Soccer Aid 2023: UFC fighter Leon Edwards joins World XI team

Soccer Aid 2023: Leon Edwards to play for World XI at Old Trafford

The popular charity match, Soccer Aid, is set to return this year with star-studded teams comprising former professionals and celebrities. The England XI and the World XI are scheduled to play at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Sunday night. One of the famous faces to watch out for on the pitch is the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter, Leon Edwards, who will be guarding the goal.

Leon Edwards’s Background

Leon Edwards, a Jamaican-born athlete, has been a professional mixed martial artist since 2011 and has been fighting in the UFC since 2014. Recently, on August 20, 2022, he won the UFC Welterweight Championship after knocking out Nigerian fighter Kamaru Usman at UFC 278 and defending the total against Usman at UFC 286. Leon has participated in 25 MMA bouts and won 21.

Leon’s father was tragically shot and killed in a nightclub in London when he was 14, and this event pushed him into “gang life and crime” during his mid-teens. However, when he turned 17, his mother forced him to join an MMA gym to become an MMA fighter, a decision that changed his life for the better. He went on to say, “I’m truly grateful for what she did for me. I didn’t see it when I was a kid, but now I’ve got a little boy, as well. Now I know she did what she had to do to survive. I never went without something.”

The Big Dream

For someone who lived in the shadow of Villa Park when he first moved to the UK, it is a big dream come true for Edwards to be on the same team as Jamaica’s Usain Bolt and play against Paul Scholes. He said that “To be able to share the pitch with people like that, for a kid like me, it’s a dream come true. It’s a bucket list moment for me. My friends and team are excited.”

A Good Cause

Soccer Aid attracts millions of viewers and raises money for Unicef, with donations going towards providing children with a good start in life. This year’s event marks the twelfth anniversary of the game, and it is the first time in three years that the game has been held at the home of Manchester United.

Final Thoughts

Soccer Aid brings together former professionals, actors, musicians, and athletes, showcasing their skills and providing entertainment for the fans while contributing to a great cause. Hopefully, this year’s game will be just as successful as in previous years in generating significant funds for children in need.