Louis Tomlinson To Play in UNICEF’s Charity Football Game
The English singer-songwriter will be trading the microphone for football cleats at the annual charity soccer game this Father’s Day in June.
By Ralph Regis
LOUIS TOMLINSON: Photographed by Joshua Halling
LOUIS TOMLINSON: Photographed Joshua Halling
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.”

Ralph Regis
Ralph Regis is a Lifestyle and Culture Writer at Billboard Philippines, where he bridges the worlds of film, television, fashion, art, food, and cultural trends with both the local and international music scene.
He has written extensively about artist collaborations, brand partnerships, and pop culture moments that connect back to music. He also brings stories to life through in-depth interviews with musicians and personalities, drawing on their diverse perspectives, opinions, and reflections on the human condition.
In addition, Ralph also writes about music releases across a wide range of genres, including pop, hip-hop, P-pop, and rock, highlighting both rising and established artists. With a passion for storytelling that goes beyond trends, he explores how music is part of our daily lives in one form or another, connecting culture, experiences, and everything in between.