz 26 May 2006 – Coaches name starting line-ups for the match 27 May 2006 – Soccer Aid Match: England 2–1 Rest of the World (Old Trafford, Manchester), attendance 71,960 The practice matches were played over 60 minutes, with the Soccer Aid match played over 90 minutes.
The competition was organised on behalf of UNICEF UK with profits from the matches, along with donations and sponsorship, donated to UNICEF programs in Africa, Asia and the Americas.
England beat the Rest of the World 2–1. Goals from Les Ferdinand and Jonathan Wilkes put England into a two-goal lead but a handball inside the area from David Gray resulted in a penalty, converted by Diego Maradona. Wilkes won the Man of the Match award.
England squad The England squad was managed by former England national football team manager Terry Venables, assisted by David Geddis and Ted Buxton. The original squad comprised 16 players, with Bryan Robson added later. A handful of the players, notably Angus Deayton, had previous celebrity international experience from the previous month's England v Germany: The Legends match in Reading, which Germany won 4–2. The England squad went into the match with no major injury worries. Their victory over a squad of ex-England internationals from the 1960s to 1990s on Tuesday morning was tempered with defeats to the Rest of the World in a penalty shootout and football quiz.
Celebrities Robbie Williams (captain) David Gray Jamie Theakston Bradley Walsh Jonathan Wilkes Ben Shephard Ronnie O'Sullivan Damian Lewis Angus Deayton Dean Lennox Kelly
Legends David Seaman Tony Adams Paul Gascoigne Jamie Redknapp Les Ferdinand John Barnes Bryan Robson Graeme Le Saux
Coaching Staff Manager: Terry Venables Assistant manager: David Geddis Coach: Ted Buxton
Rest of the World squad The Rest of the World squad was managed by Ruud Gullit, with Gus Poyet as his assistant. Captain Gordon Ramsay injured his leg in the early training sessions and was considered doubtful for the match. The original squad of 16 players, which later saw 2 changes, was supplemented by the addition of Diego Maradona during the build-up to the competition. Lothar Matthäus had appeared in the England v Germany: The Legends match the previous month.
The Rest of the World squad was wracked by injuries and withdrawals, and suffered from a lack of players. Desailly, Matthäus, Schmeichel and Ginola all arrived with only 2 or 3 days to spare before the match; Ginola arrived during half time of their warm-up defeat to the Scotland Legends on Wednesday afternoon, and Diego Maradona only joined the squad on the day before the match.
Also, Craig Doyle and Brian McFadden went into the match carrying knocks, which led to management members Ruud Gullit and Gus Poyet coming on as substitutes on Wednesday and in the match itself.
Celebrities Gordon Ramsay (captain) David Campese Patrick Kielty Eddie Irvine (withdrew and was replaced by Gareth Thomas) Gareth Thomas (replacement for Eddie Irvine) Ben Johnson Sergei Fedorov Brian McFadden Alastair Campbell Craig Doyle Alessandro Nivola Michael Greco
Legends Gianfranco Zola Marcel Desailly David Ginola Dunga Lothar Matthäus Peter Schmeichel Diego Maradona
Coaching Staff Player/Manager: Ruud Gullit Player/Assistant Manager: Gus Poyet
Other notable participants The match was refereed by Pierluigi Collina, the Italian referee considered by many fans as the best referee of all time.
The match
GK David Seaman David Gray Tony Adams Ben Shephard Robbie Williams (c) Damian Lewis Paul Gascoigne Jonathan Wilkes Bradley Walsh Les Ferdinand Dean Lennox Kelly Substitutes:GK Jamie Theakston John Barnes Graeme Le Saux Jamie Redknapp Angus Deayton Bryan Robson Manager:Terry Venables GK Peter Schmeichel Craig Doyle Marcel Desailly Lothar Matthäus Michael Greco Brian McFadden Alastair Campbell Alessandro Nivola Sergei Fedorov Gordon Ramsay Diego MaradonaSubstitutes:GK Patrick Kielty Ben Johnson Dunga Gareth Thomas David Ginola Ruud Gullit Gianfranco Zola Gus Poyet Manager:Ruud Gullit
Soccer Aid 2008
Soccer Aid 2008 was played on 7 September 2008. It was broadcast in the United Kingdom on ITV and presented by Ant & Dec. Before kick-off Jonathan Ansell sang the footballing anthem "Nessun Dorma", whilst the players were introduced to Sir Geoff Hurst.
The referee at the start of the match was Pierluigi Collina, who also refereed the previous match in 2006 and is regarded as the best referee of all time. However, after Collina was injured in the first half he was replaced by Scottish referee Hugh Dallas. The process of two professional referees overseeing one half of the match each has since been maintained in subsequent series.
England squad The England squad was coached by Harry Redknapp, with Bryan Robson as his assistant manager.
Celebrities Ben Shephard Jamie Theakston Kyran Bracken Jonathan Wilkes Gareth Gates Tom Felton Danny Jones Craig David Chris Fountain Angus Deayton Hugo Speer
Legends Alan Shearer Jamie Redknapp Teddy Sheringham David Seaman Graeme Le Saux Des Walker
Rest of the World squad The Rest of the World squad was coached by Kenny Dalglish, with Ian Rush as player-assistant manager.
