Reason why England and Wales players don't have names on the back of their shirts

England will face Wales for the first time since they met in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The stakes are set to be considerably lower this time around, however, with the clash being a friendly at Wembley Stadium.

It will give Thomas Tuchel the opportunity to experiment and fine-tune his tactics ahead of next Tuesday's return to World Cup qualifying with a visit to Latvia. This will be followed by England's last two important fixtures against Serbia and Albania in November.

Wales, meanwhile, will look to utilise the friendly against their long-standing rivals ahead of a crucial qualifier against Belgium in Cardiff four days later. Craig Bellamy’s side have a real shot at qualifying for next summer's World Cup, with Belgium providing their toughest test of the last three fixtures.

But beyond merely acting as preparation, Thursday evening's fixture between England and Wales has another important purpose. The Football Association of Wales, the English FA and the Alzheimer's Society have come together for a joint initiative to raise awareness about dementia, which is why the players' names on their jerseys will be removed for the second half.

READ MORE: Jack Grealish shows class in superb gesture after England omission

READ MORE: Arsenal star Bukayo Saka makes England feelings clear after Thomas Tuchel comments

Why are England and Wales players' names being removed?

In a symbolic act to highlight memory loss - a common symptom of dementia - the players will be without their names on the back of their shirts in the second half of the game. England recently did something similar against Belgium in 2024, when names were removed at half-time.

The fixture holds special significance for families affected by dementia. For the friendly, the two starting lineups will also be accompanied onto the Wembley pitch by people living with dementia. We will see 22 nominated supporters with dementia take the place of traditional child mascots, standing shoulder to shoulder with stars like Harry Kane during the national anthems to raise awareness of the condition.

Among those stepping onto the Wembley turf will be lifelong Cardiff City fan Chris Griffiths, who has been actively involved with Cardiff City Foundation's 1927 Club, a support group for people living with dementia.

"Football in general has been a big part of his life and I think it helps bond everybody together and gives them something to talk about," said Chris's son, Lee.

"I think that's what he values as much as anything, everyone just being together and enjoying whatever event it is. It was a shock prior to the diagnosis, but as you can see, he's still full of fun, and we're really grateful for the experience he's going to have up in Wembley."

FAW CEO Noel Mooney revealed they were delighted to support the charity alongside the FA in raising awareness during such a momentous occasion.

Mooney said: "At the FAW, we believe football has the unique power to bring people together, to unite communities, and to shine a light on important issues like dementia. That's why we are proud to stand alongside the Alzheimer's Society and the Football Association in this historic moment at Wembley.

"By walking out with fans living with dementia, we send a clear message that nobody should face dementia alone. It takes a united team, on and off the pitch, to provide the care, compassion, and understanding needed to support those affected by this condition.

"We encourage everyone to join us in supporting this cause, helping to raise awareness, funds, and hope for the future of all those affected. Together, we can make a difference."

Alex Hyde-Smith, chief marketing officer at Alzheimer's Society, added: "This year's Alzheimer's Society International promises to be a historic night, showcasing so many different experiences of dementia and providing a special moment for our mascots and their families.

"We know beating dementia will require the ultimate team effort, and football is the ultimate team game. Players need their team-mates, coaching staff and fans to support them, and likewise, people affected by dementia need a team of family, carers and doctors. It will take a society to beat dementia and, as with any successful team, we all have a role to play."

Join our new WhatsApp communityand receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.