Sidemen Charity Match raises millions for good causes at Wembley
The 2026 Sidemen Charity Match drew 90,000 fans to Wembley and a peak of 2.26 million live viewers, raising 6.2 million pounds for the charities Brightside and M7 Education in a 10-10 thriller decided on penalties.
SportsGNGV Editorial Team4 min readLast reviewed September 28, 2026
On 18 April 2026, Wembley Stadium became the stage for one of the most successful charity sporting events of the year. The annual Sidemen Charity Match, organised by the British online creator group the Sidemen, pulled 90,000 fans into the famous arena and was watched by a peak of more than 2.26 million people live online. By the final whistle, the event had raised 6.2 million pounds for charity.
The proceeds were directed to Brightside, which supports young people through mentoring, and M7 Education, which works to widen access to learning. The total surpassed the previous year's haul for the fixture, which began in 2016 and has steadily grown from a friendly kickabout into a stadium-filling spectacle that blends sport, entertainment and giving.
The match itself lived up to the occasion. Sidemen FC and a team of YouTube Allstars produced a remarkable 10-10 draw, a combined 20 goals that set a series record, before the Allstars edged the penalty shootout. English rapper Tinie Tempah performed at half-time, and tickets had sold out within hours of release, underlining how a grassroots idea has captured a vast young audience.
What makes the event notable is not just the spectacle but the model it represents. By harnessing the reach of online creators and the unifying pull of football, the Sidemen have turned entertainment into a powerful engine for good, channelling the enthusiasm of millions of young fans into tangible support for causes that help children and students. Each year the figure climbs higher, proof that goodwill, given a big enough stage, can scale remarkably fast.
