Prince William Sparks Backlash as He Skips World Cup to Avoid Awkward Encounter — No, It's Not Harry
William's decision to skip the FIFA Club World Cup in the US after the UK made the semifinals has come as a surprise to many.
Prince William is a staunch supporter of soccer, passionately cheering on his favorite Aston Villa from the stands. Against that backdrop, William's decision to skip the FIFA Club World Cup in the US after the UK made the semifinals has come as a surprise to many, sparking backlash.
Royal commentator Daniela Elser emphasized that William's decision has raised eyebrows, particularly because he serves as President of the Football Association, News Australia reported. While other royal families have been cheering on their national teams from the stands, William has remained in the UK.
Elser clarified that instead of travelling to the US, the future king recently visited Hastings, East Sussex, where he met local fishermen, played mini golf and was officially inducted into the Winkle Club, a traditional local society. However, royal expert Dan Wakeford claimed in his newsletter that William has another reason for staying away from the tournament. According to Wakeford, the Prince of Wales wants to avoid any possibility of meeting US President Donald Trump during a visit to America.
A palace insider told Wakeford, “Trump loves the royals, and William and Kate especially, so there are concerns within royal circles that if William turns up in America right now, Trump will make a beeline for him. William’s done more than enough Trump-time over the past year." They continued, “He (William) doesn’t want to be associated with Trump more than he needs to be. As a future head of state, he knows he has to engage with world leaders and press the flesh, but he wants to keep his distance where he can. Turning down a meeting on home soil would be a bad look.”
Trump has publicly praised William on several occasions. After meeting the Prince of Wales in Paris in December 2024, Trump described him as doing a "fantastic job" and called him a "good-looking guy … He looked really, very handsome." More recently, he also referred to William as "remarkable" and "amazing."
While he has missed the early stages of the tournament, William may still make the trip if England reaches the final.
Speaking on Travis Kelce's podcast earlier this month, the Prince of Wales said he would “definitely” attend if England made it to the final. With England now in the semi-finals against Argentina, there is still a chance William could travel to Dallas for the final, where a meeting with President Trump could become difficult to avoid if both are in attendance.
