ROBBIE Williams looks set to return to the Soccer Aid pitch for the first time in nine years.
The star-studded charity event, which is in aid of Unicef, takes place tonight with England once again going head to head with a Rest of the World XI.
Read The Sun’s live Soccer Aid blog here
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Ahead of kick-off, an England shirt with ‘Williams’, and the number 3 on the back was pictured in the Old Trafford changing room suggesting the pop star will play a part in the match.
This comes after Robbie’s name was omitted from the official list of players on the Soccer Aid site.
There’s also been no mention of the 51-year-old playing a role in the game in the build-up.
The singer wrapped up the UK leg of his Britpop tour last night in Bath and now has four days until he’s due to perform in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Footy fan Robbie co-created the huge sporting spectacle with his close pal Jonathan Wilkes and the first one took place in 2006.
Since then, it’s got bigger and bigger and has raised a staggering £106m to date.
Robbie can on as an 83rd-minute substitute in 2016 when England triumphed 3-2 in front of 70,000 fans.
Two years later he withdrew with an injury. England won that match on penalties after drawing 3-3.
He performed his 90s anthem Angels during half-time at the London Stadium in 2022 when the World XI triumphed on penalties.
This year’s event sees boxing star Tyson Fury managing England alongside Wayne Rooney.
Pitch time would cap off an incredible week for Robbie which saw him unveiled as Official FIFA Music Ambassador.
His first contribution is Desire – the first official FIFA anthem – which will be played as teams walk onto the pitch at every FIFA match worldwide.
Robbie wrote and recorded the track alongside long-time collaborators Karl Brazil, Owen Parker and Erik Jan Grob.
It features vocals from Italian singer Laura Pausini and was produced by Karl and Owen, with mixing by Richard Flack.
The former X Factor judge said: “Music and football bring people together like nothing else.
“Football and music have both been part of my life for as long as I can remember, so this means a lot to me on a personal level.”
It will accompany every official FIFA tournament, including the FIFA World Cup 26 and future global fixtures.
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