Basler and Ailton Join Charity Cup
- Former Champions League players including Mario Basler, Ailton and Tim Wiese will face local amateur footballers and celebrities at the fourth Numero Uno Cup in Lippstadt on 6
- All proceeds from the event will go to Kinderlachen e.V. and the Matze Knop Stiftung, with the previous Lippstadt edition raising more than 40,000 euros.
- Oliver Pocher and host Matze Knop will play on the amateur side, with a pre-show, halftime entertainment and autograph sessions also planned.
German comedian and television presenter Matze Knop will host the fourth edition of his "Numero Uno Cup" charity football match at the Liebelt-Arena in Lippstadt on Sunday, 6 September, with kick-off set for 18:00. The format pits a squad of former Champions League professionals against a side composed of local amateur players and celebrity guests, with all proceeds directed to two children's charities: Kinderlachen e.V. and the Matze Knop Stiftung.
A Star-Studded Lineup
Knop's professional team, operating under the banner "Legends for Victory", includes former Germany and club football names Mario Basler, Tim Wiese, Amin Younes, Daniel Pranjic, Christian Lell, Inka Grings, Brazilian cult striker Ailton, and former Hoffenheim forward Chinedu Obasi. On the opposing side, regional Kreisliga players will be joined by comedian Oliver Pocher and Knop himself, who will take to the pitch alongside the amateurs.
Day's Programme and Charitable Aims
Beyond the match itself, the event will feature a pre-show, a halftime performance, and autograph sessions for spectators. Organisers are targeting a repeat of last year's Lippstadt fundraising total, when a similar fixture raised more than 40,000 euros for charitable purposes — though the final sum from Sunday's match remains to be seen.
A Fixture With History
The Numero Uno Cup is staged twice annually — once as a home fixture in Lippstadt, once at an away venue. Knop's side claimed victory at their most recent outing in April, beating the Veteranos of RCD Mallorca on the island. In 2025, the opposition was the Vatican national team. Last year's home match in Lippstadt left a more literal mark on the host: a heavy challenge cost Knop a portion of his right incisor. "A young lad it was. But that's just how it happened in the game," he later remarked. Organisers will be hoping Sunday's contest proves rather less costly.
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