All eyes were on the training ground as Sam Thompson and Louis Tomlinson came face-to-face ahead of Sunday’s star-studded Soccer Aid charity match — in what fans are calling the “most awkward  celebrity encounter of the year.”

The former Made in Chelsea star, 31, and One Direction singer, 33, both signed up to play for the England team in the annual UNICEF match — but there was one unavoidable twist: Louis is now dating Sam’s ex-girlfriend of five years,  Zara McDermott.

In newly released training photos, the two were seen on the pitch together for the first time, with Sam flashing his trademark smile while Louis kept a low profile. Despite Sam’s recent efforts to play down the drama, the tension was impossible to ignore

Speaking on a podcast with close friend Pete Wicks, Sam admitted people have been waiting for this moment. “Someone asked me, ‘What’s it going to be like with you and Louis?’ I said, ‘I’ve got this.’ But the room went completely silent. Everyone froze.”

He continued with a laugh: “Then I just put my hands up and said, ‘Relax guys, I’m cool.’”

Zara, 28, has been inseparable from Louis since they went public in March, shortly after her split from Sam. The timing of the new romance raised eyebrows, but Sam has publicly taken the high road, even after completing a grueling 260-mile charity trek for UNICEF just weeks earlier.

While both Louis and Sam remain focused on raising money for a good cause, fans watching Sunday’s game will be reading every glance and handshake for signs of friction — and maybe a few forced smiles.