Wayne Rooney set to come out of retirement

Wayne Rooney is set to come out of retirement to lace up his boots once again as he joins Tyson Fury to lead England in the 2025 Soccer Aid charity match.

The former Manchester United and England star will also take to the pitch as a player for the annual fundraiser, scheduled for Sunday, June 15, at Old Trafford, Rooney's old stomping ground.

This year’s event will see boxing legend and lifelong United fan Fury make his managerial debut alongside Rooney, marking a special occasion for the two sporting icons.

"The prospect of leading my England team to victory this June fills me with just as much excitement as any heavyweight fight," said Fury.

"Everyone knows that I am a huge Manchester United fan too, so it's even more special for me that the game is at Old Trafford this year, and I get to manage one of my heroes, Wayne Rooney."

Rooney, now 39, expressed his excitement about the unique partnership: "I’m a big boxing fan, so teaming up with Tyson Fury is fantastic. We both share the same competitive spirit and will approach this match with full seriousness. It’s great to pull the boots on again and catch up with some old friends."

Rooney will reunite with former teammates Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, while Joe Hart, Steph Houghton, and Toni Duggan are among those making their Soccer Aid debuts. Singer Louis Tomlinson, Tom Grennan, Sir Mo Farah, and Paddy McGuinness will also return for the star-studded event.

The World XI squad, featuring first-time participants like Leonardo Bonucci and Nadia Nadim, is yet to be finalised. Since its inception in 2006, Soccer Aid has raised over £106 million for UNICEF, with last year’s game alone generating more than £15 million.