Andy Devaney
The Reignwood Icons of Football buildup has begun in earnest, and you can almost feel Bangkok’s humidity tighten around it. Joe Hart and Aaron Ramsey have landed at Reignwood Park for a full-throttle week of promotional jousting ahead of the 2026 showdown between Team England and Team World.
As the Reignwood Icons of Football machine whirs to life again, the Icons Series has rolled out a fresh wave of star signings to strengthen both squads.
England and World Add Fresh Firepower
Team England has gone full nostalgia-meets-needle, adding Joe Hart, Robbie Fowler, Paul Ince, Teddy Sheringham, and Jimmy Bullard to a roster that already includes John Terry and Theo Walcott.
On the other side, Team World hasn’t exactly come quietly, welcoming Aaron Ramsey, Nemanja Vidić, and Andriy Shevchenko to join Gianfranco Zola and Gabriel Batistuta. The stage is set; the egos are polished.
Bangkok Becomes the Battleground
Hart and Ramsey’s week in Thailand is part travelogue, part training camp, and part televised mischief. Cameras followed the pair through competitive, Thai-inspired challenges across Bangkok and Reignwood Park, starting with a Pad Thai cook-off judged by a press pack only too happy to watch elite footballers sweat over woks instead of penalties.
From there, the duel rolled into FootGolf and then a tight on-course golf scrap — a teasing preview of how fierce things will get once the real contest kicks off next January.
Hart returns with Team England chasing back-to-back titles after their 2025 triumph. Ramsey, meanwhile, joins Team World as the long-anticipated recruit meant to tilt the balance.
Joe Hart didn’t hold back: “Last year blew me away – the fans, the rivalry, the whole experience. Coming back to Bangkok feels special, and I’m buzzing to kick things off this week. Team England wants that trophy again.”
Ramsey, true to form, turned the rivalry up a notch: “As a proud Welshman, I was never going to miss the chance to beat Team England. We’re building something powerful for 2026 and being here in Bangkok has only added to the excitement. We want revenge against Team England and we’ll be pulling out all the stops to make it happen.”
Organisers Expect a Spectacle
Thomas Brookes, CEO of Icons Series, summed up the momentum behind the event: “This week signals the start of an exciting build-up to 2026. Bringing Joe and Aaron to Bangkok showcases the appetite and momentum behind the Reignwood Icons of Football. With new players joining the roster, the rivalry is taking shape beautifully, and 2026 is set to be bigger and more dramatic than ever.”
Khun Woraphanit Ruayrungruang, CEO of Reignwood Group, added a more traditional note: “Reignwood Group is honoured to welcome all guests to Reignwood Park as the main supporter of the Reignwood Icons of Football 2026. We firmly believe in the power of sports to inspire people of all ages, which is why we remain committed to supporting this tournament for the second consecutive year.”
What to Expect in 2026
The Reignwood Icons of Football returns to Bangkok from 31 January to 1 February 2026 with:
- 24 world-renowned footballers
- Two superstar golf captains
- A rapid-fire 10-hole team matchplay format
- A global live broadcast
- Food, music, entertainment and full fan access
- Thousands descending on Reignwood Park
Coverage will spread across Icons Series channels and major international broadcasters, ensuring the spectacle reaches far beyond Asia.
Tickets are already on sale at the official website, and demand is climbing fast. Fans across Thailand and the wider region have been warned: if they want to see legends from Zola to Sheringham tee it up in Bangkok’s heat, they’d better move quickly.
