The royal rift between Prince William and Prince Harry continues to make headlines, and it looks like the 2026 World Cup might force an uncomfortably close encounter. The brothers, who reportedly aren’t on speaking terms, are both planning to cheer on Team England, part of whose matches will take place in the United States.
According to The Sun, “Wills is planning to come to the US and we have been told to prepare for what a trip would entail. Interactions between security services and UK/US intelligence teams are in progress.” Translation: it’s going to be a very well-orchestrated—and very tense—family meetup.
The timing couldn’t be more… interesting. Prince William and Kate Middleton are already set to be in the U.S. for July 4th, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly being “iced out” of the festivities. A source told Page Six, “We’re hoping all the senior royals will come over. This is going to be a huge year for both the U.S. and the U.K. Obviously the Duke and Duchess of Sussex aren’t working royals, so they will not be invited to any celebrations. Any invitation would have to come at the behest of the royal family themselves.”
It’s not like the brothers are strangers to long stretches without speaking. The last time William and Harry were seen together was at a memorial service in Norfolk in August 2024—and insiders say they didn’t exchange a single word.
Since then, Harry’s visits to the U.K. have been carefully coordinated to keep the pair apart. While both princes attended events around the same time, any chance of a reunion was quickly shut down, with William citing a “full diary of official events.”
Despite the tension, royal watchers can’t help but speculate about what a World Cup encounter might look like: Will they exchange polite nods? Awkward small talk? Or perhaps just a stiff wave from across the stadium?
One thing’s for sure: with security and protocol firmly in place, any interaction will be closely monitored—and heavily scrutinized by the global press. The 2026 World Cup could end up being less about the soccer and more about watching the two brothers navigate a public display of civility amid years of rumored tension.
