Jordan North Sets Soccer Aid Debut with Wayne Rooney

Jordan North will make his Soccer Aid debut for England at London Stadium on Sunday, May 31. He is moving from the crowd to the pitch in a match he has watched since childhood, with Wayne Rooney among the names on the same side.

London Stadium on May 31

North said it is "really special" to play in an event he grew up watching as a child. He added, "To go from watching it with my mates and paying for tickets, to be playing in it is really special."

He has watched Soccer Aid every year on the telly and has also been to games. In 2011, he watched England vs World XI at Old Trafford, a detail that now sits directly behind his first appearance in the fixture.

Wayne Rooney and England

North will line up for the England team against the World XI. His biggest name on the pitch is Rooney, whom he said he cannot quite fathom playing with.

"I grew up watching him for Man United when he was at his peak," North said. The pairing gives England one more headline name, but it also shows how Soccer Aid keeps mixing broadcasters, former players and celebrities into a match built around charity.

North plans to get stuck in

North said supporters should expect him to be involved physically. "I'll most certainly get stuck in. I don't think I'll be backing out of any tackles," he said. He also added, "Just as long as I don't show myself up, I'm happy and I'll probably do as I'm told."

For UNICEF, the draw of a presenter like North is simple: he is not just turning up for a photo opportunity, he is treating the game like a real contest. That makes the May 31 debut more than a novelty appearance; it is the kind of first outing that can keep a charity fixture feeling competitive enough to sell the next one.