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Soccer Superfan Prince William Gave England’s World Cup Team a Pep Talk—And Used a Smart Strategy to Help Them Win

If there’s one thing we love to see, it’s Prince William shouting with joy as he cheers on his football (aka soccer) team from the stands. And it’s clear this is his favorite kind of royal role, by far. As both the Prince of Wales and patron of the U.K.’s Football Association (FA), William gets pitch-perfect tickets to all the best games. He even occasionally gets to do a Ted Lasso–style motivational talk with the players and coaches.

That’s what he did recently on a surprise visit to England’s soccer headquarters before the team departed for the World Cup. Football’s biggest competition kicks off on June 11 and runs through July 19 in North America—England’s first qualifying game is against Croatia on June 17, in Dallas—so it was the perfect time to give the crew a boost.

So how did William give them a royal rev-up? Read on to find out.

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What did William say to the team?

He wished them the best of luck, of course. The prince made a surprise visit to the national team’s training hub, St. George’s Park, on May 27, to give the “team behind the team” a good-luck message and rallying cry in person. He was there to meet England manager Thomas Tuchel and his huge entourage of support staff who work behind the scenes. What a great strategy!

“I just wanted to take the opportunity to see the team behind the team today, and to say thank you and good luck to all of you guys who don’t get as much acknowledgement or credit as you deserve,” William told the staff. “It’s a big team that gets on that plane. It’s a big team that looks after them. Not everyone gets to see the hard work you put in, and the success of the players comes from the foundations you built, so thank you.”

What else did William say?

He also acknowledged that they have a tough job ahead. “It’s not going to be an easy tournament as you well know … but I have no doubt you’ll rise to the occasion and deliver on all the things that you do so brilliantly.”

He then used some manifesting tactics to send the men’s team, known as the Three Lions, to victory, referencing the recent successes of the England women’s team. “All the things are coming in align now. The Lionesses’ successes that they’ve had, two men’s Euros finals—kind of feels like we’re closing in on that sort of ambition,” he said. “Go with my blessings and best wishes to all of you. Enjoy it and look after each other and give your best, and I’m sure we will do well, so good luck,” William said on footage on Instagram, raising his hands in prayer.

Even though the players weren’t in attendance this time, we’re sure Tuchel and his team are ready to rally the entire World Cup team. And something tells us superfan William won’t want to stay away from the pitch.

How big of a soccer fan is William?

He’s an absolutely huge soccer fan. William has a genuine passion for what’s dubbed “the beautiful game,” and he was recently seen celebrating his favorite team’s success in Turkey. William supports Aston Villa, who won the Europa League final on May 20 in Istanbul, and the prince was filmed screaming from the stands and singing “Sweet Caroline” with other supporters. He was even spotted declining a phone call that came in during the action. Afterward, William celebrated with the squad at their hotel. We told you he’s a genuine fan!

Will William be attending any of the World Cup games?

You bet. He hasn’t confirmed any details, but if past tournaments are anything to go by, William will likely make an appearance at critical games—though sometimes they do conflict with prior commitments. In 2024, he famously flew to Berlin with Prince George to watch England lose the finals of the European Championships against Spain, and in 2023, the prince received some criticism from the public for not flying to Australia to watch the Lionesses face Spain in the final of the women’s World Cup. However, royal insiders strongly suspect he’ll go to the USA at some point.

What will happen if the England team wins?

Who knows? After all, it hasn’t happened for a very long time. In fact, the only time England’s men’s team has lifted the World Cup trophy was in 1966, at London’s Wembley Stadium. The late Queen Elizabeth presented the captain, Bobby Moore, with the cup. She would later knight many soccer players, starting with Stanley Matthews, and just last year, David Beckham was given a knighthood by King Charles at Windsor Castle.

But back in 1966, the team enjoyed a banquet at a Kensington hotel. When England’s Lionesses scored back-to-back European Championship wins in 2022 and 2025, they were given a parade and victory party (in 2025, it was held outside Buckingham Palace). So, we’re sure William would want to honor the team if they did bring it home.

What does William do as a royal patron of the soccer team, exactly?

William gets a lot more involved as a patron than some other royal family members, mainly because he’s so passionate about football. It doesn’t seem like hard work for the very regal fan. Royal patronages began in the 1700s, under King George II, and royal family members are patrons and presidents of around 3,000 charities and organizations, globally. They represent everything from charities to sporting bodies, hospitals to nonprofits, education to the Armed Forces, and they schedule visits and events to highlight and support the organizations’ work.

As patron of the FA, William is the ceremonial figurehead, attending key matches and finals and highlighting the sport from the grass-roots level to the national team. He took over as patron in 2024—before that, he was president. One thing to know: William is only the patron of England Football; the Scottish Football Association is currently without a royal patron. That’s a little awkward, as Scotland also qualified for the World Cup and will play their first match on June 14.

What are some other notable royal sporting patronages?

The royal family represents multiple sporting bodies. While William loves soccer, Princess Kate is a huge tennis fan, so she was delighted to become patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (Wimbledon) in 2016, relieving the late queen of the role, who, well, wasn’t as into tennis as her granddaughter-in-law. (She attended Wimbledon only four times in 70 years!)

Here’s a sample of some of the sporting patronages the royals hold:

  • Prince William: Patron of the Football Association (FA), Welsh Rugby Union and Swim England
  • Princess Kate: Patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (Wimbledon) and Lawn Tennis Association, Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League
  • King Charles: Joint patron of the Jockey Club with Queen Camilla, and patron of the British Olympic Association, Commonwealth Games and Royal Scottish Highland Games Association
  • Queen Camilla: Joint patron of the Jockey Club and patron of British Equestrian
  • Princess Anne: President of the British Olympic Association, patron of U.K. Coaching, vice patron of the British Horse Society, and patron of the Scottish Rugby Union and the U.K. Sailing Academy
  • Prince Edward: Patron of the British Paralympic Association and GB Snowsport, and vice patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation
  • Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh: Patron of England Hockey and the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association

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Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of stories on the British royal family, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the fascinating facets of the monarchy. We regularly cover topics including the latest royal news, the history and meaning behind time-honored traditions, and the everyday quirks of everyone’s favorite family members, from Queen Elizabeth’s daily snack to Prince William’s confessions about his home life. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

Sports Terms We Now Say Everywhere

Quotes for Success On and Off the Field

Why Tennis Balls Are Bright Yellow

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