More Red Lion than Three Lions as YouTubers put on 20-goal show

KSI’s latest project has seen him purchase a minority stake in Dagenham & Redbridge - Jordan Pettitt/PA

One might say, not bad money for mucking about on the internet, but perhaps the fairer comparison is to say simply that these are gifted and hardworking entertainers who are using the technologies of their time to meet their punters where they are. The closest analogue to this Sidemen charity event would be Soccer Aid, and who could say with conviction that Angry Ginge is any more or less deserving of fame and fortune than, say, Olly Murs or Lee Mack (seven Soccer Aid caps each), let alone that bloke whose sole meal ticket was being Robbie Williams’ mate?

At the astonishingly decrepit age of 50, your correspondent must have been pretty much the oldest person in the place on Saturday, with the exception of the dutiful mums and dads bringing excited, starstruck teenagers for a family day out. Wembley said that the tickets, priced between £15 and £35, sold out in two and a half hours. The only downside would be that the bar takings would be a tiny fraction of an England game. But maybe that makes for a more pleasant Tube ride home anyway.

On the subject of money, even if they weren’t doing very nicely out of content creation, one would not advise any of the Sidemen to give up the day job and give football a go. The level was that of a reasonable pub team, although one or two did stand out. Angry Ginge, who recently got up the nose of Roy Keane (hardly alone in that), scored the opener with a thumping, Harry Maguire-ish header. TBJZL (real name: Tobi Brown) scored a genuinely delightful free kick with the outside of his boot. The teams were evenly matched and generally got on with the game with no more or less prima donna behaviour than we see each weekend in the Premier League. Mark Clattenburg, that old ham, was the referee and got involved wherever possible, including when he booked Max Fosh, only to have the yellow card stolen from him by the conjuror and set on fire.

A neat trick, but while the cynic might say that this event is a bastardisation of proper sport and so on, it seems unnecessarily grumpy to impute any sleight of hand to The Sidemen and the YouTube Allstars. They turned up, they gave their fans exactly what they wanted, and everyone went away happy. How many football fans can say that of their team most weekends?

05:20pm

FT after penalties: Sidemen FC 10 YouTube Allstars 10 (1-4 on pens)

The Allstars have done it. Their 100% record from the spot means that they win the 2026 charity match on penalties.

05:18pm

Mrwhosetheboss wins it for the Allstars (1-4)

The Allstars score all their penalties and the game is over. Mrwhosetheboss fizzes it into the corner and the Allstars have won it.

05:16pm

ChrisMD scores Sidemen FC’s first penalty of the shootout (1-3)

He nonchalantly taps the penalty into the bottom corner, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

05:15pm

Max Fosh buries it (0-3)

That’s how you take a penalty. He clinically powers it into the corner.

05:14pm

LazarBeam misses it (0-2)

He never looked convincing and loops his effort over the bar.

05:13pm

Ibai rolls a penalty into the bottom corner (0-2)

Cool as you like. The calmest man in the stadium sticks it into the bottom corner.

05:12pm

The Sidemen FC manager hits the bar (0-1)

Jack Joseph goes for the top corner and smashes his penalty against the bar.

05:11pm

Allstar manager scores the first penalty (0-1)

Calfreezy steps up and slams the first penalty down the middle. It goes through xQc and the Allstars are in front.

05:05pm

FT: Sidemen FC 10 YouTube Allstars 10

It’s a draw after 90 minutes. We need penalties to decide the winner. The never-ending drama continues...

05:04pm

90 min: Sidemen FC 10 YouTube Allstars 10

The seconds tick over into the 90th minute. Will either side find a late winner? The Allstars go tremendously close through George Clarke on the counter. From a tight angle, he can’t find the bottom corner, as his shot goes narrowly wide.

05:02pm

GOAL! ItalianBach scores a screamer

KSI wins the ball back and passes to ItalianBach. From around 30 yards, he unleashes a swerving, long-range effort which deceives xQc and nestles in the net.

With 87 minutes on the clock, yet another goalkeeping howler has allowed ItalianBach to score from long range for the Allstars and level it up at 10 (ten, vidiprinter fans) apiece. I strongly suspect it will suit all parties for this to go to penalties.

05:01pm

86 min: Sidemen FC 10 YouTube Allstars 9

xQc does excellently to save Chazza’s free kick and George Clarke’s rebound. Sidemen FC are released on the counter as TBJZL plays in Deji, but he can’t take the ball in his stride and the opportunity disappears.

