Soccer Aid 2019: Female footballers to play in charity match for first time

(left to right), Rachel Yankey, Susanna Reid and Katie Chapman will all be involved in Soccer Aid
PA
Jacob Jarvis29 April 2019

This year's Soccer Aid match will feature female footballers for the first time.

Four former pros have signed up to take part in the charity match for Unicef.

Two top tier female players are set to feature on each team for the full 90 minutes, playing alongside male ex-footballers and celebrities as part of a partnership with the Football Association.

Ex-England internationals Rachel Yankey and Katie Chapman will be part of the England team.

Rachel Yankey will play in the match
PA

The side will also be comprised of the likes of Sir Mo Farah and Jamie Redknapp, and is being co-managed by Sam Allardyce and Susanna Reid.

While the two female ex-footballers joining the Soccer Aid World XI squad, alongside players including Usain Bolt, Didier Drogba and Niall Horan, will be announced in the coming weeks.

England co-manager Susanna Reid, set to face off against Good Morning Britain co-star Piers Morgan, who will manage the Soccer Aid World XI team with Harry Redknapp, praised the move to include female footballers in the match.

She said: "Soccer Aid for Unicef is a diverse fundraising campaign off the pitch so I'm absolutely delighted that women are being represented in this year's game."

While the FA head of women's football Baroness Sue Campbell said the move was "exciting".

"These are exciting times for women's football as the FA strives to double participation in the women's game and we are seeing a huge increase in the popularity of the WSL. It will be great to showcase women's football as part of Soccer Aid for Unicef ahead of the World Cup in the summer," she said.

Soccer Aid 2019, which will raise money for children around the world, takes place at Chelsea FC's Stamford Bridge on June 16 and will be broadcast live on ITV and STV.