Football Aid 2024 – LIVE!
Big names from the world of football and beyond will take to the Stamford Bridge pitch tonight for Soccer Aid’s latest staging. Children’s charity UNICEF will once again be the beneficiaries, with more than £90 million raised since the competition first took place in 2006.
England’s last win came in 2018, with five straight defeats since then, and it’s Frank Lampard and Harry Redknapp in the dugout in west London trying to end that winless run. Jermain Defoe, Jack Wilshere and Joe Cole are among the former players involved, along with celebrities such as Steven Bartlett, Paddy McGuinness and Eddie Hearn.
Mauricio Pochettino will make a swift return to Stamford Bridge after leaving Chelsea as manager of the World XI side last month. Players such as Eden Hazard and Michael Essien are also back on familiar territory, while Usain Bolt, who opened the score a year ago, is also back in action. Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below, with kick-off at 7.30pm BST!
Football help 2024 latest updates
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Kick-off: 7.30pm BST | Stamford Bridge
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How to watch: ITV
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Team news from England: Wilshere and Cole involved
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World XI team news: Bolt is back
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England with a poor recent record
England is having fun!
18:09 , Matt Verri
The England players are certainly in high spirits heading to Stamford Bridge.
A bit of karaoke on the team bus to West London – we’ll see if they’re celebrating in a few hours.
Tonight is of course about raising money for UNICEF… but it’s been six years since England won!
Hazard: I don’t want to look like Peppa Pig!
6:00 PM , Matt Verri
Eden Hazard has made it clear he doesn’t miss being a professional footballer, but he is excited to put his boots back on. Before retiring, he said it was “time to enjoy life by having a few beers”.
The 33-year-old was often accused of returning to pre-season in poor form during his career and becoming overweight at Real Madrid. But he looks fit again and dazzled at a star-studded charity match in Qatar earlier this year, which also included Didier Drogba, Kaka and Roberto Carlos.
As always, Hazard wants to make sure he is worth the price of admission at Soccer Aid and is determined to give fans the version of himself that dazzled in the Premier League.
“I don’t want to look like Peppa Pig!” he jokes. “I play tennis, padel, run a bit, I play football with my friends and stay active.”
He adds: “It’s just a friendly match, but when you play football you want to win. I saw the team today. It’s quite a good team with some of my former players and good friends, so let’s We have fun, score goals and make the fans happy.”
World XI without Brazilian legend
5:50 PM , Matt Verri
The World XI will be without one of their main stars for Soccer Aid tonight after Roberto Carlos withdrew from the charity match.
The Brazil and Real Madrid icon has been a household name in the game in recent years to raise money for UNICEF, but unfortunately will not feature at Stamford Bridge tonight.
“Unfortunately I will not be able to attend the Soccer Aid for UNICEF match at Stamford Bridge tonight,” he posted on Instagram.
“Good luck to all players – and don’t forget to donate!”
Football help against each other
17:41 , Matt Verri
After winning five of the first seven editions of Soccer Aid, England have now lost in each of the last five years.
In the twelve years that this match has been played, penalties have been called for five times.
England wins: 5
World XI wins: 7
Inside the building!
17:34 , Matt Verri
Eden Hazard is back at Stamford Bridge.
He spent seven years at Chelsea before making a big move to Real Madrid. This is the first time he has been back on the pitch in West London since then.
World XI team news
17:26 , Matt Verri
For the World
Alessandro Del Piero, Patrice Evra, Petr Cech, John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien have also signed up, along with former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew. But Roberto Carlos won’t be there after withdrawing earlier today.
Players: Usain Bolt, Eden Hazard, Tommy Fury, Maisie Adam, Diamond, Martin Compston, Roman Kemp, Lee Mack, Theo Baker, Kaylyn Kyle, John Obi Mikel, Jason Manford, Petr Cech, Patrice Evra, Michael Essien, Tony Bellew, Alessandro Del Piero, Emmett J Scanlan, Olga Garcia, Kheira Hamraoui, Billy Wingrove
Coaches: Mauricio Pochettino, Jesus Perez
England team news
17:16 , Matt Verri
Former Three Lions stars Jack Wilshere, Jermain Defoe, David James, Theo Walcott, Gary Cahill, Jill Scott, Ellen White and Joe Cole are among those involved for England.
They are joined by ex-England cricketer Stuart Broad, boxing promoter Eddie Hearn and four-time Olympic gold medalist Sir Mo Farah, plus a host of celebrities including Danny Dyer, Tom Hiddleston, Sam Thompson and Paddy McGuinness.
Ashley Cole has been added to the roster as a late edition.
Players: Jill Scott, Stuart Broad, Bobby Brazier, Sam Thompson, Paddy McGuinness, David James, Jermain Defoe, Karen Carney, Gary Cahill, Tom Brennan, Jack Wilshere, Joe Cole, Sir Mo Farah, Alex Brooker, Erin Doherty, Steven Bartlett, Danny Dyer, Theo Walcott, Ellen White, Miniminter, Eddie Hearn, Sam Quek, Tom Hiddleston, Ashley Cole
Coaches: Frank Lampard, Harry Redknapp, Robbie Williams, David Seaman, Vicky McClure
How to watch football help
17:09 , Matt Verri
TV channel: As always, Soccer Aid will be broadcast live on free-to-air television via ITV1, with coverage from 6pm BST on Sunday evening.
Live stream: The ITVX website and ITVX app (both free with a subscription) will also offer a live streaming service online.
Live coverage: Follow all the action here with us!
Good evening!
17:01 , Matt Verri
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Soccer Aid 2024!
It is the latest edition of the hugely successful charity competition, which has raised more than £90 million for UNICEF since the first edition in 2006.
There is a strong Chelsea theme tonight, with the match played at Stamford Bridge, and Frank Lampard and Mauricio Pochettino the two managers.
Ahead of kick-off, which takes place at 7.30pm BST, we’ve got the latest on the build-up and the team!
