On Sunday 6 September, Soccer Aid for Unicef 2020 was broadcast live and exclusively on ITV and STV and raised a record breaking £9.3million to help children around the world.

Following postponement, the eagerly anticipated match took place behind-closed-doors at Manchester United’s FC Old Trafford stadium, where a star-studded lineup of football legends and celebrities battled it out on the pitch.

This year’s teams of celebrities and former professional footballers played for ‘Generation Covid’, and the money raised will help Unicef stop the spread of coronavirus and limit the impact on children’s lives around the world.

For the first time in the match’s history, donations were matched by both the UK government and Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, meaning every £1 donated becomes £3 – up to £3 million – until Tuesday 6 October 2020.

It was another enthralling contest between England, led by Olly Murs and the Soccer Aid World XI FC, captained by Mo Gilligan. England, co-managed by Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney and Sam Allardyce were up against Soccer Aid for Unicef veteran Harry Redknapp and another former United and England star Bryan Robson.

After a close first half, the deadlock was broken early in the second half when Robbie Keane scored to put his side, Soccer Aid World XI, one-nil up. Yung Filly soon brought England back level where the match ended at 1-1 and went on to a penalty shoot out for the third year running, with the Soccer Aid World XI FC eventually winning for the second consecutive year.

Former professional footballers including Patrice Evra, David James, Ashley Cole were joined by stars from the entertainment world including comedians Lee Mack, Paddy McGuinness, Mo Gilligan and musicians Serge Pizzorno, Santan Dave and James Bay.

For the show’s half-time performance, Unicef UK ambassador and pop legend Robbie Williams teamed up with four-piece British glam rock outfit The Struts, for an exclusive performance of their brand-new single, ‘Strange Days’.

In support of the appeal, ITV commissioned a special documentary ‘A Game of Two Halves’ featuring Jimmy Nesbitt. The documentary follows Jimmy, who is tasked with traveling to parts of the world to see how the millions of pounds Soccer Aid for Unicef has raised is helping vulnerable children who need it most.

Soccer Aid for Unicef is part of our Giving Back priorities. ITV was named most generous company in the Tortoise FTSE100 index.

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