Soccer Aid has become an annual event since 2018, raising roughly £137 million for UNICEF over two decades, featuring celebrity and football legends and expanding to mixed-gender participation from 2019.

Practical guidance for hosting charity football events covers defining purpose and scale, setting goals, budgeting, health and safety, marketing, logistics, and digital fundraising tools such as QR codes, JustGiving, and contactless payments, along with formats like sweepstakes, Last Man Standing, fantasy football, watch-alongs, and virtual or streaming formats.

The Community Shield and several football-related initiatives now raise millions for charity, with gate receipts historically funding the charity through matches and modern programs, sponsorships, and TV deals expanding support to causes including The Alzheimer’s Society and local Wembley-area initiatives.

Ethical marketing considerations are emphasized, avoiding generative AI in posters, while promoting inclusive, community-focused approaches to maximize charitable impact and leverage football’s broad appeal.

Smaller-scale football fundraising ideas and platforms are highlighted, including comedy matches, grassroots campaigns, and grant programs, underscoring diverse pathways for football-based philanthropy.

The Sidemen Charity Match, launched in 2016, has raised over £14 million for charity by 2026, with the 2026 Wembley event grossing more than £6 million for M7 Education and Bright Side, continuing a track record of beneficiaries like BBC Children in Need and NSPCC.