Masters Champion Danny Willett and Ryder Cup icon Thomas Bjørn will lead the two rival teams for the 2026 Reignwood Icons of Football at Robinswood Golf Club, Bangkok.
Taking place from 31 January – 1 February 2026, the event sees Team England’s Danny Willett, a former Masters champion, make his Icons Series debut as Captain, tasked with defending the trophy on the spectacular global stage of Reignwood Park. He faces a formidable opponent in Team World’s Thomas Bjørn, the 2018 Ryder Cup winning captain, who takes the helm to lead the international side’s quest for redemption.
A long-time admirer of the Icons Series’ disruptive format, Willett expressed his excitement about bringing his competitive edge to Thailand for the first time. The two captains will be responsible for managing 24 of the world’s most iconic footballers, in a high-stakes, 10-hole team matchplay showdown.
Danny Willett, Team England Captain, said: “Taking on the captaincy for Team England is a challenge I’m really looking forward to. The way the Icons Series brings together elite athletes from different worlds in such a high-pressure, innovative format is exactly what makes it so unique. I’m incredibly excited to be heading to Thailand to lead Team England. We know Team World will be looking for redemption, but I’m ready to get stuck in and make sure we keep the trophy in English hands.”
Thomas Bjørn, Team World Captain, added: “I’ve always been fascinated by the crossover between elite sports, and the Icons Series captures that competitive spirit perfectly. Leading Team World is a great honour, especially with a roster of footballers who are as passionate about golf as they were about winning on the pitch. We’ve assembled a group of winners, and my job is to make sure we channel that professional instinct to bring the trophy home. I can’t wait to get to Bangkok.”
The Captains’ Pedigree
Danny Willett (Team England) The Sheffield-born star is one of England’s most successful modern golfers. A former Masters Champion (2016), Willett has amassed 8 DP World Tour wins and represented Europe in the 2016 Ryder Cup. Known for his grit and technical precision, he brings a "win at all costs" mentality to the England dugout.
Thomas Bjørn (Team World) Commonly known as "The Great Dane," Bjørn is Denmark’s most successful golfer and a true giant of the game. With 15 DP World Tour wins and 21 professional victories worldwide, his legacy is defined by his leadership. As the winning 2018 Ryder Cup Captain, he famously led Europe to a historic victory in Paris, bringing an unrivalled level of tactical matchplay experience to the Team World dugout.
The 2026 rosters feature a "who's who" of football icons:
Team England - Captained by Danny Willett:
- Jimmy Bullard
- Andrew Cole
- Robbie Fowler
- Joe Hart
- Paul Ince
- Phil Jagielka
- Jermain Jenas
- Phil Jones
- Teddy Sheringham
- Lee Sharpe
- John Terry
- Theo Walcott
Team World - Captained by Thomas Bjorn:
- Gareth Bale
- Gabriel Batistuta
- Nigel de Jong
- Ryan Giggs
- David Ginola
- Ruud Gullit
- Aaron Ramsey
- John Arne Riise
- Andriy Shevchenko
- Dwight Yorke
- Gianfranco Zola
Fans attending will see:
24 superstar footballers competing in live matchplay golf
Team rivalries played out hole-by-hole
The return of The $10M Swing – golf’s richest single hole
Entertainment, hospitality and fan-interaction moments
Coverage broadcast globally and across Icons channels
Tickets are on sale now at www.icons-series.com
HOW TO WATCH
The Reignwood Icons of Football will be presented live to millions worldwide via Icons Series YouTube platforms and international broadcast partners. Fans will be able to watch the action unfold live alongside full highlight packages of the tournament across the weekend 31 January - 1 February 2026.
