6:30pm BST. That's when England v World XI kicks off today, Sunday 31 May 2026, at West Ham's London Stadium as Soccer Aid marks its 20th anniversary. ITV1 begins live coverage from 17:00 BST and the match is free to stream on ITVX, with some regional availability via STV and the STV Player. The annual exhibition, officially sanctioned by The Football Association as a mixed-sex fixture, raises money for UNICEF and has now raised more than £120 million since its 2006 launch.

A match that pairs former England internationals with Hollywood actors is also officially sanctioned by The Football Association as a mixed-sex fixture.

Who is on the teams

England's side is managed by Robbie Williams, Harry Redknapp and David Seaman and mixes a clutch of well-known former internationals with celebrities. The playing squad features Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, Jill Scott, Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Joe Hart alongside public figures such as Tom Hiddleston, Paddy McGuinness, Olly Murs and Jack Whitehall. The World XI, managed by Usain Bolt and Clarence Seedorf, brings its own set of former professionals including Jordi Alba, Leonardo Bonucci, Nemanja Matic, Dimitar Berbatov and Edwin van der Sar, together with celebrities drawn from music, film and sport.

The fixture is an exhibition rather than a competitive international, but organisers have kept faith with the mixture of football legends and high‑profile non‑players that has defined Soccer Aid since it launched in 2006. The format has alternated over the years, while organisers continue to package a short televised build‑up, a halftime entertainment slot and charity-driven fundraising elements around the 90 minutes.

Mastheads

Broadcast details and the cause

ITV1's build-up begins at 17:00 BST, with live television coverage of the match running from that pre-match window through the 18:30 BST kick-off. The fixture is available to stream for free on ITVX, and some viewers in Scotland can access coverage via STV and the STV Player. Those arrangements concentrate broadcast availability in the UK on ITV's platforms, reflecting the event's established broadcast partnership.

Soccer Aid is staged by the organisers to raise funds for UNICEF's emergency and long-term programmes for children. Since the first match it has raised more than £120 million for the charity, a running total organisers cite as the most tangible measure of the event's purpose.

Last year's match, played at Old Trafford, finished in the World XI's favour, leaving the overall head-to-head narrowly in their favour.

In the run-up to today, organisers released ticketing information and issued last-minute squad updates. The event's format and high-profile line-ups mean it blends entertainment and sport in a way that serves the fundraising goal: televised moments, halftime acts and celebrity appearances are all part of the appeal that helps convert viewers into donors.

On the pitch the match won't be judged by competitive standards, but the names involved ensure attention from both football followers and a broader public audience. Managers on both sides, many of the former professionals and several of the celebrity participants have been part of the Soccer Aid story for years, which helps sustain the event's visibility each spring.

Related Articles

Kick-off is at 18:30 BST; ITV's build-up begins at 17:00 and the match streams free on ITVX. The World XI lead the overall head-to-head after last year's win; a victory for England tonight would level the series.

This article was created with AI assistance.