Soccer Aid 2020: Interesting Things You Should Know About 

The world’s biggest charity football match, Soccer Aid 2020 was held on 6th September at Old Trafford, Manchester but its effect is truly far from over. The players and the supporters are still reeling from the brilliant game and the purpose of the match! 

Soccer Aid is a British annual event that raises money for UNICEF UK. The event is a friendly football match between two teams which are the England team and the Soccer Aid World XI (comprising celebrities and former professional players from other countries). 

Started in 2006 by Robbie Williams and Jonathan Wilkes, presented by Ant and Dec until 2010 when Dermot O’Leary and Kirsty Gallacher took over as the presenters, Soccer Aid has its own following and is a favourite event of the year for many. 

First Things First, How Much Money Was Raised By Soccer Aid 2020? 

Image Source/Evening Standard

According to Soccer Aid for UNICEF, this year’s match has raised a record amount. 

“Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2020 has, thanks to your generosity, raised a record £9,331,174 – the most the match has ever raised in the history of the show.”

Fun Fact: Since the first match in 2006, Soccer Aid for UNICEF had raised a whopping amount of more than £38 million! 

Aptly, this year the teams played for ‘Generation Covid’ and the money raised will be used to combat the spread of coronavirus and limit its impact on children and their lives across the world! 

Next, The Line Up Please… 

Despite being postponed for two months due to the pandemic, the line up was as impressive as ever. 

The England squad consisted of Alfie Allen, James Bay, John Bishop, Chunkz, Liv Cooke, Tom Davis, Joel Dommett, Yung Filly, Marvin Humes, Danny Jones, Lee Mack, Paddy McGuinness, Olly Murs, Joe Wicks, and Mark Wright. 

The ex-footballers in the team were Gareth Barry, Wes Brown, Katie Chapman, Andy Cole, Ashley Cole, Joe Cole, Emilie Heskey, David James, Michael Owen, and Kelly Smith. 

The managers of the team were Sam Allardyce, Wayne Rooney, and Bradley Walsh! 

On the other hand, the Rest of the World team consisted of Kem Cetinay, Santan Dave, Mo Gilligan, Chelcee Grimes, Roman Kemp, Dermot Kennedy, Locksmith, Jeremy Lynch, Jason Manford, Ore Oduba, Serge Pizzorno, Iain Stirling and Billy Wingrove. 

Meanwhile, the professional players in the team were Michael Essien, Patrice Evra, Julie Fleeting, Darren Fletcher, Shay Given, Robbie Keane, Claudie Makelele, Lianne Sanderson,  and Mikael Silvestre. 

The managers of the team were Harry Redknapp, Bryan Robson, and Vic Bettinelli. 

Drum Roll!!! And The Winner Of Soccer Aid 2020 Is…

The match which was played behind closed doors due to the pandemic regulations ended in a tie 1-1 after ninety minutes. Remarkably, a dramatic penalty shootout led to Soccer Aid World XI FC team winning the game for a second year running! 

The World XI team took the lead when Robbie Keane scored the first goal and the England team followed with another shot by Yung Filly. 

However, the winning penalty shot for World XI came from Love Island star Kem Cetinay! 

It Was Indeed A Very Emotional Soccer Aid This Year

Singer Robbie Williams who started Soccer Aid in 2006 appeared via live video link and shared his feelings. 

“This year has been one of the weirdest years on record. I always thought at least I got Soccer Aid but as I went on holiday I got put on the travel ban.

“It’s made me emotional to see how far Soccer Aid has come. I’m very proud and patriotic.”

Meanwhile, Joe Wicks said,

“When you get the call up to play for the England side at the Soccer Aid for UNICEF match, it’s impossible to say no! It’s an amazing experience to play with some of football’s biggest legends and this years’ game is going to be particularly special. We know we are playing to help UNICEF’s vital work to help stop coronavirus making life even tougher for vulnerable children around the world. You can play your part too by watching the match and donating.”

Olly Murs Shared The Same Sentiments…

“We are all in it together, it doesn’t matter if you put it in the net or if you fall over, you’re here and you’re making the effort for Soccer Aid for UNICEF and that’s what is amazing. I like to remind people to not forget why we’re here and genuinely seeing the work that UNICEF does, it changes your perspective on why we are here.

“I was so fortunate to go away to see where the money goes and actually when you see the football academies that I got to see in Kenya and the facilities being created. Seeing where these kids live and everything that UNICEF has done for them in their local communities, that for me is the ‘wow’ moment and it reminds us that every pound makes a difference. I know that the money we raise will change children’s lives. 

“And not just abroad, here in the UK as well, especially with everything that is happening in our own back yard at the moment. I think with this pandemic, this might just be the most important Soccer Aid for UNICEF yet.”

Apart from that, the players also took the knee before the game began in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.