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Soccer Aid 2022: Everything you need to know

Chunkz.Image source, Soccer Aid
Image caption,

YouTuber Chunkz is back again for 2022

What do Liam Payne, Chunkz, Fara Williams and Gary Neville all have in common?

The answer is they'll all be lining up in an England shirt for this year's Soccer Aid.

They'll be playing against a world team that includes Usain Bolt, Patrice Evra and Noah Beck.

This year the game is set to take place at West Ham United's London Stadium and will kick off on Sunday 12 June.

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What is Soccer Aid?

Image source, Getty Images

Soccer Aid has been raising money through its charity football matches since 2006.

In the match a team containing celebrities and former footballers from England combine to face another team of celebrities and former footballers who represent "the rest of the world".

The money raised is for the charity Unicef, which supports projects helping children around the world.

Did you know?

The event has raised more then £60 million since 2006 with the money this year going towards helping Unicef provide vaccines and protect children in tough times, including the war in Ukraine.

This year the charity says some of the money raised will go towards helping the 7.5 million children currently affected by the war in Ukraine.

Last year Soccer Aid raised more than £13m for Unicef - which was its most successful fundraising year since the event began.

Who's taking part?

Image source, Getty Images
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Usain Bolt, who still holds the world record for the fastest runner over 100m, will be leading the World XI team

There are loads of big names taking part in Soccer Aid.

Usain Bolt returns again this this year, and is still the fastest man ever, having set the 100m world record in 2009.

Alongside him for the World team is former Manchester United and France defender, Patrice Evra and ex-USA women's footballer Carli Lloyd.

Image source, SoccerAid
Image caption,

US star Carli Lloyd, singer Liam Payne, and Lionesses legend Fara Williams will take part

Ukrainian football legend and former Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko will also be taking part this year.

But it's not just former athletes or pro players taking part, TikTok star Noah Beck and comedians Munya Chawawa and Mo Gilligan are also involved.

Joining the England team, Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher, who will have to put the Manchester United and Liverpool rivalry to one side as the ex-footballers line up together for the Three Lions.

The pair will be joined by another footballing legend, Fara Williams MBE, the highest capped player in the history of the England Women's team.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

YouTuber Chunkz with rapper Aitch at training last year

Athlete Sir Mo Farah also returns to Soccer Aid for 2022 along with YouTuber Chunkz and rapper Aitch.

Meanwhile comedian Alex Brooker will make Soccer Aid history at the event, becoming the first-ever physically disabled participant to play in the game.

Former Lioness and Â鶹ԼÅÄ Football Focus host Alex Scott, and presenters Dermot O'Leary and Maya Jama will be on presenting, reporting and pundit duties for the match.

Robbie Williams is set to perform a special performance at half time.

Who are the Soccer Aid 2022 managers?

Image source, Soccer Aid

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will manage World XI - the team won the 2021 game last year 3-0, and footie legend Harry Redknapp will be leading England.

Singer Liam Payne will captain the England side and reflecting on his own childhood said: "You need to have a childhood, you need to have those moments of peace, where life is not such a struggle as you grow.

"It's great that UNICEF are trying to provide that for children."