Prince William's World Cup wish: win it, and his dad 'hates football'

Prince William, Prince of Wales, said a successful World Cup for England would mean “winning it” and playfully claimed his father, King Charles, “hates football”, while speaking on a podcast co‑hosted by American football star Travis Kelce. The light‑hearted chat was released just hours before Kelce’s expected wedding at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

The interview took place on the New Heights podcast, which is co‑hosted by Travis Kelce, a star of the NFL, and his brother Jason Kelce. The episode aired just hours before Kelce was due to marry pop star Taylor Swift’s fiancé at Madison Square Garden, though neither Swift nor the wedding were referenced in the conversation.

William had previously joked in May about receiving an invitation to the highly‑anticipated summer wedding, a comment that hinted at his playful side. During a Heart Radio interview he initially replied “no comment” when asked about the wedding, then added, “That feels like a showbiz excuse but it’s not. I’m hoping, and I’m sure there might be an invitation around, but we’ll see.”

The pre‑recorded chat was recorded shortly after England’s opening World Cup match against Croatia. Jason Kelce asked William to define success for the national team, and William replied, “I think winning it,” adding that he would “cross the pond” if England reached the final.

He also praised the tournament’s organisation, stating, “It’s fantastic. I think it’s been a brilliant World Cup. It’s been really well started and I think the tournament’s been well balanced.” His comments highlighted his appreciation for the event’s overall balance.

William’s ties to Taylor Swift include taking his two eldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, to her Eras Tour concert in London last year, where they met the singer and her fiancé backstage. He has met Swift on several occasions and later joined her and US rock star Jon Bon Jovi on stage in 2013 for an impromptu rendition of “Livin’ On A Prayer” at a Centrepoint charity event held at Kensington Palace.

William explained that his own football passion stems from friends taking him to his first match and the omnipresent football talk at school, rather than a long family tradition. He is a supporter of Premier League side Aston Villa, noting that while a few family members back teams, football has always been everywhere around him.