Why Tony Bellew is playing for World XI at Soccer Aid – and not England
The Liverpudlian boxing legend will be donning a very different pair of gloves for Soccer Aid as he becomes the goalie for the World XI team - but why is he not playing for England?
Boxing legend Tony Bellew is set to feature for the World XI team at this weekend’s Soccer Aid for UNICEF, leaving fans curious about why the Liverpudlian isn’t representing England.
The charity football match takes place at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, where England face off against a World XI of sports and entertainment stars, all raising money for UNICEF, as first launched by Robbie Williams in 2006.
Despite his Liverpool roots, Belew will line up in goal for the World XI team. The eligibility rules are strikingly flexible – just ask Tommy Fury, who played for the World XI in 2023 despite being born in Manchester, due to his Mauritian and Irish Traveller heritage.
Although there has been no official comment on why Bellew was assigned to the World XI rather than England, in previous interviews he's cited his heritage as containing Native American, Spanish, Irish. He told Winners Talking Podcast, "I don't know what I am, I'm just a person."
Bellew, 41, seemed excited about the match when chatting to Good Morning Britain about his starring role:“My son's a goalkeeper at Everton and has been for three years. I just wanted to prove to him that I can do a tenth of what he can do, so I'm gonna be in goal.”
He added with confidence: “I'll be okay, I can use my feet and I'm pretty good with my hands to say the least, so I'm sure I'll be okay.”
Also on the star-studded World XI squad are the likes of Usain Bolt, as captain, actor Richard Gadd, Strictly star, Gorka Marquez, Harry Kewell, Carlos Tevez, and Leonardo Bonucci.
They’ll be up against a strong England side, managed by Frank Lampard, Robbie Williams, Harry Redknapp, and Vicky McClure, with players like Louis Tomlinson, Sir Mo Farah, Jill Scott, and Steven Bartlett.
Soccer Aid kicks off at 7.30 pm on Sunday, 15 June, hosted by Stamford Bridge. You can watch live on ITV1, STV, and ITVX.