04:57pm

GOAL! Miniminter gets his hat-trick

xQc can’t stop this one. Miniminter picks the ball up on the edge of the area and fizzes a venomous effort into the bottom corner. xQc has no chance and Miniminter has a treble.

04:57pm

83 min: Sidemen FC 10 YouTube Allstars 8

xQc has made some errors today but does well to save Miniminter’s powerrful effort and stop the Allstars man from netting a hat-trick.

04:54pm

GOAL! Sidemen FC score in quick succession

Miniminter hits the post for the Allstars, before Sidemen FC stream forward. Arthur TV knocks the ball onto the post at the other end. The ball trickles across the six-yard box and Jynxzi places it into an empty net from close range.

04:52pm

GOAL! Niko restores Sidemen FC’s lead

ArthurTV records his third assist of the match and he crosses for Niko, who takes a superb touch, before half-volleying into the roof of the net.

04:50pm

GOAL! KSI levels it up

KSI is waiting at the back post, and a cross makes it way over to him. He takes a controlled touch and curls an effort at xQc. The goalkeeper should do better, but the ball squeezes into the net.

04:45pm

GOAL! AB curls in a beauty

In the first half, AB wasted a golden opportunity, but finishes like a professional there. AB latches onto Wroetoshaw’s long ball, shakes off a challenge from ItalianBach, and curls a delightful effort over Sketch. The goal survives an on-field review and Sidemen FC have retaken the lead.

04:44pm

70 min: Sidemen FC 7 YouTube Allstars 7

14 goals in 70 minutes. Unbelievable scenes.

The scoreline is more Twickenham than Wembley as The Sidemen’s Vikkstar finishes off a decent team passing move by tucking the ball away. Keeper Sketch doesn’t know if it’s New York or New Year, as Mark Lawrenson might have it. Anyway, it’s 7-7 and still more than 20 minutes to play. I strongly suspect this will go to penalties.

04:43pm

GOAL! Vikkstar scores and Wembley goes mad

ChrisMD and Arthur TV play a devastating one-two, before the latter delivers a low cross into the box. Sketch misses it and it’s an easy tap-in for Vikkstar. He’s lifted into the air by his teammates, who all look genuinely speechless.

04:40pm

GOAL! WillNE attones for his first half error

The Allstars take a corner and Sidemen FC fail to clear it. Max Fosh then attempts an audacious overhead kick. He doesn’t quite connect with it properly, but it turns into an assist for WillNE, who plants a close-range effort into the top corner. After failing to clear the ball off the line in the first half, WillNE has emphatically redeemed himself.

04:35pm

60 min: Sidemen FC 6 YouTube Allstars 6

The second half has continued in the same way that the first ended. Tactics have gone out of the window.

04:33pm

GOAL! Zerkaa taps in to make it level again

ChrisMD dribbles away from two Allstars players and puts a cross into the corridor of uncertainty. Niko challenges Sketch for the ball, and it trickles through to Zerkaa, who slots in from close range. He wheels away and does Christian Benteke’s celebration. The Wembley madness continues.

04:28pm

GOAL! Sidemen FC squeeze in a penalty

Zerkaa does well to win a penalty and he unselfishly gives the ball to AJ Shabeel. He stutters in the run up and takes a tame penalty. Sketch dives the correct way and almost throws the ball into the net.

04:26pm

GOAL! Chazza benefits from another goalkeeping error

KSI sweeps a ball over to Chazza, who has drifted out to the right wing. He dribbles inside and shoots. His strike is heading for the corner and xQc gets his hands to it. However, the goalkeeper allows the effort to squirm underneath it. Chazza sprints towards the corner and kneeslides. The Allstars are in firm control now.

04:22pm

GOAL! Danny Aarons finishes with such confidence

The Tottenham Hotspur fan and FIFA specialist receives the ball on the wing and advances into the box. He drifts inside and on his right foot, plants the ball into the bottom corner. The goalkeeper has no chance and within minutes of the second half, the goals are flowing once again.

04:21pm

47 min: Sidemen FC 4 YouTube Allstars 4

Max Fosh rugby tackles Marlon and referee Mark Clattenburg gave the Allstars man a booking. Fosh then takes a card and produces a magic trick to set it on fire. Clattenburg cant believe it. Does that booking even count?

An extended half time - more than half an hour - with Tinie Tempah doing the show. Soon after the resumption, a booking for All Stars player Fosh, who takes the yellow card from the referee and does some closeup magician business with it, setting it on fire, sir! Even Gazza never attempted that.

