As well as PM Gordon Brown and Queen Rania of Jordan, a host of footballing icons also attended the event, which was hosted by Gary Lineker and organised by Emirates Stadium Events.
Charity 1Goal is set up to coincide with World Cup South Africa 2010. It aims to get all of the 75m children worldwide currently out of education, back in school.
Bobby Charlton, Sol Campbell, Alan Shearer and Marcel Desailly all signed a blackboard.
The proceedings were covered in a live satellite link-up, which included messages of support from world leaders and influential football individuals from as far afield as South Africa, Ghana, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon, together with the leaders of Spain, Brazil and Australia all made pre-recorded statements in support of the campaign, which were also broadcast into the event.
Footballers Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and David James also appeared on the live feed.
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