When Team England re-enters the field for the second half of their international friendly against Belgium at Wembley Stadium, the names of the players will be missing on the back of their shirts. The Three Lions said the move is an effort to raise awareness of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
The names will "disappear" from the players' shirts when they return to the pitch after halftime to demonstrate how people with dementia can lose precious memories. The initiative is a part of the FA's partnership with the Alzheimer's Society.
"The custom shirts are being donated by the England squad and auctioned to raise crucial funds to support Alzheimer’s Society research into early diagnosis.
"The nameless shirts originally appeared at the first Alzheimer's Society International in 2022, and are being repeated against Belgium as a recurring, recognisable way to drive home the message that football should be unforgettable," an offical release said.
"We hope to not only encourage fans to donate towards our early diagnosis research but also to support their loved ones just as much as they support their football team," Kate Lee, Alzheimer's Society CEO said in a statement. "This means taking crucial first steps in seeking a diagnosis if they suspect someone they care about may be affected."
