Robbie Williams Sets Soccer Aid 2026 for May 31 at London Stadium
Soccer Aid 2026 will take place on Sunday, May 31 at the London Stadium in Stratford, with Robbie Williams’ charity match returning for its 20th anniversary. The event kicks off at 6.30pm British Summer Time and keeps its place as a major fundraiser for UNICEF.
London Stadium Hosts May 31
The 2026 edition goes on sale as a four-hour broadcast window and a live match window are already set: ITV1, ITVX, STV and the STV Player will carry coverage from 5pm until 9pm on Sunday, May 31, with the match itself due to start at 6.30pm British Summer Time. It will also stream on ITV’s YouTube channel.
Soccer Aid started in 2006 and switched to an annual format in 2018. The 2026 event marks 20 years since it began, which gives this edition a sharper edge than a routine charity fixture and explains why the lineup is built around names that can draw attention quickly.
Rooney, Defoe, Scott, Wilshere
The England squad includes Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, Jill Scott and Jack Wilshere. That gives the home side four established football names before a ball is kicked, and it anchors the match around players readers already know from the professional game.
The Celebs team will feature Tom Hiddleston and Danny Dyer, while Angry Ginge, Jack Whitehall, Sam Thompson and Olly Murs are also on the roster. Owen Cooper will make his Soccer Aid debut in 2026 and will become the youngest player ever to take part.
Joe Marler In Goal
Joe Marler will make his debut in goal, adding another first-time entry to a lineup already mixing football legends and celebrities. Robbie Williams and Jonathan Wilkes co-founded Soccer Aid, and the event’s run as a UNICEF fundraiser has remained central since its first edition.
The practical takeaway is simple for viewers: the broadcast starts at 5pm, the match begins at 6.30pm, and the line-up already includes Rooney, Defoe, Scott, Wilshere, Hiddleston, Dyer, Cooper and Marler. For anyone following the charity angle, the 20th-anniversary edition is the one to watch because it combines a familiar format with a fresh group of debutants and returning names.
