PARIS: Multiple Olympic champion Usain Bolt will line up opposite British pop star Robbie Williams in a charity football match at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium, the Jamaican revealed on Tuesday.
Now retired, Bolt had given a teaser of what was to come on Twitter on Monday, claiming that he had signed for a football club and would reveal all 24 hours later.
Well, his new team is the Soccer Aid World XI — a motley crew put together to help raise funds for the United Nations Children’s Fund, Unicef.
Not only had football-mad Bolt, the fastest man alive, been recruited for the match, but he comes straight into the team as captain, with former Take That star Williams leading out an England side in opposition.
Speaking on a publicity clip published by Bolt, 31, on his Twitter account on Tuesday, Williams, decked out in an England shirt, says the match will feature “celebrities, legends and a brand new captain for Soccer Aid World XI.”
Manchester United fan Bolt then appears and adds: “Robbie, let me entertain you,” in a reference to Williams’s hit 1998 song of the same name.
The promotional video features the likes of Brazilian great Ronaldinho and Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane, as well as American comedy actor Will Ferrell.
Soccer Aid aims to raise money to help children around the world and organizes charity matches featuring celebrities and former football stars.
This match will be played on June 10, just before the World Cup gets underway in Russia.
Bolt is an eight-time Olympic champion, 11-time world champion and holds the world records in the 100 and 200 meters.
Williams is the best-selling British solo artist in the United Kingdom.
Usain Bolt signs up with football club... for a charity match
Usain Bolt signs up with football club... for a charity match
Esports World Cup 2026 tickets go on sale
- First wave of tickets includes early-bird passes, premium experiences, special travel offers ahead of 7-week competition for record-breaking $75m prize pool
RIYADH: The Esports World Cup Foundation has officially opened ticket sales for the Esports World Cup 2026, the world’s largest esports event, which returns to Riyadh from July 6 to Aug. 23.
The first wave of ticket options for fans is now live at esportsworldcup.com and through international ticketing partners Tixr (US and EU), Webook (Middle East and Saudi Arabia), Platinumlist (Middle East and India), and Damai (China), alongside special travel packages from Saudia Holidays.
EWC 2026 will feature a record-breaking $75 million prize pool that reflects the evolution of the EWC as a premier sporting event and the anchor multi-title competition within the global esports ecosystem.
Over 2,000 players representing more than 200 clubs and over 100 countries will compete in Riyadh in the industry-leading cross-game club championship that is now a focal point of the esports calendar.
Saudia Holidays, the travel division of Saudia, the Kingdom’s national carrier, is offering an all-in-one early-bird package to experience the Esports World Cup, including return flights, hand-picked hotels near the action, and a free all-access pass for the full duration of the stay, with simple booking and no hidden fees.
Regular tournament passes and daily passes will be released in the next wave of sales.
The EWCF has officially confirmed the weekly schedule for EWC 2026, locking in seven weeks of world-class competition.
Early-bird ticket options include the Weekly All-Access Pass, which offers the best value to international visitors, with unlimited event access, fast-track access to all esports stages, festival experiences, and a limited-edition goodie bag.
The Premium Tournament Pass gives fast-track entry to every match of the selected game tournament, plus a limited-edition goodie bag.
The Esports Embassy option offers high-end hospitality in a luxurious private environment, with premium viewing lounges, curated food and beverages, and private meeting spaces.
