Socceraid Announces Four Partnerships For 2020 Charity Match

Soccer Aid for Unicef has announced that Puma, Primark, JD Sports and TikTok have all become Principal Partners for the event.

The 2020 edition of the charity football match has been moved to September and will take place at Manchester United’s Old Trafford.

According to organisers, the new deals will see TikTok deliver a creative campaign to engage supporters in the lead-up to the match; Puma will again provide the Soccer Aid World XI FC kit, with JD Sports featuring for the fourth time as part of the bespoke back-of-shirt lettering and numbering. Primark will donate £100,000 to support UNICEF’s work helping children and families impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Soccer Aid for Unicef has become a mainstay in the sports entertainment calendar and at TikTok we are really looking forward to supporting the event,” said Rich Waterworth, General Manager UK, TikTok.

“The match brings together some of the most recognisable celebrity and football talent around and is always hugely popular. As the game is being played behind closed doors this year, fans will be able to get as close to the action as possible with a hashtag challenge and behind the scenes content through our LIVE function.”

Although a date and time for the event are yet to be confirmed, SoccerAid has announced that comedian Jason Manford, rapper Santan Dave and Manchester United legend Patrice Evra will all make their debuts, while Kelly Smith – who was capped over 100 times for England and represented Great Britain at the London 2012 Summer Olympics – is also playing for the first time. 

Goalkeeper David James will join Smith in the England team, with Joe Wicks and Olly Murs both confirmed to play. Dermot O’Leary and Kirsty Gallagher, meanwhile, will return as presenter and pitchside reporter respectively. 

Peter Cowgill, Executive Chairman, JD Sports, said: “JD Sports are delighted to have extended this longstanding relationship with Soccer Aid for Unicef. We are all looking forward to September’s match and to supporting the campaign in the weeks leading up to it.” 

For the first time in the match’s history, the UK government and Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, will both match public donations to Soccer Aid for Unicef, which will see every £1 donated turned into £3 for the charity – up to the value of £3 million.

Since 2006, Soccer Aid for Unicef has raised over £38m, with the 2019 edition raising a record-breaking £7.9m.