04:19pm

46 min: Sidemen FC 4 YouTube Allstars 4

We are back under way for the second half. Which side will prevail after 90 minutes? Or will it be decided via penalties for a consecutive year?

04:13pm

The second half is nearly upon us

Tinie Tempah’s half-time performance has elevated the atmosphere. This festival of football has been a great occasion so far, with the second half starting very soon.

04:10pm

How did xQc not save this?

This glaring error gifted Miniminter his first goal of the game.

03:50pm

You can’t take your eyes off this game

Aside from the admittedly significant fact that there have been a supersized eight goals in the first half, this has been more like a regular football match than I was expecting. The celebrity tomfoolery has been kept to a minimum - obviously there have been some OTT goal celebrations, but then you get that in the Premier League, don’t you? Generally they’ve just got on with the game. The teams are well matched in standard, such as it is, and everyone is having a good time. Miniminter scored his second for the All Stars just before the interval to make it , ahem, 4-4 and I am confident in predicting that there will be a lot more work for the scorers in the second dig.

03:49pm

HT: Sidemen FC 4 YouTube Allstars 4

It’s hard to sum up that first half. Brimming with drama, goals and defensive errors, the crowd have been treated so far this afternoon. Sidemen FC were leading 4-2 as we were closing in on the half-time whistle, but goals from ItalianBach and Miniminter have hauled the score back level.

03:47pm

GOAL! Miniminter slams it into the net for the Allstars

Max Fosh loops a lofted ball over the Sidemen FC backline for the unmarked Miniminter, who is through on goal. The forward chops inside, before planting a powerful effort into the top corner. It’s goals galore and the drama continues.

03:42pm

GOAL! ItalianBach finally gets on the scoresheet

Another sensational goal. ItalianBach executes an exceptional Cruyff turn, allowing him to breeze past LazarBeam. He’s one-on-one again and makes no mistake this time, powering an effort into the bottom corner. Game on!

03:40pm

GOAL! Jynxzi finishes off a lovely team goal

Sidemen FC play some lovely combinations and Arthur TV pulls the ball back for Jynxzi, who strokes a composed effort into the bottom corner. That’s the best goal of the game so far. It’s liquid football, played at a blistering pace.

03:38pm

38 min: Sidemen FC 3 YouTube Allstars 2

We look up and Miniminter is through on goal. He slows down to wait for support. He wants to square it to KSI, who can’t get himself into a goal-scoring position. Miniminter continues dribbling forward and shoots. It’s a half-hearted attempt, which is straight at xQc, and the chances goes begging.

03:37pm

GOAL! A bizarre goal puts Sidemen FC back in front

ChrisMD shoots and it takes a wicked deflection off AngryGinge. The ball spins over Sketch and WillNE rushes back in an attempt to clear. He attempts an acrobatic clearance off the line, but the ball bounces into the net. It’s an embarrassing moment for WillNE.

03:34pm

34 min: Sidemen FC 2 YouTube Allstars 2

It’s end-to-end chaos at Wembley.

03:31pm

GOAL! Miniminter hauls the Allstars back level

It’s a horrendous mistake from xQc. Seconds after that peanlty save, the Allstars retrieve the ball, and Miniminter slams an effort at goal. It’s straight at xQc, but he allows the ball to trickle through his legs. It’s a true from hero to zero moment. It’s raining goals at Wembley.

03:30pm

PENALTY SAVE! xQc comes to Sidemen FC’s rescue

TBJZL clatters into JasonTheWeen, and after a review, a penalty is given. JasonTheWeen steps up and smashes it towards the bottom right corner., but Allstars goalkeeper xQc makes a fantastic save.

03:27pm

25 min: Sidemen FC 2 YouTube Allstars 1

Vikkstar is through on goal, and the home crowd cheers it like a goal, but Sketch rushes out to make a huge save. The Allstars fail to convincingly clear the ball, gifting AB a massive chance. However, the Sidemen FC substitute slices an effort horribly wide. The Allstars then fly forward through ItalianBach, who once again, cuts inside, but provides another unconvincing finish which is easily stopped.

