Prince William has revealed he will travel to North America for the World Cup final this summer if the England football team secures a spot, while confessing that his father, King Charles, 'hates' football. The Prince of Wales made the announcement during an appearance on Travis and Jason Kelce's New Heights podcast, speaking in his capacity as President of the Football Association (FA).
Prince William's World Cup Plans
William stated he 'definitely' plans to fly to North America if the squad reaches the final stage of the tournament. The admission came alongside a candid revelation regarding the Prince's passion for the sport, which is reportedly not shared by his father. When asked if the King influenced his decision to support Premier League club Aston Villa, the Prince of Wales dismissed the idea, noting that football is not a shared interest within the immediate royal household.
'Absolutely not,' William replied. 'My father hates football. My family [hasn't] got a particularly long history with football. There are a few of us who support teams.'
Royal Family's Sporting Preferences
While King Charles prefers sports like polo, skiing and fishing, Prince William has successfully passed his football passion down to the next generation. Prince George, 12, is a keen football fan and regularly joins his father at Villa Park. The Prince of Wales has previously stated he does not pressure Princess Charlotte or Prince Louis to follow the same club, though the siblings all support the national team.
Prince William has been a devoted Aston Villa fan since his school days, a love he has passed on to his oldest son. However, it is understood that the Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte, 11, prefer Chelsea F.C. Prince Louis, eight, is currently undecided and has even claimed to support five different teams.
Potential Travel and Royal Duties
While the Wales family's official summer holiday plans remain strictly private, the World Cup schedule could see Prince William travel in an official capacity later this summer. Speculation remains high about whether Prince George will accompany his father to the high-profile fixture. It would mark the first time George has travelled to the US, having only made a few trips to mainland Europe and Canada.
The young royal previously attended two Euros finals alongside the Prince of Wales, even matching his father in formal attire for the official outings. He attended the UEFA Euro finals in Berlin, Germany, with William in July 2024. 'William would never have normally taken him to the football because it was an official outing in his role as president of the FA, but George absolutely begged to be allowed to come along,' royal expert Duncan Larcombe told OK!.
