Why Luke Littler was banned from major darts event despite public appeal?

Luke Littler wanted to try something new. The teenage darts star publicly asked to take part in the 2026 Sidemen Charity Match at Wembley Stadium. But the answer came quickly and it was a clear no.

YouTuber and Sidemen member KSI shut down the idea in public, ending Littler’s hope of playing in front of a sold-out crowd on April 18, 2026. The Sidemen Charity Match is one of the biggest online creator football events in the United Kingdom. Tickets for the 2026 edition sold out within hours after the Sidemen shared the news with their 6.2 million Instagram followers. Luke Littler, who became the youngest PDC World Darts Champion in January 2024 according to Sky Sports and the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), reposted the announcement in early February and made it clear he wanted to be part of the action.

However, his request did not move forward. KSI publicly rejected the idea, closing the door on Littler’s possible appearance in the annual game. The match, held at Wembley Stadium, regularly features top online names and draws massive crowds both inside the stadium and online.

Luke Littler and KSI exchange puts Sidemen Charity Match spotlight on Wembley Stadium showdown

Luke Littler’s interest was simple. He wanted to play football in front of fans at a packed Wembley Stadium. The 19-year-old darts champion has spoken before about enjoying football, and he supports Manchester United.

So when the Sidemen confirmed that their 2026 charity match had sold out, he reshared the post and showed excitement about the event.The Sidemen Charity Match usually features the seven Sidemen members facing the YouTube Allstars. In previous editions, creators such as AngryGinge, IShowSpeed, Logan Paul and MrBeast have taken part. The event raises money for charity and attracts millions of views online.But despite Littler’s growing fame after winning the PDC World Championship, KSI did not accept his request.

There was no sign that the decision would change. The lineup for the 2026 game has not been officially announced yet, but Littler’s name is not expected to be included.Still, the moment created buzz online. Fans reacted to the public exchange, with many surprised that one of Britain’s biggest young sports stars would not be involved. Even so, the focus now returns to the Sidemen Charity Match itself, which once again promises a full house at Wembley Stadium and major attention across social media platforms.