Download funny VTs starring Yaya Touré, Michael Owen and Paddy McGuinness here
McGuinness, Touré and Owen announce their involvement with tongue-in-cheek sketches!
Soccer Aid for Unicef will be broadcast exclusively on ITV
9th April 2018 – ITV presenter Paddy McGuinness has joined Premier League winners Yaya Touré and Michael Owen as the latest star names to confirm they will play in the Soccer Aid for Unicef match at Old Trafford, on Sunday 10th June. Touré and Owen will be making their Soccer Aid debuts for England and the Soccer Aid World XI respectively, whilst McGuinness returns having played in the match previously.
The announcement was marked by the release of three light-hearted videos featuring both players and Paddy. In one, Paddy performs the famous “Yaya-Yaya-Yaya” terrace chant before posing for a selfie with the Ivorian international who responds with the Take Me Out host’s famous catchphrase, “No likey!” In the other video, Michael Owen talks of his excitement of playing alongside, “a whole host of legends” before pointing at Paddy and delivering the friendly jibe, “…and him!” In the final video, Paddy declares to the camera, “I’ve got myself in peak physical condition”, before immediately being tempted by some chips and a club sandwich handed to him off screen!
Yaya Touré is a two-time Premier League winner with Manchester City FC. He has played more than 100 times for the Ivory Coast, as well as winning La Liga and the UEFA Champions League following a three-year period at FC Barcelona.
With more than 150 Premier League goals to his name, Michael Owen was one of the most clinical finishers in English football. The Soccer Aid for Unicef game will see the striker return to Old Trafford where he played towards the end of his career following spells at Liverpool FC, Real Madrid CF and Newcastle United FC.
For every £1 donated by the public, the UK Government through its UK Aid Match scheme will also donate £1, doubling the difference for children in danger all around the world.
Paddy McGuinness, England, said: “It’s always such a privilege to be asked back to play at Soccer Aid and represent England. I’ve stitched up and pranked a few players over the years – and let me tell you, this year nobody is safe! – but in all seriousness I’m here to help raise money for a great cause. Usain’s OK up to 9.58 seconds but the game is 90 minutes, let’s see what he’s got in the tank!”
Yaya Touré, Soccer Aid World XI, said: “I haven’t done too badly at Old Trafford over the years, so hopefully this match will be another victory. Both teams are looking strong, so it should be a great game. I know how much the people in this country love their football, which is why I know you will come and support us and Unicef. Together we’ll put on a great show and help children around the world.”
Michael Owen, England, said: “I’m really looking forward to playing in Soccer Aid, helping raise money for Unicef. Pulling on the England shirt was always a huge honour for me and it will feel very special to do that again on June 10th. The only problem is that we’re going to have Paddy McGuinness marking Yaya Touré and Usain Bolt – that alone has got to be worth buying a ticket for!”
Over the coming weeks, the England vs. Soccer Aid World XI rivalry is set to intensify further, with some of football’s biggest legends and celebrities set to join Usain Bolt, Robbie Williams, Sir Mo Farah, Olly Murs, Brendan Cole, Gordon Ramsay, Clarence Seedorf, Robert Pirès, Joe Wicks, Mark Wright and now Yaya Touré, Michael Owen and Paddy McGuiness in what is set to be a game like no other.
The international friendly match will take place at Old Trafford on Sunday 10th June, just four days before the FIFA World Cup in Russia begins. Tickets are on sale now and the game will be broadcast live on ITV. Kick-off scheduled for 20:00 BST.
Soccer Aid for Unicef is the original England vs. Soccer Aid World XI charity match. It was launched and co-founded in 2006 by Unicef UK Ambassador Robbie Williams and Jonathan Wilkes, and has previously featured A-list stars such as Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, Mike Myers and Niall Horan, plus footballing royalty including Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Ronaldinho. Soccer Aid for Unicef 2018 is set to be bigger and better than ever.
Unicef, the world’s leading organisation for children, has joined forces with ITV to make the pro-celebrity football match bigger and better than ever, with more potential to raise money and vital support for children in danger. Soccer Aid for Unicef is produced by Initial, part of Endemol Shine UK, for ITV.
100% of all public donations to Soccer Aid for Unicef will be doubled by the UK Government, up to a total of £5 million, and go towards supporting the vital work protecting children around the world. So far, £24 million has already been raised through Soccer Aid over the last 12 years.
