Niall Horan is sharing a dressing room with Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt and Chelsea and Ivory Coast legend Didier Drogba on the World XI team at this year's Soccer Aid, which takes place at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground on Sunday, June 16.

Horan previously took part in Soccer Aid - which sees celebrities and former players joining forces in aid of UN children's charity UNICEF - in 2016, losing 3-2 to One Direction bandmate Louis Tomlinson's England XI.

This year Horan's World XI team will play against an England team that will feature Olympic champion runner Mo Farah, former footballer Jamie Redknapp, TV presenters Ben Shephard and Mark Wright and fitness expert Joe Wicks. The game will be shown live on television.

"I was gutted to miss Soccer Aid for UNICEF last time, so I'm over the moon to be back for this year's game," said Horan.

Niall Horan meets Pele at Soccer Aid at Manchester United's Old Trafford in June 2016

"Football was pretty much all I did when I was a kid, kicking the ball against the wall until the sun went down. 

"To know that we're playing this year to help children everywhere play, no matter where they are, and just like we did back then, means so much.

"It's always an amazing thing to be a part of, and I can't wait to get back on that pitch!"

Former manager Harry Redknapp and Good Morning Britain's Piers Morgan will be in charge of Horan and the World team, with former Everton and England boss Sam Allardyce and Morgan's Good Morning Britain co-host Susanna Reid managing the England XI. Soccer Aid co-founder Robbie Williams is unable to play this year due to a scheduling clash.

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