Mark Green, a lifelong England supporter, has been forced to watch this year's World Cup from home because his kidney function has dropped to less than 15%. He requires dialysis three times a week and cannot travel more than four hours from London in case a donor kidney becomes available.
Dreams of World Cup trip dashed
Mark, 47, had hoped to take his wife, son, and daughter to the United States to watch England play. He works for the Bank of America, a World Cup sponsor, and could have secured tickets. However, being on the NHS transplant waiting list means he cannot risk being far from the hospital.
“There is no family holiday on the agenda because to go away, I’d need to suspend myself from the transplant waiting list,” Mark said. “Being on the list put a dent in my plans to travel to the US to watch at least one England match.”
He added: “I’d been dreaming of this being the tournament that I finally got to take my son to, but that goal will now be pushed down the road to Spain or Portugal in 2030. I’m hopeful that by then, I’ll have had my transplant and be back to health.”
Kidney disease diagnosis
Mark was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2017 after a routine health check at work. He was added to the waiting list in October 2024 and started haemodialysis in February 2025. The process uses a machine to filter waste products and toxins from his blood.
Kidneys are the most needed organ, making up two-thirds of the overall transplant list. Latest NHS figures show 6,939 people were waiting for a kidney at the end of March 2025.
Football passion
Mark has attended Gillingham FC matches since he was around 12 years old — the same age his son is now. He also runs the Lordswood FC U12 Black youth football club for children who haven’t played for teams previously.
When he was well enough, he followed the England team to the 2019 Nations League in Portugal and the Euros in Germany in 2024. Now, he watches from home and has given up alcohol to give his health the best chance.
As England prepares for their round of 16 clash with Mexico, Mark recalled: “My earliest World Cup memory is of Mexico ’86, so to watch England back in the Azteca will be great, but let’s hope for no hand of God moment! Altitude will be a challenge but England should have enough quality to see it over the line — I predict it’ll be 2-1 England.”
Urging fans to register
Mark urged fans to “take two minutes, either during half time or one of the hydration breaks, to grab your phone, head to the NHS organ donation website, or your NHS app, and confirm your organ donation decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.”
“It takes two minutes but could be life-changing for someone like me. To get my life and that of my family back on track would be the greatest gift,” he said. “The transplant waiting list is at its highest ever level and the only way we can get that down is by more people formally confirming their decision. So Come on England! Let’s support the boys on the pitch and the rest of the country off it.”
Stark statistics
Almost 1,400 people have died while waiting for an organ in England since the end of the 2022 World Cup. In the same period, 16,000 joined the transplant waiting list — a 23% increase.
Of the four nations, England has the lowest proportion of the population registered to donate upon death. England now has an opt-out system for organ donation, but family members are still consulted, so registering your decision ensures your wishes are clear.
Anthony Clarkson, of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “While we’re all cheering on the Three Lions and hoping they bring it home, there is another way we can all support England and get us to the top of a table, and that’s by confirming your donation decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register. If we all come together as a team, we can work towards the goal of more people getting the transplant they so desperately need.”
