Prince William is anticipated to fly to the United States to support England in the World Cup only if they reach the final game. The Prince of Wales, a passionate football enthusiast, attended multiple Three Lions matches in Germany during the 2024 Euros. He even brought Prince George to Berlin for the Euros final, where England suffered a 2-1 defeat to Spain.
It is rumored that William will not travel across the Atlantic for England’s group stage matches but will only attend the tournament if they reach the final on July 18 at the New Jersey Stadium, marking their first World Cup final since 1966. The prince’s attendance hinges solely on England’s progress in the tournament, not Scotland’s, given his association as a patron of the English Football Association. Kensington Palace has not yet confirmed William’s plans for the World Cup.
During England’s victorious 4-2 start against Croatia in the World Cup campaign, William wished the team luck, expressing, “Good luck to England ahead of their first World Cup group match tonight! Here’s to a great tournament ahead.” Despite initial speculations, it is unlikely that William will visit the U.S. in early July to coincide with the July 4 celebrations, considering the sensitive state of UK-US relations following Donald Trump’s criticism of Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the Iraq War.
William has a history of missing England’s World Cup appearances, having skipped Qatar in 2022 and Russia in 2018 due to conflicting schedules. In 2014, he did not attend the World Cup in Brazil, although Prince Harry attended England’s game against Costa Rica. In 2023, when England’s Lionesses reached the World Cup final in Australia, William opted not to attend, citing the short duration of the trip and alternative ways to support the team.
Nonetheless, last year, William traveled to Switzerland with Princess Charlotte to witness the Lionesses secure their second consecutive Euros title by defeating Spain in a penalty shoot-out in the final. The prince’s participation in the upcoming World Cup remains uncertain until the final match, contingent on England’s success in the tournament.