In the lead-up to England’s World Cup quarter-final clash against Norway on Saturday, Harry Kane, the team’s captain, revealed that he had played golf with former President Donald Trump. Kane described the encounter as “I played all right, to be honest,” and commended Trump’s golfing skills.
Trump caught the media’s attention on July 6, stating that he had enjoyed a round of golf with Kane, labeling the England striker as an exceptional player and golfer.
When a reporter inquired about Trump’s remarks regarding their game, Kane confirmed that their round occurred approximately 18 months ago in Palm Beach, Florida.
“Yeah, we played about 18 months ago. He invited me to play when I was down in Palm Beach, so yeah, when the president invites you somewhere … it was a pretty surreal experience just to meet him and obviously play golf with him.” Kane shared. “His golf’s pretty good, to be honest with you,”
Kane’s club, Bayern Munich, was on a winter break from late December 2024 to early January 2025, indicating that their game likely took place before Trump’s second term began.
Having previously stated to a German outlet, golfpunk.de, that he plays to a 3 handicap, Kane went on to praise Trump’s game. “I hope I can play golf as good as him when I’m his age, that’s for sure. “So yeah, unique experience but yeah, I was just grateful he invited me down to play.” Kane remarked. “Harry Kane of England is a GREAT player!!!”
“I think Kane is a great player,” he added.
Following England’s 3-2 victory over Mexico in the round of 16 on July 5, Trump took to social media to laud Kane, exclaiming.
“I played golf with him and I like him a lot. He’s a good golfer. He’s really great.”
The next day, he disclosed that they had played golf together.
“Bleak, bleak. You don’t just pal around with someone like that,” Trump said. “Harry Kane just begging for the Trump Curse to come a-knocking,”
Kane’s acknowledgment of his round with Trump ignited backlash on social media from critics of the former president.
Writer Musa Okwonga expressed his discontent, stating, “Guess Harry Kane has no issues with being a dumb sports washing tool for authoritarianism,”
Political scientist Jules Boykoff, author of the book Red Card: The 2026 World Cup, Sportswashing, and the Fifa Greed Machine, humorously suggested that Kane might be courting bad luck by associating with Trump, who had attended the only game of the NBA finals that the New York Knicks lost before they secured the league championship in June for the first time since 1973.
“Screw this guy. He certainly is no Mbappe. Hope Norway wins.” Boykoff remarked.
Other fans of US football noted that rival strikers, including France’s Kylian Mbappé, who has openly criticized the far right in France, and Norway’s Erling Haaland, would likely have declined such an invitation.
“Guess Harry Kane has no issues with being a dumb sports-washing tool for authoritarianism,” wrote Murshed Zaheed, a former aide to the late Democratic senator Harry Reid. “Screw this guy. He certainly is no Mbappe. Hope Norway wins.”
