Sports
Full 2026 Sidemen Charity Match Lineup Announced
The Sidemen Charity Match 2026 is scheduled for April 18 at Wembley Stadium in London. The event pits “Sidemen FC” against a team branded “the YouTube Allstars”, with proceeds directed to Bright Side and BBC Children in Need. Ticket sales began on February 2 at 9 AM, with standard admission expected to fall between £12 and £29, mirroring the pricing range used for the 2025 match. Tickets sold out but the match will be streamed globally on the Sidemen’s YouTube channel, continuing a model that has attracted millions of online viewers in previous years. Here’s what to expect from the match this year.
The YouTube channels of the seven Sidemen, Zerkaa, Miniminter, TBJZL, KSI, Behzinga, Vikkstar123 and W2S combined exceed 155 million subscribers, giving the charity match a built‑in audience . Since the inaugural football game in 2016, the event has grown from a casual kickabout among friends to a structured fixture that blends entertainment with fundraising. Past editions have featured guests ranging from athletes to musicians, and the 2025 line‑up included notable figures such as IShowSpeed, Logan Paul and Mark Rober.
For 2026, the Sidemen have altered the team format. Instead of placing all seven core members on Sidemen FC, the group has distributed its players across both sides. This change aims to create a more balanced contest and to showcase a wider variety of creator talent. The Sidemen FC roster announced so far includes Zerkaa, W2S, Vikkstar, Deji, TBJZL, plus notable additions xQc, Lazarbeam, Jynxzi and Niko Omilana . One mystery player remains undisclosed, preserving an element of surprise for fans. The YouTube Allstars side features a mix of streamers and YouTubers who have not been part of the Sidemen core, though specific names have not been fully detailed in public announcements.
The match’s charitable beneficiaries were selected to reflect the organizers’ focus on youth and mental health. Bright Side provides online mental‑health resources and support articles aimed at young people, while BBC Children in Need funds grassroots projects that assist disadvantaged children across the United Kingdom . By aligning the event with these causes, the Sidemen continue a tradition of using their platform to direct attention and funds toward social issues . In 2025 the match raised several hundred thousand pounds, and organizers expect a similar or greater total for 2026 given the expanded international roster.
Logistics for the day include a pre‑match program that typically features music performances, sponsor activations and fan zones within London’s Wembley Stadium . The kick‑off time has not been finalized, but previous matches have started in the early evening local time to accommodate both UK‑based viewers and overseas audiences watching via livestream . The stadium’s capacity of 90,000 allows for a substantial in‑person attendance, though a significant portion of the audience experiences the event through the online broadcast . The Sidemen have emphasized that the livestream will remain free to access, reinforcing the event’s accessibility.
Reactions to the revealed line‑up have been varied across fan communities. Some commentators praise the inclusion of high‑profile streamers such as xQc and IShowSpeed, noting that their participation brings additional visibility to the charity aspect . Others express curiosity about the undisclosed mystery player and speculate on how the split‑team approach will affect on‑field dynamics . The Sidemen have addressed these discussions by confirming that further announcements will arrive in the weeks leading up to the match, maintaining a steady flow of information without revealing all details at once.
Overall, the Sidemen Charity Match 2026 represents a continuation of a yearly tradition that blends digital creator culture with traditional sport and philanthropy. By adjusting team composition, expanding the roster to include diverse online personalities and directing funds to established charities, the event seeks to retain its entertainment value while strengthening its social impact . The approaching date will likely bring additional updates on ticketing, match‑day schedules and the final list of participants, keeping the audience engaged until the kickoff whistle.