Halfway through the first half and some of these lads are already looking a little leggy on the big Wembley pitch. The standard is decent pub level although there are one or two players who have a bit more about them. Angry Ginge scored the opener with a Harry Maguire-esque header from a corner. Tobi then levelled things up for the Sidemen with a (genuinely) really nice free kick with the outside of the foot. It helps that the All Stars keeper Sketch is two foot and a tater and was never getting near it. Marlon, back on the pitch so I guess it’s rolling subs (makes sense) then scored with a cool finish after racing through the defence. 2-1 to the Sidemen. I don’t think any of these will be giving up the day job though on the evidence so far.

03:24pm

22 min: Sidemen FC 2 YouTube Allstars 1

Miniminter is through on goal, but Wroetoshaw does brilliantly to sprint back and recover. This forces Miniminter to pick out ItalianBach, who is in acres of space. The Allstars man chops inside and has so much time, but he shoots straight at xQc. It’s such a disappointing finish.

03:21pm

20 min: Sidemen FC 2 YouTube Allstars 1

Both sides make a few substitutions. ItalianBach probably gets the biggest cheer of the newly-introduced players.

03:18pm

18 min: Sidemen FC 2 YouTube Allstars 1

The game has been turned on its head and the crowd are kicking every ball. Each attack looks like it could yield a goal.

03:17pm

GOAL! Sidemen FC turn it around with a quickfire double

ChrisMD dribbles forward with the ball and with the outside of his foot, slips a pass into Marlon, who takes it in his stride, before calmly slotting into the bottom corner from inside the penalty area.

03:14pm

GOAL! Sidemen FC strike back

TBJZL and ChrisMD are stood over a free kick. The latter is a self-proclaimed free kick specialist, and everyone expects him to take it, but ChrisMD runs over the ball. TBJZL steps up and strokes a delightful effort with the outside of his foot into the roof of the net.

03:11pm

11 min: Sidemen FC 0 YouTube Allstars 1

What a save from Sketch. TBJZL has the ball on the edge of the penalty area and works some space. He bends a curling effort at goal, but Sketch is there to parry it out for a corner.

03:10pm

GOAL! AngryGinge delivers after just nine minutes

The Allstars strike first. A corner is swung into the box and AngryGinge runs away from Deji, before clinically meeting the corner with an unmarked header, which flies into the roof of the net.

03:08pm

7 min: Sidemen FC 0 YouTube Allstars 0

Upon the replays, it’s an incorrect decision from the linesman, with Niko inside his own half when the ball was played. He was convinced he was onside.

A suitably banterish start to the game as Sidemen manager Joseph makes an early substitution- three minutes on the clock - removing defender Marlon and bringing on Lacy. The two players have a play fight.  Not sure what’s going on there.

Sidemen have the ball in the net but that was five yards offside. Not sure how many of the crowd are up to speed with the laws of the game.

03:07pm

6 min: Sidemen FC 0 YouTube Allstars 0

Sidemen FC have the ball in the net but the offside flag is up. Sidemen FC clear the ball from a corner and Niko is played in. He sweeps a composed one-on-one effort into the bottom corner, but the offside flag is up.

03:05pm

4 min: Sidemen FC 0 YouTube Allstars 0

There’s an early change for Sidemen FC, with Marlon being replaced by Lacy. Marlon is not happy with the decision and confronts manager Jack Joseph. He’s held back by AB. Some early drama at Wembley!

03:03pm

2 min: Sidemen FC 0 YouTube Allstars 0

There is an early stoppage as Allstars goalkeeper Sketch is caught in the face by his own teammate’s knee. Sketch is okay to continue and play resumes with AngryGinge taking the goal kick.

03:00pm

Kick-off

The Sidemen FC get us under way at Wembley.

02:57pm

The teams are out

Sidemen FC and YouTube Allstars emerge out the tunnel to a sold-out Wembley for the 2026 edition of their charity match.

The sides are introduced to the fans and - per Alex’s point just below - the biggest cheer by some distance is for Angry Ginge. Roy Keane will be livid.

02:49pm

KSI: a true all-rounder

KSI, the content creator turned boxer turned football club owner and general multi-hyphenate famous person is being interviewed on the pitch. He’s playing in goal for the YouTube Allstars. There’s a WWE amount of smack talk for the opponents about who’s scoring and not etc. With 20-odd minutes to go, there’s quite a lot of people still to be seated - Wembley has been sold out for this…

02:45pm

AngryGinge is turning into a household name

In 2025, the Morgan Burtwistle was crowned the winner of TV reality show ‘I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!’ The 24-year-old has previously played in Soccer Aid, manages a team in Baller League UK, and is currently a member of YouTube group The Bov Boys.

