Legends Charity Game: Who is playing, squads, kick-off time and how to watch Portugal vs World XI today | OneFootball

The match will become an annual event in the lead-up to the 2030 World Cup

A star-studded charity football match featuring several Premier League legends and boxing icon Oleksandr Usyk hopes to raise over €1million (£860,000) for major non-profits.

Kicking off at 8pm BST on September 15, the Legends Charity Game will pit a squad of Portugal’s all-time greats - including Nani, Deco and Ricardo Carvalho - against a “World Legends” group comprised of 20 global footballing icons plus the current undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

Long-time Real Madrid defender Pepe, who retired following last year’s European Championship to cap a career spanning more than two decades, will also line up for the hosts.

Edwin van der Sar joins Cech as the visitors’ two iconic shot-stoppers, with talent scattered throughout the rest of a squad that boasts the likes of Michael Owen, Kaka, Carles Puyol, Alessandro Del Piero and Henrik Larsson as well as a few more eye-catching names.

With plans for a full turn-out at the 50,000-capacity stadium in Lisbon and “millions” more expected to tune in around the globe, the event has been described by organisers as a “rallying cry for unity, compassion, and purpose.”

A statement on the official website added that “every goal scored, every cheer from the stands, and every donation raised will help transform lives across Ukraine, Portugal and around the world.”

Date, kick-off time and venue

The 2025 Legends Charity Game is scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off today on Monday, September 15.

The match will take place at Sporting’s Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal.

Where to watch Legends Charity Game

TV channel: The game will not be shown live on television in in the UK.

Live stream: However, all the action will be streamed live and for free on the ITVX website and app, with build-up starting at 7pm.

According to the event’s official website, which contains other streaming options for viewers around the globe, an English language live stream will also be available in the UK from 7pm on the YouTube channel FUTBIN.

Legends Charity Game squads

Portugal Legends squad

Ex-Portuguese midfielder-turned-coach Costinha has been charged with managing a team full of his country’s best players from years gone by.

Portugal Legends squad

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

World Legends squad

With legendary Brazilian full-back Roberto Carlos in the role of player-manager, the World Legends squad boasts some of football history’s top talents from around the globe as well as one surprise entrant...

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

Plus

That’s right; in addition to some of football’s most well-known names, Ukrainian boxing legend and undisputed heavyweight champion Usyk will take part in the match, with his Usyk Foundation one of several groups partnered with the event.

Special guest: Undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk will play in the Legends Charity Game in Lisbon

Getty Images

Legends Charity Game prediction

One wonders what position Usyk will be deployed in, and the impact the big boxer may have in whatever minutes he is afforded.

Regardless, his World Legends team-mates and their Portuguese counterparts bring plenty of footballing firepower themselves.

Some, like former Napoli midfielder and current Slovakian national team assistant Marek Hamsik, and ex-Real Madrid man Fabio Coentrao, are still in their late 30s.

The majority, however, are in their mid-40s to late 50s, while Romanian great Gheorghe Hagi turned 60 earlier this year.

We probably shouldn’t expect a high-octane affair, then, but there will surely be a few flicks and tricks on display as well as a smattering of goals as both sets of legends look to put on a good show for fans in this charity fundraiser.

Draw, 4-4.