In a dazzling display of talent and philanthropy, the Sidemen FC charity match at Wembley Stadium captivated audiences worldwide, raising an impressive £4,733,004 for various charities. The event, held on Saturday, saw all 90,000 tickets sell out within three hours, indicating the massive appeal of the event. The YouTube All Stars emerged victorious over Sidemen FC following a tense penalty shootout after both teams were deadlocked at a 9-9 draw at full-time.
The match featured a star-studded lineup, including YouTube phenomenon Mr Beast, who played for the YouTube All Stars. The Sidemen, comprising seven members—Olajide 'JJ' Olatunji (KSI), Simon Minter (Miniminter), Joshua Bradley (Zerkaa), Tobit 'Tobi' Brown (TBJZL), Ethan Payne (Behzinga), Vikram Singh Barn (Vikkstar123), and Harry Lewis (W2S)—boast over 146 million YouTube subscribers. These content creators have grown from making gaming content in their bedrooms to spearheading a multi-million pound internet empire.
Captained by Miniminter for Sidemen FC and IShowSpeed for the YouTube All Stars, the match attracted more than 8 million viewers globally via livestream. This immense reach underscores the Sidemen's influence, with their channels amassing over 6 billion views worldwide.
Alongside thrilling gameplay, audiences were treated to surprise half-time performances from rapper AJ Tracey and KSI, who performed his track "Thick Of It." By half-time, the excitement was palpable as both teams were tied at 4-4. The encounter concluded with the YouTube All Stars clinching victory on penalties after a high-scoring match.
The funds raised will benefit several charitable organizations, including BBC Children in Need, Bright Side—an advocate for equal opportunities—and M7 Education, an educational charity. The Sidemen expressed pride in raising nearly double the amount from their previous charity match at West Ham's London Stadium in 2023, which generated £2 million.
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