Prince William jokes about boozy England fans and teases World Cup return to UK

Prince William has warned NFL star Travis Kelce to brace himself for England’s notoriously heavy-drinking World Cup fans, while also teasing the possibility of the tournament one day returning to English shores. The Prince of Wales, who serves as the official Patron of the Football Association, made a surprise appearance on Travis and Jason Kelce’s New Heights podcast, released hours before Travis’s wedding celebration with Taylor Swift.

The one-off episode saw William discuss the ongoing World Cup, currently being staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and the culture shock that England supporters might experience when it comes to American beer.

‘You haven’t met your match’

Speaking to the Kelce brothers, William suggested England’s travelling fans would take some beating when it comes to their drinking habits on the road. “I think you haven’t met your match until you’ve met a lot of beer drinkers from the UK,” he said. “We can handle our own beer to anyone.”

The comments will raise a smile among England supporters who have long had a reputation for boisterous behaviour at major tournaments, and William’s remarks suggest he is well aware of the reputation his fellow countrymen carry with them to away fixtures.

Hosting hopes for the future

According to the Daily Mail, William also used the podcast appearance to discuss a potential future World Cup bid for the United Kingdom, floating the idea that the tournament could one day be brought back to English soil. The Football Association Patron has previously spoken publicly about his support for English football’s global ambitions, and his latest comments add fresh fuel to speculation over a possible future bid.

The Mail also reported that William joked about his father, King Charles, having little enthusiasm for the sport, a lighter moment in an appearance that offered American audiences a rare, informal glimpse of the future king discussing football on a major US podcast.

A rare royal crossover

William’s appearance on New Heights marks an unusual crossover between British royalty and American sporting culture, coming just hours before Travis Kelce’s high-profile wedding celebration with pop star Taylor Swift. For NonPro Football readers, though, the most notable takeaway is the Prince of Wales once again championing English football on the world stage, whether joking about fans’ drinking exploits or dropping hints about a future World Cup on home turf.

With England still competing at the current World Cup, William’s comments serve as a reminder of the growing global reach of the tournament, and the enduring appetite among supporters and royalty alike to one day see it return to England.