The 2024 edition of the Soccer Aid for UNICEF will be taking over Stamford Bridge this weekend as the UK's biggest football charity match is ready to undergo its 13th clash between England and the Rest of the World.
This year will see the England XI try to snap the five-game winning streak of the World XI with stars including Sir Mo Farah, cricketer Stuart Broad, podcast host and entrepreneur Steven Bartlett, actor Danny Dyer, former England field hockey star Sam Quek and musician Tom Grennan with Frank Lampard and Harry Redknapp set to manage the Three Lions from the touchline alongside David Seaman, Vicky McClure and Robbie Williams.
Former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino will be making a swift return to Stamford Bridge, just two weeks after he walked away from his role at the Blues, to take on England for his second consecutive year as the World XI manager. Alongside Jesus Perez and Robbie Keane, he'll overlook a squad that includes captain Usain Bolt, radio host Roman Kemp, comedian Lee Mack, boxer Tommy Fury and Chelsea icons Petr Cech and Eden Hazard.
But as kick-off draws ever closer, many still aren't aware of just what their donations go towards with the exhibition match being such a global presence every year. So here's all you need to know about the charity event's history...
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Who founded Soccer Aid?
Soccer Aid was originally founded by musician Robbie Williams and television presenter Jonathan Wilkes in 2006, with the inaugural edition organised on behalf of UNICEF UK with profits from the matches, along with donations and sponsorship, being donated to UNICEF programs in Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Since then, they've played 12 matches with the Rest of the World (now World XI) team winning seven to the England XI's five - with five of those games coming down to a penalty shootout. The editions have raised a total in excess of £90 million in the past, and could break the £100m barrier this weekend.
Where does the donated money go?
The money raised by Soccer Aid goes to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), a global children's charity which provides humanitarian and developmental aid to children across the world.
Over the past 77 years since its founding, UNICEF has helped transform the lives of millions of children and families worldwide, providing emergency relief in response to both man-made and natural disasters, providing immunizations and disease prevention, administering treatment for children and mothers with HIV, enhancing childhood and maternal nutrition, improving sanitation and promoting education.
Via the Soccer Aid website, they highlight their goals, saying: "Children need to be healthy, safe, and nourished so they can play, learn, and get the best start in life. It’s a right, not a luxury. But for millions of children around the world, conflicts, disasters destroy their safe spaces to play: their playgrounds, homes, and schools. Hunger and disease threaten their futures, leaving them unable to grow up healthy and strong.
"The money raised from this year’s game could help children to get the best start in life. Through Soccer Aid for UNICEF you are supporting UNICEF’s vital work with families, communities and trusted organisations to create and protect safe spaces for children to play. UNICEF works to protect children from disease and malnutrition and respond in times of crisis, protecting their mental health and getting children back to learning when schools are destroyed. We also help provide vaccines to prevent common childhood diseases such as measles, so that children around the world can grow up happy, healthy, and able to play."
This year the Children's Investment Fund Foundation will double every donation made to Soccer Aid for UNICEF, up to £4 million. The money raised will help children get the nutrition they need to grow up healthy, strong and able to play. If you'd like to donate to this year's Soccer Aid event, you can do so via their website with just £60 being able to help vaccinate over 350 children against deadly and devastating diseases, with life-long protection.
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