​England star Harry Kane confirmed that he played a round of golf with U.S. President Donald Trump about 18 months ago, a detail Trump had hinted at earlier in the week. The former president had said he had played golf with Kane and spoke warmly of the England captain, noting that Kane is a excellent player and a good golfer whom he likes a lot.
Kane, speaking at a press conference in Miami on Friday, July 10, ahead of England’s World Cup quarterfinal clash with Norway, acknowledged the golf outing with Trump. He suggested the meeting likely took place at Trump’s International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, and described the experience as surreal. “I played all right to be honest,” Kane said. “We played about 18 months ago. He invited me to play when I was down in Palm Beach. So when the president invites you somewhere … It was a pretty surreal experience just to meet him, and to play golf with him.”
Kane went on to compliment Trump’s golfing ability, saying, “His golf is pretty good, to be honest. I hope I can play golf as well as him when I’m his age, that’s for sure. So, (it was) a unique experience. I’m just grateful he invited me down to play.”
At the time of the remarks, Kane had already scored six goals at the World Cup, helping England advance to a quarterfinal showdown with Norway at the Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday. The field also included a separate World Cup development involving Trump and other football figures: Trump had contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino in an attempt to overturn a red-card-induced suspension for U.S. forward Folarin Balogun. Infantino later indicated that Trump’s call did not influence the decision, but Balogun’s punishment was ultimately converted to a suspended sentence, allowing him to be eligible for the round of 16 match against Belgium. Despite Balogun’s return to the lineup, the United States were eliminated from the tournament with a 4-1 loss on Monday, July 6.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY with the aim of providing clearer context for readers seeking updates on Kane’s golf anecdote and related World Cup developments. The account emphasizes Kane’s confirmation of the golf encounter, Trump’s own remarks about Kane’s abilities, and the broader World Cup narrative surrounding Balogun’s suspension and the U.S. team’s performance.