Celebrities Gordon Ramsay Brian Lara Nicky Byrne Kenny Logan Patrick Kielty Alastair Campbell Gethin Jones Rodrigo Santoro Santiago Cabrera Gilles Marini Brian McFadden Jesse Metcalfe (withdrawn) Legends Franco Baresi Jaap Stam Paolo Di Canio Romário Luís Figo Cláudio Taffarel (replacement for Peter Schmeichel) Ian Rush Peter Schmeichel (withdrew and was replaced by Cláudio Taffarel)
The match
GK David Seaman DF Angus Deayton DF Des Walker DF Ben ShephardDF Chris Fountain MF Danny JonesMF Jonathan Wilkes (c)MF Jamie RedknappMF Craig David FW Alan ShearerFW Teddy SheringhamSubstitutes:GK Jamie Theakston DF Graeme Le Saux Kyran Bracken Gareth Gates Hugo Speer Tom Felton Manager:Harry Redknapp GK Cláudio Taffarel DF Gethin JonesDF Jaap Stam (c)DF Gordon Ramsay DF Santiago CabreraMF Paolo Di CanioMF Luís Figo MF Kenny Logan MF Nicky ByrneFW Gilles Marini FW Romário Substitutes:GK Patrick Kielty Brian Lara Franco Baresi Bryan McFadden Rodrigo Santoro Ian Rush Alastair Campbell Manager:Kenny Dalglish
Soccer Aid 2010
Soccer Aid 2010 was played on 6 June 2010. It was broadcast in the United Kingdom on ITV and presented by Dermot O'Leary.
England squad Celebrities Robbie Williams (captain) Paddy McGuinness Bradley Walsh Jamie Theakston Ricky Hatton Damian Lewis Olly Murs Jonathan Wilkes Dominic Cooper Ralf Little Rupert Penry-Jones (injured) Danny Cipriani (injured) Ben Shephard
Legends David Seaman Alan Shearer Teddy Sheringham Jamie Redknapp Martin Keown Nicky Butt Manager: Harry Redknapp Assistant manager: James Corden Coach: Bryan Robson
Rest of the World squad Celebrities Michael Sheen (captain) James Kyson Gordon Ramsay Brian Lara Patrick Kielty Shane Filan Nicky Byrne Mike Myers Joe Calzaghe Gethin Jones Woody Harrelson Ronan Keating (withdrawn) Simon Baker
Legends Jens Lehmann Henrik Larsson Zinedine Zidane Ryan Giggs Luís Figo Sami Hyypiä (replacement for Paolo Maldini) Paolo Maldini (withdrew and was replaced by Sami Hyypiä) Manager: Kenny Dalglish Coaches: Ian Rush and Eric Harrison
The match
GK 1 David Seaman RB 2 Ben Shephard CB 5 Martin Keown CB 4 Jonathan WilkesLB 3 Robbie Williams (c) RM 11Olly Murs CM 6 Jamie RedknappCM 8 Damian Lewis LM 14Ralf LittleCF 9 Alan ShearerCF 10Teddy SheringhamSubstitutes:GK 13Jamie Theakston DF 12Patrick McGuinness MF 7 Nicky Butt MF 16Dominic Cooper FW 17Ricky Hatton FW 50Bradley Walsh Manager:Harry Redknapp GK 1 Jens Lehmann RB 2 Gethin JonesCB 9 Henrik LarssonCB 4 Sami HyypiäLB 3 Gordon Ramsay RM 16Nicky Byrne CM 10Michael Sheen (c) CM 11Ryan Giggs LM 6 Joe Calzaghe SS 5 Zinedine ZidaneCF 8 Mike Myers Substitutes:GK 20Patrick Kielty DF 17Brian Lara DF 18Woody Harrelson MF 7 Luís Figo MF 12Shane Filan MF 14Simon Baker MF 15James Kyson Manager:Kenny Dalglish
Soccer Aid 2012
Soccer Aid 2012 was played on 27 May 2012, as something of a precursor to UEFA Euro 2012 and the 2012 Summer Olympics. It was broadcast in the United Kingdom on ITV and presented by Dermot O'Leary. Cat Deeley presented the backstage build up show before the main event.
England squad Celebrities Robbie Williams Paddy McGuinness Marvin Humes Jamie Theakston Aston Merrygold John Bishop Olly Murs Jonathan Wilkes (Captain) Jason Isaacs Mark Owen
Legends David Seaman Des Walker Teddy Sheringham Kevin Phillips* Martin Keown Graeme Le Saux
Coaching Staff Manager: Sam Allardyce Assistant manager: Peter Reid Coach: Bradley Walsh
Rest of the World squad Celebrities Michael Sheen (captain) Will Ferrell Gordon Ramsay Gerard Butler Patrick Kielty James McAvoy Serge Pizzorno Mike Myers Joe Calzaghe Edward Norton Woody Harrelson
Legends Edwin van der Sar Jaap Stam Clarence Seedorf Roy Keane Hernán Crespo Freddie Ljungberg Ruud van Nistelrooy (withdrawn) Coaching Staff Manager: Kenny Dalglish Assistant manager: Ian Rush Coach: Eric Harrison
The match