Skip to content
Sixers
Link copied to clipboard

Joel Embiid is going to watch a celebrity soccer game, not play in it

Sixers fans can breathe easier knowing that he won't be on a soccer field before he returns to the basketball court.

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is traveling to a celebrity soccer game in Cardiff, Wales ahead of this weekend’s UEFA Champions League soccer final.
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is traveling to a celebrity soccer game in Cardiff, Wales ahead of this weekend’s UEFA Champions League soccer final.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer

The word got around late Wednesday that Joel Embiid was heading to Cardiff, Wales to take part in a celebrity soccer game ahead of Saturday's UEFA Champions League final in the city.

This was surprising, to say the least, considering how long it's been since Embiid played a basketball game because of a torn meniscus in his left knee.

Well, you can breathe now. It turns out that Embiid is going to just watch the game, not play in it. The Sixers confirmed that on Thursday.

So, OK, he's just taking a little vacation. That's not such a bad thing. Embiid is a huge soccer fan, after all – he has even been spotted at Union games.

The celebrity game will include a ton of retired former star players such as Ryan Giggs, Youri Djorkaeff, Clarence Seedorf and Roberto Carlos. According to the BBC, the New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony – who owns a minor-league soccer team in Puerto Rico – is also scheduled to take part.