Perhaps if Harry Kane receives a red card during Saturday’s World Cup clash with Norway, he can give President Donald Trump a call to help him return to the pitch.
The England captain confirmed ahead of the quarterfinal battle that he played golf with the Trump roughly 18 months ago in Florida.
“He invited me to play when I was down in Palm Beach. When the President invites you somewhere, it was a pretty surreal experience just to meet him and to play golf with him,” Kane said Friday. “His golf is pretty good to be honest with you. I hope I can play as well as him when I’m his age, that’s for sure.
“Unique experience. Grateful he invited me down to play with him.”
Kane said he played “pretty alright” during their round together, and his confirmation of the golf outing comes after Trump praised him multiple times in recent days.
President Trump first posted to social media about the 32-year-old after the England star led his team past Mexico 3-2 in Mexico City in the Round of 16 last Sunday.
Kane scored England’s third goal on a penalty kick and also tallied an assist.
“Harry Kane of England is a GREAT player!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump — whose role in the overturning of U.S. star Folarin Balogun’s red card has been much scrutinized — later mentioned to reporters that he and Kane golfed together.
“I think Kane is a great player,” Trump said earlier this week, per ESPN. “I played golf with him and I like him a lot. He’s a good golfer too. He’s really great.”
Kane is looking to lead England back to the semifinals for the first time since 2018 and to their first World Cup final since 1966, which also marks the last time The Three Lions won the event.
The Brits are betting favorites Saturday against Norway and star Erling Haaland and, should they win, would face either reigning champion Argentina or Switzerland in the semifinals on July 15.
Saturday’s match will feature plenty of discussion about Kane and Haaland, but he said the two are different players.
“I know we’re both seen as strikers, but two totally different positions, if I’m being honest,” Kane said Friday. “Erling’s been incredible. Physically he’s a machine, he’s a beast, he’s finishing at the highest level and obviously his goalscoring record speaks for itself.
“I see myself as a different player. Although I score the same goals, I like to touch the ball a little more, be involved in play a little bit more, but also can play as an out-and-out [No.] 9. I don’t think it’s one to compare ourselves. I respect him a lot as a player, as a fellow professional.”
