Sport

Soccer Aid Viewers Flood Social Media With the Same Complaint Minutes Into ITV Coverage

Published on June 16, 2025

Soccer Aid returned in full swing this year, once again bringing together an all-star cast of football legends and celebrities at the iconic Old Trafford. The charity match, now a mainstay of the British calendar, took over Sunday night telly with a four-hour primetime slot on ITV, hosted by the ever-charismatic Dermot O’Leary and the brilliant Alex Scott.

Kicking off at 6pm with all the pre-match buzz and building up to the big game at 7.30pm, fans were glued to their screens right through until 10pm. Social media exploded with love for the event, with people praising the feel-good energy and star-studded line-up. One viewer summed up the mood perfectly: “Superb the way these celebrities give their time up for free to play at Old Trafford #SoccerAid.” Another simply said: “Love #SoccerAid2025″, reports the Manchester Evening News.

And if there was one name that kept popping up on everyone’s timeline, it was Louis Tomlinson. The One Direction star had fans in a frenzy, with tweets like “I’m actually so excited to see Louis play” and “Louis looks amazing!!” He’s definitely the people’s player this year.

The event isn’t just about famous faces having a kickabout. It’s a serious fundraiser that’s been running for over two decades and has now raised an impressive £100 million for Unicef. The match sees England take on the World XI in a fixture that mixes entertainment with purpose.

As always, the pitch was packed with a dazzling mix of talent. Footie royalty like Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville, and Paul Scholes pulled on their boots again, while Lionesses legends Toni Duggan, Steph Houghton, and Jill Scott brought the star power from the women’s game. Add in names like Steve Bartlett, Paddy McGuinness, Sam Quek, Dermot Kennedy, Tom Grennan, and Martin Compston, and you’ve got yourself a line-up that’s got something for everyone.

On the World XI side, Italian defensive titan Leonardo Bonucci brought a touch of Euro 2020 class, joined by Nadia Nadim and dancer Gorka Marquez, who swapped the dance floor for the dugout. It wasn’t just about who was playing, either — the event was full of heart, especially with stories like Sam Thompson’s.

Sam was meant to take part in the match but had to pull out due to a calf injury picked up during his gruelling five-day charity challenge, which raised over £1 million for Unicef. Despite the setback, he’s still playing a key role, taking on a spot in the management team. On This Morning, he said: “I’m still very sore, still got the torn calf, however I am here at Soccer Aid HQ and it does not get better than this.” He joked about joining the “dark side” of coaching alongside the likes of Tyson Fury and Harry Redknapp, showing that the spirit of Soccer Aid goes far beyond just 90 minutes on the pitch.

Launched in 2006 by Robbie Williams and Jonathan Wilkes, the event has come a long way. It started off as a biennial affair but now returns every year. Women were first included in 2019, making it the only mixed-sex match officially backed by the FA, and it even powered through the pandemic in 2020 with a behind-closed-doors match.

Soccer Aid continues to be a proper feel-good staple on our screens — part sport, part spectacle, and all for a great cause.

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