Louis Tomlinson set to play at the UNICEF Soccer Aid 2025 — a charity football game to help raise funds supporting children, which will take place at the Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester, England, on June 15.
The former One Direction member was featured on the short promotional video posted by Soccer Aid on Instagram. The 2025 charity soccer game sees Tomlinson returning to the field after nine years. He last played in the 2016 charity game, where the England team won 3-2 against the Rest of the World squad that included Irish singer-songwriter and fellow One Direction bandmate, Niall Horan.
In an interview with the Manchester Evening News, Tomlinson expresses his excitement for the upcoming game, saying, “Manchester! It’s about ten years since I last turned out for Soccer Aid, so I thought it was about time I returned to the pitch. As everyone knows, I am a massive football fan so playing with some legends of the game is a dream come true.”
LOUIS TOMLINSON: Courtesy of Soccer Aid
Tomlinson and the England team will be co-managed by former professional boxer Tyson Fury and English former football player-turned-football manager Wayne Rooney, who’s coming out of retirement to play. Rounding out the English team are British entrepreneur and investor Steven Bartlett, as well as former English football stars Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Toni Duggan, Steph Houghton, and Jill Scott.
Since 2006, Soccer Aid for UNICEF brings together various soccer icons, celebrities, musicians, athletes, and more to compete in the annual charity soccer game with the goal to “help children grow up safe, healthy, and able to play.”