AngryGinge (Morgan Burtwistle) attended the recent Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium - Charlotte Wilson/Offside

02:37pm

Wembley awaits

02:29pm

Watch it on YouTube

02:25pm

Unconventional managerial attire

The Sidemen XI have taken the field to a tremendous cheer from their generally young fans. I’ve heard the English men’s national side get a lot less generous welcomes here. They’re warming up in a black strip with grey detailing. Their manager, if that’s what we are calling him, is YouTuber Jack Joseph. He’s dressed in a Dickensian frock coat and he is carrying a cane.

02:20pm

KSI’s venture into professional football

In March, KSI bought a minority stake in National League South side Dagenham & Redbridge. He joined the sixth-tier club as a shareholder and strategic partner.

Dagenham’s website said: “KSI’s extraordinary audience, spanning millions of followers across YouTube, music, and boxing, will instantly elevate the Daggers’ profile, creating immense opportunities for commercial growth and youth engagement.”

In March this year, Telegraph Sport went east to see what all the fuss was about.

KSI is now a key decision-maker at Dagenham & Redbridge - Jeff Gilbert for The Telegraph

02:16pm

Who’s playing today?

Sidemen FC team: Zerkaa; Vikkstar; Wroetoshaw; TBJZL; Deji; Marlon; Arthur TV; AmineMaTue; ChrisMD; xQc; Adapt; Jynxzi; Niko Omilana; AB; AJ Shabeel; LazarBeam; Lacy.

Manager: Jack Joseph

YouTube Allstars team: KSI; Miniminter; Behzinga; Angry Ginge; Stable Ronaldo; Squeezie; Mrwhosetheboss; JasonTheWeen; ItalianBach; Ibai; George Clarke; Danny Aarons; Chazza; CarryMinati; Sketch; WillNE; Max Fosh.

Manager: Calfreezy

02:09pm

Who are the Sidemen?

The YouTube group was founded in 2013 and has evolved into an all-compassing multi-million pound digital business. The members are:

• Olajide ‘JJ’ Olatunji (KSI)
• Josh Bradley (Zerkaa)
• Simon Minter (Miniminter)
• Tobi Brown (TBJZL)
• Harry Lewis (Wroetoshaw)
• Vikram Barn (Vikkstar 123)
• Ethan Payne (Behzinga)

02:05pm

Atmosphere building at a sun-soaked Wembley

Good afternoon from a sunny Wembley Stadium where attendees for this 21st century sporting event had to navigate the 19th century transport system - Baker Street station was shut due to overcrowding earlier, and the Jubilee Line suspended, so legions of faithful Sidemen fans got to experience the deep cuts of the Bakerloo Line and a walk from Stonebridge Park. Kick off is still more than an hour away, but the stadium is filling up nicely and the DJ is having the time of his life.

02:00pm

The Sidemen’s charity match returns

Good afternoon and welcome to our live blog for the Sidemen FC vs YouTube Allstars charity football match at Wembley.

Returning for its seventh instalment, the event is organised by YouTube group, the Sidemen. 90,000 fans will arrive in north-west London to witness their favourite content creators and online personalities feature in a blockbuster at England’s showpiece stadium. The event is a fantastic way of raising money for charity, with last year’s edition generating over £4.7 million.

This year, all proceeds will go to the following charities.

Bright Side: a grant-making charity that helps individuals “find and maintain a safe place to call home” and aids “young people in accessing education, spaces and opportunities.”

M7 Education: an educative organisation which “helps teachers bring learning to life through amazing, memorable school trips and workshops.”

This game is the 10th anniversary of this fundraiser. Back in 2016, the match was held at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, with the Sidemen winning 7-2. Three matches were hosted at The Valley, Championship outfit Charlton Athletic’s home, between 2017 and 2022, before a game at the London Stadium in 2023 and last year’s edition at Wembley.

After a decade of exponential growth, the popularity of these internet stars and influencers has skyrocketed, and it promises to be an unforgettable occasion for a generation of young spectators.

In 2025, it was 9-9 after 90 minutes, with the All Stars claiming a 5-4 penalty shootout win. It was their first victory in the event since 2017.

This afternoon’s match marks a different direction for the event. Some Sidemen members, KSI, Miniminter and Behzinga, will play on the All Stars side. Meanwhile, Zerkaa, Wroetoshaw, Vikkstar and TBJZL will stay on the Sidemen team.

You can freely watch the game via a live stream, which begins at 14:10, on the Sidemen’s YouTube channel.

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