It's that time of year ladies and gentleman - Soccer Aid is here!
The 2024 edition takes place at Chelsea 's Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30pm in West London.
It's set to be a an exciting affair with some of football's biggest icons taking to the pitch. The game will also see a number of former Chelsea heroes including Petr Cech, Eden Hazard and Frank Lampard making their returns. Mauricio Pochettino is also back.
It's not just the former footballing stars donning their boots. Some glittering celebrity names have also been traoning and will be looking to impress.
While a trophy is up for grabs, there will also be huge focus on the charity aspect of the event. Soccer Aid has managed to raise an eye-watering £90m since 2006 and will be looking to add to that this time around.
Stay tuned with Mirror Football for all of the latest updates from Soccer Aid 2024...
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21:31Daniel Orme
And there we go... 5-3!
Maybe there's legs in this one yet. Wingrove fires the ball into the bottom corner to reduce the deficit to two.
They can't do it, can they?
21:30Daniel Orme
Well, the World XI earn potentially a foothold back into the game.
A penalty is awarded. Hazard wanted it but it will be Billy Wingrove.
21:29KEY EVENT
England FIVE!
Bartlett is at it again! He charges down Bellew, whose clearance smacks off the podcast star and rolls into the net.
Bellew wants handball but those protests have been turned down. Surely the trophy is England's now.
21:23Daniel Orme
This is a worrying sign as Bolt appeared to pick up an injury as he attempted to stop Defoe.
Medical staff have treated him and the Jamaican goes off on a stretcher.
21:19KEY EVENT
For the second year in a row, it's 4-2 but this time it's for England!
Defoe picks up the ball after Bolt crumples with what looks like an injury.
Was he ever going to miss? No chance.
21:09Daniel Orme
And what an appearance from Bartlett as he puts England ahead!
The Diary of a CEO host runs in behind and fires through the legs of Tony Bellew!
3-2 to the Three Lions!
21:08Daniel Orme
Boxing is his game but Eddie Hearn now turns his attention to football as he comes on at Stamford Bridge.
Bobby Brazier and Steven Bartlett have also been introduced.
21:04Daniel Orme
Well we were potentially expecting Paddy McGuinness to throw a few in but he's just pulled out an heroic stop!
Usain Bolt is free in the area and looks sure to score but McGuinness sticks out an arm and keeps it out.
Brilliant!
21:00Daniel Orme
After potentially one of the longest half-times in football history, we're now back in action.
Let's hope it's as entertaining as the first-half.
21:00KEY EVENT
ITV were forced to apologise for some dicey language used by former Lioness Jill Scott after she missed a big chance.
Sam Matterface and Iain Sterling said: "I don't know if you noticed it, I certainly didn't but there may have been, just may have been, some rather industrial language that emanated from Jill Scott's mouth when she missed the chance [to score], if that was the case, we do apologise!"
20:51Daniel Orme
On the topic of announcements, not everyone is happy.
Fans have been taking to social media with their complaints. One person wrote: "#SoccerAid Sad for any parents that would really love to donate but may be struggling right now, as it seems to Soccer aid that £1, £2, £3 is no good to them. Starting the pledge requests at £40, £30, 20 etc! on the advert seems so out of touch with reality. #donatewhatyoucan",
20:38Daniel Orme
And the donations continue to roll in.
Soccer Aid has officially raised £6,407,623 this evening. What a fantastic total!
20:33Daniel Orme
And remember we've got a couple of major changes at the break as the pro goalkeepers take their seats and the celebrities step in.
Paddy McGuinness and Tony Bellew are set to don the gloves. Let's see how they do.
20:28Daniel Orme
Alessandro Del Piero still knows where the net is...
Image:
Getty Images)20:19Daniel Orme
And the first 45 minutes of Soccer Aid 2024 comes to a close.
We sit at 2-2 after a very entertaining first-half at Stamford Bridge.
Stay tuned for some analysis and entertainment from West London.
20:11Daniel Orme
We've had a number of glittering names come onto the pitch.
Mo Farah has been introduced for England, while Tommy Fury has been introduced for the Rest of the World.
20:07Daniel Orme
We wonder how much this man is enjoying his time back at Stamford Bridge.
Image:
Getty Images)20:05KEY EVENT
And England are level through Ellen White as the former Lioness becomes the first female goalscorer in Soccer Aid history.
Jack Wilshere waltzes into the penalty area, fools Cech with a brilliant bit of skill and pulls the ball back. White is there and taps home.
Level pegging once again.
20:01Daniel Orme
Danny Dyer comes off for Tom Hiddlestone.
If that's not a typical Soccer Aid sub, I don't know what is...
19:58Daniel Orme
Bolt really should have a first-half brace!
The Jamaican has hit the post and now rolled a fantastic effort just wide. He's proving tricky for Gary Cahill to handle.
19:53Daniel Orme
And England's lead did not last very long at all! Alessandro Del Piero finds the net.
Bolt uses his pace to tee up the Italian, who fires a great right-footed effort into the top corner.
This is brilliant fun.
19:48KEY EVENT
And that's exactly what the blue side of West London was waiting for as Eden Hazard finds the net!
The World XI win a free-kiock as Dyer takes down Bolt. Hazard steps up and curls the ball into the top corner!
That's what we call some celebrations.
19:45Daniel Orme
And that should be 2-0 for England.
A gap through the heart of the World XI opens up for Tom Grennan.
Faced with a one-on-one with Petr Cech, he puts his low effort wide.
19:41KEY EVENT
And that's what England wanted as they go 1-0 up through Joe Cole!
From a free-kick on the right, the ball breaks for the former midfielder who slots through Petr Cech's legs!
Robbie Williams flies down the touchline in celebration.
19:40Daniel Orme
It's been an entertaining start at Stamford Bridge.
Petr Cech has cruyff-turned away from Ellen White, Danny Dyer has blocked a Del Piero cross and Roman Kemp has been bodied by Sam Thompson.
Ah, Soccer Aid, we love you.
Roman Kemp and Martin Compston
19:34Daniel Orme
And we're rolling!
England get the ball rolling as they look to snap a brutal losing streak.
19:33Daniel Orme
In true SoccerAid style, we've had the ball delivered in bizarre circustances.
A man on a jetback has flown around Stamford Bridge with the matchball tucked underneath his body.
We're just about ready to go...
19:26Daniel Orme
And we're so close to kick-off as the teams come out onto the pitch.
England are first, followed by the World XI.
Any late score predictions for us then eh?
19:25Daniel Orme
While Lee Mack is in from the start, the same cannot be said of Mark Wright.
The former TOWIE star was a regular face in Soccer Aid but will not play today. Why?
He did not play last year due to other commitments.
19:11Daniel Orme
Some fans might be left with questions over why Lee Mack is in for the World XI despite being English.
Lee, 55, was born in Southport, Merseyside, he actually has Irish roots. The comic had appeared on the BBC One show, Who Do You Think You Are? which saw him explore his Irish heritage.
He had previously played on the England team but ultimately made the move to World XI who are currently the undefeated champions of the match
Image:
©UNICEF/Soccer Aid Productions/Stella Pictures)
