Harry Kane has revealed the story behind an unusual round of golf with Donald Trump after the US president publicly praised the England captain during the World Cup.
Trump disclosed the meeting following England’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico in the round of 16. Kane then confirmed the story while speaking to reporters before England’s quarter-final against Norway.
The timing requires clarification. The round was not arranged as part of Kane’s preparations for the World Cup. It took place in Palm Beach, Florida, approximately 18 months before Kane discussed it publicly, probably during Bayern Munich’s winter break around the turn of 2025.
An unexpected invitation in Florida
According to UNILAD’s report on Kane’s account of the meeting, Trump invited the striker to play while he was staying in Palm Beach.
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“It was a pretty surreal experience just to meet him and to play golf with him,” Kane said.
The England captain described the occasion as unique and said he was grateful to have received the invitation. He also suggested that his own performance had been respectable, although no score from the round was made public.
Kane impressed by Trump’s golf
Trump has long been closely associated with golf and owns several courses through his business organisation. Kane admitted that the president’s standard surprised him.
The Bayern Munich striker said Trump remained a strong golfer for his age and joked that he hoped to be playing at a similar level when he was older.
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Kane is also an accomplished amateur player. He has previously described himself as having a handicap of around three, making the England captain considerably more experienced than the average recreational golfer.
Trump praises England captain
The story emerged after Trump watched England defeat Mexico at the World Cup. Following the match, he posted on Truth Social: “Harry Kane of England is a GREAT player!!!”
Trump later expanded on his connection with the striker while speaking to reporters.
“I think Kane is a great player. I played golf with him and I like him a lot,” he said.
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He also described Kane as a good golfer, turning what had previously been a private meeting into a widely discussed World Cup story.
The meeting took place before Trump returned to office
The original account incorrectly referred to Trump as a former president without explaining the timeline.
Trump is the sitting US president in 2026, having returned to office for a second term in January 2025. The White House’s official presidential profile identifies him as the 45th and 47th president of the United States.
However, the golf round appears to have taken place shortly before his inauguration. Trump was therefore president-elect, rather than serving as president, when he and Kane played together.
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A World Cup talking point
The meeting had little direct connection to England’s tournament preparations, but its public disclosure came at a high-profile moment in the national team’s campaign.
Kane had already played a central role in England’s victory over Mexico when Trump revealed their previous encounter. The England captain was then asked about it as his team prepared for the next stage of the tournament.
What began as a private round of golf in Florida consequently became an unexpected World Cup talking point, offering a glimpse of Kane’s life away from football and his encounters with prominent figures outside the sport.
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