Rasmus Sojmark talks about the Legends Charity Game ahead of SBC Summit

Ahead of SBC Summit 2025, SBC Events is happy to announce that the Legends Charity Game will be taking place on Monday, September 15, and will be one of the most iconic parts of the upcoming events.

In an interview, SBC Founder and CEO Rasmus Sojmark has welcomed the opportunity to host what he described as a "dream come true." The game will reunite some of Portugal’s greatest soccer players and pit them against some of the world’s finest modern-day players in front of a 60,000 crowd at either Estádio da Luz or Estádio José Alvalade, depending on Champions League scheduling.

The event will reunite LuísFigo, Deco, Carvalho, Simão, Maniche, FábioCoentrão, VitorBaia, NunoGomes, HélderPostiga for the Portugal Legends team, which will go up against the World Legends team captained by GeorgiosKaragounis.

The proceeds, argues Sojmark, are expected to reach more than €1,000,000 and be donated to four distinct organizations: the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, the Portuguese Red Cross, International Alert, and b.

"We’ve poured everything into making it special, not because we had to, but because we believe in it. The players believe in it too. It is going to be emotional and genuinely amazing, and we can’t wait to share it with everyone," Sojmark added, commenting on this opportunity.

Commenting on the motivation behind the Legends Charity Game, Sojmark said that he has always been a soccer fan, and he would never have imagined organizing a star-studded soccer game himself.

"If you had told me as a kid, sitting in front of my screen for hours playing Championship Manager, picking the likes of Figo, Mendieta, Cafu, Zanetti, Hagi, Del Piero, and Schmeichel for my ultimate squad, that one day I would be organising a real-life legends match, I wouldn't have believed it," he explained in the interview.

He also commented on the World Legends team, which will be captained by Karagounis, who was also the captain of the Greek team in 2004.

"As mentioned, Karagounis will be lining up for the World Legends team, and I have no doubt some of the Portuguese players will be itching for a little revenge after that Euro 2004 final. That kind of history adds so much depth to this game. It’s not just about who’s playing, it’s about the stories, the rivalries, the shared memories that come flooding back," Sojmark added.

The World Legends team will reunite the likes of Edwin van der Sar, Marco Materazzi, Cafu, Javier Zanetti, Christian Karembeu, Patrice Evra, Carles Puyol, Marek Hamšík, and many others.

The team will be managed by Peter Schmeichel and Diego Lugano, who will serve as assistant manager. Taking a question on why Sojmark believed that the Legends Charity Game is an important part of the upcoming SBC Summit event, and associated festivities, he had this to say:

"Football has this incredible, almost magical power to bring people together, often in ways nothing else can. I’ve seen total strangers become best friends (or mortal enemies) over a last-minute goal. It’s one of the only things that can make grown adults paint their faces, cry on live TV, and believe that "this year is our year"… every single year. But behind all the passion and drama, football also has a serious superpower: it connects people. That’s what makes it such a powerful platform for rallying people behind meaningful causes."

Sojmark also spoke about the prize fund, which was settled at more than €1,000,000, acknowledging how much could be achieved through the event.

"Setting a goal of €1,000,000 was about being honest with ourselves about what this match could achieve," he said. To help reach more people, the game will be televised and streamed and will feature a Champions League-level of coverage with multiple camera angles.

Onboarding sponsors was another important part of the process, which Sojmark said was more than just having the sponsor feature their logo in a prominent position.

"We are building something with substance. A world-class lineup of true football legends. A clear, ambitious goal to raise €1,000,000. Four incredible charities. And most of all, a belief that football has the power to bring people together and inspire action."

The Legends Charity Game is set for September 15, one day of SBC Summit 2025, which is due to kick off in September 2026. Sojmark has hailed this as a way to open the event with purpose, emotion, and meaning.

With SBC Summit 2025 expected to reunite 30,000 delegates, the Legends Charity Game is also a chance to pause and do something meaningful, Sojmark adds.

"It brings together iconic players, fans, industry professionals, and local communities around a shared moment. And starting the week that way, not with a handshake, but with heart, changes the tone of everything that follows," Sojmark remarked.

Image credit: SBC Events