Prince William has revealed what will “shock” soccer fans travelling to the US for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in conversation with Travis Kelce.
As president of the FA and a lifelong Villa supporter, the future king of England knows what he is talking about when it comes to football.
While many Americans may be new to soccer, the Prince has spoken about how football is part of his country’s “cultural heritage” but admitted on the New Heights Podcast with Travis Kelce that there is something that will surprise Brits travelling to the World Cup.
Travis Kelce asked: “For all of the fans who have come over or are coming over for the World Cup, what do you think is the biggest culture shock? Is it the light beer?”
Prince William said: “Yeah the beer is definitely going to taste different; you haven’t met your match until you’ve seen the heavy beer drinkers in the UK, we can handle our own beer against anyone.”
He added: “But I think the scale of your stadiums, I think the size of them is really going to be a culture shock to our fans. We really know our football but to see stadiums that are bigger and can emulate our own atmosphere, that is quite a big deal.”
How Americans can replicate infamous UK soccer chants
Jason Kelce jumped in to ask how Americans can replicate the infamous soccer chants heard on terraces across the UK.
He asked: “One of the things that stands out to me, I’ve talked about this a lot, we lack the veracity of soccer chants; we lack the tenacity and passion. The one thing the UK has down is soccer chants. How do we get that in the US?”
Prince William replied: “It’s a good point, I think you guys have so much passion already in terms of your American football, baseball, and basketball; those are massive parts of your cultural heritage.
“I think trying to recreate that same tribalness around football would be really useful. My weekend goes from being the best weekend in the world if we win to, frankly, if we lose, I don’t want to see anyone on Monday morning because I feel so down.
“That lasts for quite a few days, you guys get that in other ways but if you can attach that to football as well, or soccer, then you would get it.”
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