Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has offered Wayne Rooney an alternative to rowing the River Mersey as part of a World Cup forfeit: captaining the new £26m Mersey Ferry, the Royal Daffodil. The offer comes after Rooney lost a bet made during the BBC's coverage of the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Rooney's Bold Bet and Its Consequences
Before Norway's last-16 match against Brazil on Sunday, former Everton striker Rooney confidently predicted that Norway would not reach the quarter-finals. He declared: "If Norway get to the quarter finals, I'll go on the River Mersey and I'll row down it." However, two goals from Erling Haaland secured a 2-1 victory for Norway, with a late consolation penalty from Neymar. Norway now faces England in Miami for a place in the semi-finals on Saturday.
During the BBC broadcast, Rooney initially tried to backtrack when reminded of his promise by presenter Kelly Cates, joking, "Was that me?" But he later doubled down, recruiting fellow pundits Micah Richards and Joe Hart to join him. Rooney suggested they could row the Hudson River in New York instead, saying, "If the BBC can sort that." Hart agreed, adding, "I'll do the Hudson with you."
Mayor's Alternative Offer
Mayor Rotheram responded on social media, offering Rooney a different way to cross the water. He said: "How about this instead, we can sort out a rowing boat OR in a couple of months' time, we'll launch our brand new £26m Mersey Ferry. Fancy swapping oars for the captain's chair?" The Royal Daffodil, currently under construction at Cammell Laird, will be the first new Mersey Ferry built since the 1960s. Construction began in autumn 2023, and an official handover between the shipyard and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority took place last month.
Rooney's World Cup Punditry
Rooney has been a standout pundit for the BBC during the tournament. His bet was inspired by Norway's Viking row celebration, a synchronized rowing motion between fans and players that has become a viral sensation. The BBC later posted a mock-up graphic of Rooney rowing the Mersey with the Liverpool skyline, captioned "Over to you."
