“Surreal”: Harry Kane Reveals He Played Golf With Donald Trump Before England’s Quarter-Final

Harry Kane has played golf with Donald Trump — and the England captain says it was “surreal”. Speaking in Miami ahead of Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway (22:00 BST), the Bayern Munich striker revealed the round took place in Palm Beach around 18 months ago, after a direct invitation from the US President. “I played alright, to be honest,” Kane said. It is the kind of story only a World Cup staged in the United States could produce, and it has landed 72 hours before the biggest match of England’s tournament so far.

What Harry Kane Actually Said About Playing Golf With Trump

Kane said the invitation came from Trump himself while the striker was in Palm Beach, Florida, roughly 18 months ago. “He invited me to play when I was down in Palm Beach. So yeah, when the president invites you somewhere…” Kane told reporters, before adding: “It was a pretty surreal experience just to meet him and obviously play golf with him.”

Asked how he performed on the course, the England captain kept it typically understated: “I played alright, to be honest.” Kane is a committed golfer away from football, and Trump — who owns and frequently plays a string of courses in Florida — is famously fond of the game.

Why the Story Broke Now — Miami, Politics and a World Cup Quarter-Final

The revelation came during England’s media duties in Miami, where Gareth Southgate’s successors have set up base ahead of Saturday’s last-eight tie. A World Cup hosted across North America means politics is never more than one question away in a press conference, and an England captain with a Trump anecdote in his back pocket was always going to make headlines.

Kane handled it the way he handles most things: calmly, briefly, and without picking a fight. He neither dressed the round up as an endorsement nor distanced himself from it. “When the president invites you somewhere” was, in effect, the whole answer.

England v Norway: The Real Business on Saturday

England face Norway in Miami on Saturday at 22:00 BST with a place in the World Cup semi-finals on the line. Kane will lead the side as captain and remains the focal point of the attack — England’s record goalscorer, and the man the tournament narrative still runs through.

Norway are no soft draw. They have reached the quarter-finals playing direct, fearless football with genuine firepower up front, and England will need more than reputation to get past them. Beat Norway and England reach a first World Cup semi-final since 2018.

Kane the Golfer: A Side of the England Captain Fans Rarely See

Golf has become the release valve of choice for elite footballers, and Kane is among the most dedicated. It is a low-impact, high-focus sport that suits a striker who has built his career on repetition and control — and it explains how a round with a sitting US President even came about.

For England fans, the anecdote is a rare glimpse of the man behind the armband. Kane rarely volunteers anything about life away from the pitch. That he chose to share it now, days out from a quarter-final, suggests a captain who is relaxed rather than distracted.

FAQ