England’s Football Association has extended its partnership with Alzheimer’s Society for a further year.

The link up launched in August 2021 and will continue into the 2025/26 football season.

Through the partnership extension the England men’s fixture against Wales on 9 October will be named an Alzheimer’s Society International. This is the fourth men’s and women’s international to focus support on the charity.

So far £1m has been raised for the charity through the partnership as well as raising awareness about dementia support.

The link up has taken place amid research into the links between sport and dementia, among football and rugby players who are vulnerable to head injuries. The FA also runs a research programme to look more at the links.

"We are delighted to extend our successful charity partnership with Alzheimer’s Society for a fifth consecutive year,” said FA chief executive Mark Bullingham.

“We have achieved so much together over the last four years by using the power of football to raise an incredible £1 million during that time – which has directly helped to fund vital research and support.”

Alzheimer’s Society chief executive Kate Lee added: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be extending our vital partnership with the FA.

!Football has an incredible ability to bring people together, and over the past four years, this partnership has helped shine a light on the realities of dementia while raising over £1 million for life-changing support and research.

“The Alzheimer’s Society International at Wembley in October will be another powerful opportunity for us to raise awareness and encourage people to seek a diagnosis and support if they’re worried about dementia.

“We’re so grateful to the FA and to football fans across the country for standing with us and helping to make a real difference to people affected by dementia.”

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