Sky, Stars and Celebs Will All Support August’s Game4ukraine
Game4Ukraine, the brainchild of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian footballing royalty Andriy Shevchenko and Oleksandr Zinchenko will be broadcast exclusively on Sky Max in the UK and Ireland on Saturday, 5th August.
The all-star 11-a-side legends match, set to kick-off at 6 pm at Stamford Bridge, will also be free-to-stream for everyone based in Ukraine. The event is similar to the annual Soccer Aid match created by singer Robbie Williams and his friend Jonathan Wilkes in 2006.
Game4Ukraine could raise millions to repair vital educational resources in Ukraine. ©GettyImages
Sky says: “Game4Ukraine’s mission is to bring the football community and communities beyond together in the face of adversity to promote optimism; looking to the future and rebuilding vital educational resources so that safe and sanitary conditions are provided for the children of Ukraine.”
Raising Funds for the Yellow and Blue
The event’s official website offers a starker summary of the charity event’s purpose. It states: “The Game4Ukraine will raise funds for the reconstruction of the Mykhailo-Kotsiubynsky School in Chernihiv Oblast which was struck by missiles. All the proceeds from ticket sales, sponsorship, and a special range of unique merchandise available on the day will go towards the reconstruction efforts.”
Game4Ukraine will see Team Blue, coached by legendary Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, take on former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s Team Yellow. Both squads feature an array of Premier League, World Cup, and European Cup winners. Stars include Gerard Piqué, Clarence Seedorf, Patrick Vieira, Fabio Cannavaro, Samuel Eto’o, Gianfranco Zola and Michael Essien.
Chelsea FC and Ukrainian international Mykhailo Mudryk will also make an on-pitch appearance. Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko will participate in a non-playing captain capacity as he continues his injury recovery in preparation for the upcoming Community Shield fixture.
The pair are Ambassadors of UNITED24 – the official fundraising platform of Ukraine curated by President Zelenskyy. The duo recently joined the Ukrainian leader in visiting the destroyed Mykhailo-Kotsiubynsky Lyceum school.
Oleh Luzhnyi is the 4rth Ukrainian to participate in #Game4Ukraine! The legendary right-back, Dynamo Kyiv and the Ukraine national team’s captain, will be at Stamford Bridge, 18 years after he retired from the pitch: Buy tickets or donate and watch online:https://t.co/q8SYBLQnZB pic.twitter.com/7ko6fRmuIj
— U24 (@U24_gov_ua) July 3, 2023
Stars and Celebs on the Bench
The Game4Ukraine match is guaranteed to feature an abundance of substitutions as the list of players that have pledged to take part is as long as it is impressive. Antonio Valencia, Bacary Sagna, Carlo Cudicini, Charlie Adam, Christian Panucci, Clarence Seedorf, Claude Makélélé, Danny Drinkwater, David James, Dida, Fabio Cannavaro and Gael Clichy are just a dozen of the footballing legends fans can expect to see in action.
Gerard Piqué, Gianfranco Zola, Glen Johnson, Jack Wilshere, Jens Lehmann, Jermain Defoe, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, John Arne Riise, Joleon Lescott, Luca Toni, Mark Nobel, Martin Skrtel, Massimo Oddo, Mikaël Silvestre, Patrick Vieira, Patrik Berger, Per Mertesacker, Petr Cech, Ricardo Carvalho, Robert Pires, Serginho, Shota Arveladze, Wes Morgan and William Gallas will also play at Stamford Bridge.
Additionally, several celebrities are preparing to take part in Game4Ukraine. Phil Dunster, Russell Howard, Toheeb Jimoh, James Arthur, Chelcee Grimes, Roman Kemp, and Ralf Little are on the team sheet for both Team Blue and Team Yellow. Unsurprisingly, football betting sites are yet to offer odds on the match!
Celebs on the Pitch and the Stage
Fans will be entertained throughout the fixture with Super Bowl-style performances from world-class entertainers promised by the organizers. The bill includes Alesha Dixon, Melanie C, Pete Doherty, The Pretenders, Tom Grennan, and Tom Walker, as well as Ukrainian artist Vakarchuk of Ocean Elzy Band and Boombox.
Chart-topper Tom Grennan commented: “I feel so lucky to be able to be a part of Game4Ukraine where two of my biggest passions, music and football will come together for the most special cause.”
“I can’t wait to play in the match and perform to a packed-out stadium and entertain all the fans. It’s amazing and humbling, and I can’t wait to wear my Game4Ukraine shirt alongside such an A-list cast of international legends on the pitch and the stage.”
How Much Will Game4Ukraine Raise?
Game4Ukraine has not stated how much it hopes to raise in next month’s event. Four weeks ago, a story in the Express suggested June’s Soccer Aid 2023 – in which Grennan played a full 90 minutes – raised £15 million for the UNICEF UK charity.
However, 2017’s Game4Grenfell, which took place at Loftus Road – within walking distance of the location of the Grenfell tragedy – before 17,468 people and a Sky 1 audience generated just £454,124.67. Afterward, Kensington and Chelsea Council agreed to match this figure. It took the total amount raised to £908,000.
