Prince William has delivered a blunt two-word verdict on England's chances of winning the 2026 World Cup: "I think winning it." The Prince of Wales made the remark during a surprise appearance on the New Heights podcast hosted by NFL stars Jason and Travis Kelce, filmed after England's first group stage match against Croatia.
Royal Family's football views revealed
William disclosed that his father, King Charles, "hates football" and that few members of the Royal Family are keen followers of the sport. The revelation came as the prince discussed the national team's prospects under new manager Thomas Tuchel.
"He's got them into a really good frame of mind," William said of Tuchel. "The team playing with more freedom, more fluidity… Thomas I think, prefers to go a bit more out there, and if we lose, we lose playing the way we want to play. And if you're going to score four goals, we'll score five. And I think that's a really good, really good attitude."
Culture shock for England fans
Travis Kelce asked the prince what would be the biggest culture shock for British fans travelling to North America for the tournament. "Is it the light beer?" he inquired. William replied: "Yeah, the beer definitely is going to taste different! I think for them. I think you haven't met your match until you've met a lot of beer drinkers from the UK. We can handle our own beer to anyone."
On a more serious note, William said "the scale of the stadiums" would be the biggest surprise for fans. The trio then discussed how British pubs serve as the social heartbeat of football in the UK. "Those rowdy evenings, those long afternoons, a few drinks, the social elements of it," William explained. "You know, there are plenty of chants you guys don't want to hear… They're pretty spicy. They're quite rude to broadcast."
Laughing, Travis responded: "Those are the ones we want!"
William's World Cup final promise
When asked what constitutes a successful World Cup for England, William simply replied: "I think winning it." He confirmed he would attend the final if the Three Lions qualify, and in a moment of optimism, invited the Kelce brothers to watch the match with him at the stadium.
