Prince William has jokingly slammed Travis Kelce after the NFL star repeatedly referred to football as "soccer" during an appearance on the New Heights podcast. The Prince of Wales, 44, joined Travis and his brother Jason on the show just hours before Travis is set to marry Taylor Swift this weekend. William also revealed that he is quietly confident about England's chances in this year's World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
William's World Cup Hopes
William explained that his optimism has grown as the tournament progressed. "I’m taking it calmly and quietly and like, come on, we’re going to do well and see how we go. But I am quietly confident," he said. However, he admitted that results can heavily affect his mood. "My weekend goes from being either the best we can in the world when we win. Or frankly, I don’t want to see anyone on Monday morning because I’m really down. And that lasts for quite a few days."
William praised England manager Thomas Tuchel for instilling a more attacking style of play compared to his predecessor Gareth Southgate. "I think Gareth, who was the previous manager, his philosophy was very much of defence. So if we don’t let goals in, we’ll win. Thomas, I think, prefers to go a bit more out there, and if we lose, we lose playing the way we want to play," William said. He noted that the team is playing with "more freedom" and "fluidity."
King Charles's Disinterest in Football
When asked if King Charles inspired his love for football, William quickly dismissed the idea. "Absolutely not, my father hates football," he said, offering a rare glimpse into the monarch's sporting preferences.
Meeting Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
William also recalled meeting Travis and Taylor Swift back in 2024 during her Eras Tour. A photo taken with William and his children went viral at the time. Travis admitted on the podcast that they were "so nervous" to meet the royals. "We were so nervous to meet you guys and the royal family. And Jason has this running joke where he didn’t know what to do with his beer," Travis said.
The prince's appearance on the podcast comes as the US co-hosts the World Cup, and William's lighthearted banter with the Kelce brothers has drawn significant attention.
