Sean Carrington, the Wigan roofer who went viral after getting 'England 2026 World Cup winner' tattooed on his leg before the team was eliminated, says he will add two words to the ink: 'just kidding'. The 36-year-old spent £550 on the tattoo at Holy Trinity Tattoo Studio in Standish after England's 2-1 win over DR Congo in the Round of 32, convinced Thomas Tuchel's side would win the tournament.
Tattoo Regret and Humorous Response
England's hopes ended with a semi-final loss to Argentina, leaving Carrington with a permanent prediction gone wrong. Taking the disappointment in stride, he joked about adding 'just kidding' beneath the original design. 'I'll be honest, I thought I was going to look like a footballing genius when I got the tattoo done. Unfortunately, things didn't quite go to plan, but I've had a lot of laughs about it since,' Carrington said.
Hotel Football Compensates with VIP Stay
To soften the blow, Hotel Football, the Manchester hotel co-founded by Gary Neville and his Class of '92 teammates, invited Carrington and a friend for a complimentary overnight stay. They watched England's final match at Cafe Football as VIP guests, staying in a Squad Room with Class of '92 memorabilia, views of Old Trafford, Sky Sports, and a mini-fridge stocked with retro sweets. Marketing Director Jessica Southworth said: 'Like the rest of the country, we were gutted to see England's World Cup dream come to an end. When we heard Sean's story, we couldn't resist inviting him to Hotel Football. His tattoo has certainly become one of the stories of the tournament, so we wanted to give him something to smile about.'
Carrington's Take on the Experience
Carrington added: 'When Hotel Football invited me and my mate for a stay, it was a brilliant surprise. We had an amazing time watching the game with other England fans, enjoying the food and drinks, and making some great memories.' Despite the tattoo's inaccuracy, Carrington's story became a viral sensation, and his planned addition of 'just kidding' ensures the ink will remain a talking point.
