Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster confirmed for World XI squad at Soccer Aid, fans are confused
Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster will swap The Racecourse Ground for Old Trafford on June 11 when a star-studded line-up of celebrities come together to play in Soccer Aid.
Soccer Aid for UNICEF returns to Manchester this summer as a host of former footballers, including Jack Wilshere, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville, come up against musicians, comedians and the world's fastest man.
Usain Bolt will captain the World XI squad when they come up against an England team managed by Chelsea Women's boss Emma Hayes and her assistant for the evening, Line of Duty actress Vicky McClure.
Lee Mack, Steven Bartlett and Reality TV star Kem Cetinay will join Bolt in the squad alongside former Manchester United, West Brom and Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster.
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Foster, who recently achieved promotion to League Two with Wrexham, will take part in world’s biggest charity football match but some fans are confused as to why the former England international has been drafted into the World XI side.
One commented on Tuesday's announcement, saying: "We just ignoring the fact he played at a world cup... for England?" while another wrote: "He literally has caps for England???"
A third added: "ENGLAND’s Ben Foster in the World XI… makes sense."
Based on the below poster, it also looks like Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney will be involved in the event on Sunday 11 June.
Fresh off a historic promotion with @Wrexham_AFC 🏆
— Soccer Aid (@socceraid) April 25, 2023
Welcome to #SoccerAid, @BenFoster! 💙
Don't miss your chance to be there, get your tickets now ➡️ https://t.co/lfgILr0rHR pic.twitter.com/e80rRzHFIi
Speaking to LiveScore ahead of the showpiece event, Foster revealed his delight at being involved.
"Soccer Aid is like an institution now, isn't it? It's been going so long and does such good work every year," he said. "It just seems like a really nice atmosphere and it'll be an absolute pleasure to play a part.
"Being a coach this year for some of the legends of the game as well, I feel a little bit sort of inferior.
"I don't know at what point I'm able to say to some of the best goalkeepers in the world, 'Try doing this a bit better'. But we'll have a nice time either way."
He added: "We're really, really excited for it. I think I'll find it fairly easy because it's kind of both of my worlds mixing together in a way.
"Having played football for the best part of 20 years, I've jumped into this new sort of YouTube world.
"I've already done a lot of videos where we're sort of playing with YouTubers. Now we understand that world, it should be fairly easy for me!"
Here is the Soccer Aid line-up so far, with more names to be announced in the coming weeks.
England squad:
- Captain: Jill Scott (Former footballer)
- Paddy McGuinness (TV personality)
- Bugzy Malone (Musician)
- Tom Grennan (Musician)
- Sir Mo Farah (Olympian)
- Alex Brooker (Comedian)
- Chunkz (YouTuber)
- Joel Corry (DJ)
- Jermain Defoe (Former footballer)
- Karen Carney (Former footballer)
- Gary Cahill (Former footballer)
- Jack Wilshere (Former footballer)
- Gary Neville (Former footballer)
- Paul Scholes (Former footballer)
- Eni Aluko (Former footballer)
- David James (Former goalkeeper)
- Scarlette Douglas (TV presenter)
- Nicky Butt (Former footballer)
- Liam Payne (Musician)
This just in: @LiamPayne and @TommyTNTFury are swifties ✨ pic.twitter.com/5Zxnma2RpD
— Soccer Aid (@socceraid) April 24, 2023
Rest of the World squad:
- Captain: Usain Bolt (Fastest man on the planet)
- Lee Mack (Comedian)
- Steven Bartlett (Businessman)
- Kem Cetinay (Reality TV star)
- Mo Gilligan (Comedian)
- Maisie Adam (Comedian)
- Tommy Fury (Boxer)
- Heather O'Reilly (Footballer)
- Kaylyn Kyle (Former footballer)
- Noah Beck (Content creator and former footballer)
Topics: Ben Foster, Wrexham, Soccer Aid
Jack Kenmare