Prince William is only expected to attend this year’s World Cup if England or Scotland make it to the final – avoiding a potentially tricky run-in with Donald Trump.
The Prince of Wales, who is president of the Football Association, is not planning to attend any other games at the tournament across the US, Canada and Mexico.
The exception will be if either or both of the home nations make it to the showpiece final at the New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, the Daily Mail understands.
Kensington Palace has not confirmed the prince’s plans for the event, but it comes amid strained UK-US relations despite King Charles‘s successful state visit in April.
The Royal Household is said to be keen to avoid an awkward meeting between Mr Trump and William just months after Charles’s hard work in rebuilding bridges with the President – and the prince will therefore only travel to the final if necessary.
Last year royal aides were thought to have been looking at William attending a game to coincide with Independence Day on July 4 – but this is now unlikely following the US-Israeli war on Iran and Mr Trump falling out with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
William is instead cheering on the team at home and is thought to have watched England’s opening match against Croatia on Wednesday in Windsor, where he lives with wife Kate and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
He posted on social media before the match: ‘Good luck to England ahead of their first World Cup group match tonight! Here’s to a great tournament ahead.’ He signed off the message with a ‘W’ along with emojis of a flexed bicep and a rocket ship.
Prince William and Prince George at England v Spain in the Euro 2024 final on July 14 that year
Prince William and Donald Trump in Windsor during the President’s visit on September 17, 2025
The prince travelled to Berlin with George for the Euro 2024 final against Spain, which England lost 2-1 – while Kate, Charlotte and Louis watched on TV from home.
William went to three England games at that tournament in Germany – the other two being the quarter-final against Switzerland and group stage game against Denmark.
But he failed to attend the 2022 Qatar World Cup, at which England went out in the quarter-final; and the 2018 Russia World Cup, when they lost in the semi-final.
Both tournaments were controversial, with Qatar overshadowed by human rights concerns and Russia coming just months after the Novichok poisoning in Salisbury.
The Aston Villa supporter also did not attend the 2014 Brazil tournament, although his brother Prince Harry travelled to watch England play Costa Rica in a group game.
William did go to the 2010 South Africa tournament with Harry to watch England v Algeria, and he also saw England v Paraguay at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Harry, who stepped down as a senior royal in 2020 and moved to the US with wife Meghan, was not seen at England’s first match against Croatia on Wednesday.
The Duke of Sussex now lives in California, where England would only play if they finish second in their group and get to the resultant quarter-final on July 10.
Prince Harry attends England v Costa Rica at the 2014 Brazil World Cup in Belo Horizonte
Prince Harry and Prince William at England v Algeria during the 2010 South Africa World Cup
This would be at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles – where Harry and Meghan saw Beyoncé in May 2025, and Harry joined Princess Eugenie for the Superbowl in 2022.
In 2023, William faced a backlash over his decision not to attend the Women’s World Cup final in Australia, amid accusations he would have gone if the men were playing.
No senior British Royal Family member attended the match in Sydney, which England lost 1-0 – but Spain’s Queen Letizia was there with her daughter Infanta Sofia.
The prince was understood to have made the decision not to go to the game because a trip to Sydney would involve flying across the world for a very short period of time.
Queen Elizabeth II attended the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley and presented captain Bobby Moore with the trophy after England beat West Germany 4-2.
King George V was the first monarch to attend a football match when he watched the 1914 FA Cup final between Burnley and Liverpool at Crystal Palace.