Penny Mordaunt, International Development Secretary, said: “We are excited to be involved once again this year in what promises to be the biggest Soccer Aid for Unicef to date. The UK Government will match public donations pound-for-pound, meaning that, together, we can double the number of children around the world who will benefit from Soccer Aid.”
Swiss watchmaker Hublot and Global Sports Brand PUMA are Official Soccer Aid World XI Partners, with both brands acting as kit sponsors for the Soccer Aid World XI team.
Tickets for the Soccer Aid for Unicef football match on Sunday 10th June 2018 at Old Trafford are available now at www.manutd.com/socceraid or by calling 0161 444 2018 with tickets priced between £10 and £50.
Visit socceraid.org.uk to find out more and follow @SoccerAid on Twitter and Instagram, ‘Soccer Aid’ on Facebook and use the hashtag #SoccerAid for regular player and match updates.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
For more information on Soccer Aid for Unicef please call 0207 375 6030 or email [email protected]
Download funny VTs starring Yaya Touré, Michael Owen and Paddy McGuinness here
To buy tickets for Soccer Aid for Unicef match at Old Trafford on Sunday 10th June 2018, please visit www.manutd.com/socceraid or call 0161 444 2018. Calls will be charged at your local rate.
Ticket prices range from £20 to £50 for adults, with under 16s priced at £10 and over 65s half price on all seats. Hospitality packages also available.
About Soccer Aid Productions Limited
The multi-stakeholder project of Soccer Aid for Unicef will be run by newly-formed Soccer Aid Productions, a collaboration between Unicef UK and Triple S Events part of the Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group.
About ITV Responsibility
ITV, as an integrated producer broadcaster, creates, owns and distributes high-quality content on multiple platforms. We operate the largest commercial family of channels in the UK and deliver our content through traditional television broadcasting as well as on demand via the ITV Hub. For more information please visit itvplc.com.
ITV’s social purpose is to use its influence on popular culture to create positive change. Our on-screen social cause strategy is focussed on health and wellbeing, to inspire, engage and empower people to make a difference to their own and other people’s health. For more information please visit itvplc.com.
About Initial
Initial is one of the UK’s leading entertainment content creators and producers. Part of Endemol Shine UK, the UK’s largest television production group, Initial is behind hit shows such as Big Brother, Tenable and Total Wipeout. Initial has been the producer of Soccer Aid since its inception in 2006 and has produced all 6 events for ITV.
About Hublot
Hublot, the Swiss luxury watchmaker, is to be the official timekeeper of the Soccer Aid for Unicef match at Old Trafford on 10th June. From in-house watch complications, including award-winning minute repeaters and tourbillons, to revolutionary materials such as patented and scratch resistant Magic Gold, coloured Texalium carbon fibre, and transparent sapphire cases to world class collaborations such as Ferrari, FIFA™ World Cup, UEFA Champions League and Europa LeagueTM, Hublot characterises itself through the “Art of Fusion” philosophy, bringing tradition into the future. On a commercial level, the network of stores currently stands at more than 80 exclusive boutiques around the world (Geneva, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Paris, London, Berlin, Moscow, New York, Miami, Beverly Hills, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumpur, Ginza, Frankfurt, Zermatt…). For more information, visit www.hublot.com
About PUMA
PUMA is one of the world’s leading Sports Brands, designing, developing, selling and marketing footwear, apparel and accessories. For over 65 years, PUMA has established a history of making fast product designs for the fastest athletes on the planet. PUMA offers performance and sport-inspired lifestyle products in categories such as Football, Running and Training, Golf, and Motorsports. It engages in exciting collaborations with renowned design brands to bring innovative and fast designs to the sports world. The PUMA Group owns the brands PUMA, Cobra Golf and Dobotex. The company distributes its products in more than 120 countries, employs more than 11,000 people worldwide, and is headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany. For more information, please visit:
http://www.puma.com
About UK Government Aid Match
Donations to Soccer Aid for Unicef made by the UK public from Friday 6th April until Friday 6th July 2018 will be matched by the UK Government up to £5 million. UK Aid Match funding will go towards UNICEF programmes in Swaziland and Lesotho.
The UK Aid Match scheme is run by the Department for International Development, and brings charities, the British public and the UK government together to collectively change the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. For every £1 donated to a selected charity appeal, the government will also contribute £1 of UK aid to enable the charity to go further in changing and saving lives.