This year's televised Soccer Aid charity football event has raised £15.28m to support UNICEF’s work helping children globally.

This is marginally up on last year’s similar total of £15m and £600,000 up on 2023, when £14.6m was raised.

This year every donation up to £5m was doubled through match funding from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation.

Also, this year TV and radio personality Sam Thompson raised £2m through taking part in back-to-back days of running and cycling to take the ball from last year’s venue, Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge ground in London, to Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium, where he delivered the ball to the pitch in front of 70,000 spectators.

“To everyone who has donated, I’ve said it before but I’ll say it a million times, you are so heroic. This money will help so many children,” said Thompson.

The record fundraising total was in 2022 when £15.6m was raised for the event, which was created by the singer Robbie Williams in 2006 and has so far raised more than £121m.

At the event England and World XI teams of celebrities and former professionals compete against each other.

This year’s Soccer Aid, which was televised on ITV1, was won 5-4 by the World XI side. Four of their goals were scored by former Manchester United and Manchester City player Carlos Tevez and their winner was scored by Big Zuu.



“The money raised from this year’s fundraising total could help UNICEF provide safe spaces for children in times of crisis, vital vaccinations and nutrition support, and the opportunity to learn. And it could do so much more to protect play for every child,” said the charity.

---