Reflecting on the World Cup Experience

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To learn more, visit Homeepot dot com slash FIFA World Cup twenty six The Venture X businessus card from Capital One, you earn unlimited double miles on every purchase. pllus big purchasing power means you can spend more and earn more. The Capital one Venture X business card. What's in your wallet? Term supply, see capital onene. com for details Well, let's talk a little bit about the origin story of u of your football fandom. Our dad was Cleveland Brown fan growing up. likeike we grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and he I don't want to say he forced us, but he integrated us into being fans of that team Did your dad get you into Aston Villo, or is this your own doing Absolutely not, my father hates football. Oh no. Thanks to our presenting sponsor, XVinity Welcome back to new Heights, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. a wondry show. We are your host. I'm Travis Kelsey my big brother, Jason Kelsey and Bloy. do we have a good one for you again. This is a unique one that we've been pretty excited about to maybe get in the books for you guys and what a more perfect time than talk about a little World Cup action with Somebody who's a little bit more familiar with the football version of soccer Yeah, we're not going to waste any time. There's no news, There's no other segments. This one came out of nowhere, stillill don't really know we're doing this. Yeah. But ladies and gentlemen withithout further ado Our guest today. is Prince William of Wales. Alrighty Trv, it's the World Cup and we haven't had any soccer fans on. Yeah, I know man. Do we know any soccer fans? Well, maybe our guest today, the six foot three Prince of London, England What? That's right. The president of the English foootball Association, the viceeroyal patron of the Welsh rugby union Duke of Cambridge the Duke of Cornwall, the Lord of the Isles, Prince of Great Stuart of Scotland, Earl of Chester and the Prince of Is Prince that is please, Wlcome. His Royal Highness, Prince William. Oh That is qu quite an intro guys. ammazing. Well We had to do it big for you. had to do it big. Prince William, I got the chance to see you not too long ago and invited you on the show because we were talking a little Asston Villea soccer, some excitement about the World Cup. How are we feeling about England's win over over Croatia yesterday or a couple days ago Very good,ravis. I'm so pleased it's gotten the way. I've been looking forward to the World Cup for ages. It feels like a long time between the years it comes round again But it's so good, it's back on in. So obviously we much knowledgeable in the world of American football. You know your soccer. You've been around the game for a long time. You've been twenty years, I think the head of the FA the football association. Yeah. What is it about this team that makes you extxtra confidence You know, I think there's a it seems like a good blend of experience and youth and all that Where do you sit with the team? So first of all, Jason, I have to correct you, it's football. So Fair fair, fair. And second of all, yeah, I've been I was president of the FA, the foootball Association for since about twenty ten I'm now patron And yeah, I've been watching many, many England teams and B you guys may not even heard of Wayne Rooney. Oh Oh my Rooney. comeome on now I was if I would have played soccer I would have wanted to play like Wayne Rooney. I love did. The aggression of just whole hard hustle all over the field, you know it He's he's a fast he's a fast guy. he's aggressive and When I was growing up watching andplay was really exciting. I always felt like we had a really good chance. As each world cup goes on and the results don't quite go away, a little bit of hope gets chipped away each time. And so I'm just, you know, I'm taking it calmly and quietly and like we can do well and See how we go, but I am quitely confident, I think Thomas Tule who's a manager, the coach. he's got them into a really good frame of mind. The team will playing with more freedom, more fluidity I think Gareths, who was a previous manager, his philosophy was very much of defense. so if we don't let goals in we'll win Um, Thomas, I think for first to go bit more out there and If we lose, we lose this playing in the way we want to play and if you're going to score four goals, we'll score five. and a really good really good attitude. I know it's fun to watch from high flying action, man. It sounds like when we got old Patty Mahomes, Patrick Mahomes for the Chiefs when we got him It was just like, man, we're just going to try and outscore you and just Touch down you to death, man Do you know what a touchdown is, P William I know what a touchdown is. I can't say I've done one for real, but I've I've tried to do a couple of touchdowns and then he pull out my shoulder blade, but apart from that, yeah. We do have a clip you throwing the ball. You can slang it pretty good. That was a good throw into the net there Well, we had the NFL over here. obviously they're playing quite few matches and I went to see them train and play and had a couple of Welsh guys who were also training at the time And I love America football. It' brillant. I used to play out on the beach with friends and stuff like that, but How you guys do it as many times as you do and all the tactics, it's really quite intense. It is interesting. I mean, they You know, the NFL's been playing over in London for a long time now. Do you feel like the fan base in London is growing for American football Definitely, it's getting more popular. And I think the more people that see it, the more it's televised. I think if we could understand the rules a bit more over here, that might help because like I say, it is quite tactical And it's those sort of short breaks of play that I think we over herear are a bit' used to a match running for ninety odd minutes. It doesn't really stop So that bit of it is kind of explaining the tactics behind it makes a bit more appealing to most people over herear. That's good goodood to know. good to know. We're going to be over there this year. Eagles are playing in the new Tottenham Stadium You've played in Wimbley before you've played in Well. I play Yeah. I've had the fortune to play in Wimbley and it was one of the coolest experiences I've ever had in my life. Yeah. I remember I scored a touchdown there and I was like, where's that football? I need to put that thing in a glass case. I need I need to get it painted and everything, man. It was it was a it was an unbelievable experience, but The London crowd is so it's like in American football typically The excitement isn't every single play. when you're when we played at Wimbley, it was every single play was exciting for for the crowd and it's just You could you could feel the passion and the desire for it over there and We love playing overseas, that's for sure. You think the US is doing pretty good as a host city so far? Yeah, it's fantastic. I think it's been a brilliant worldup. It's been really well sort of started I think the tournament' been well balanced. logistically for everyone being in Canada, the US and Mexico. Yeah makes it really hard for the teams moving around. It does feel like this is the most spread out of World Cup has ever been, which is one of the down. I mean, it's really nice that all of North America is getting highlighted U But I went to Brazil for the World Cup and twenty fourteen One of the things that was just incredible was how many different countries are all you know, together to unite over the game and obviously everybody's trying to win But there's so many people all over the place from different nationalities. It's one of the great joys of watching the World Cup and why it really takes over you. But It's just There's something special about That event in particular and how much it means to the entire world. Well, let me ask you this, Prince William, we for all the English fans that have come over or are coming over for the World Cup, what do you think the biggest culture shock is? Over here in America forum Oh a good question I think that I think the light beer is that the Yeah, the beer definitely is going to taste different, I think for you. I think you ha make a match. you've seen a lot of beer drinkers from the UK. There we go We could hand on our own beer to anyone. But I think I think the scale of your stadiums, I think the size of them is really going to be quite a cold shock for a lot of fans. I we really know our football. So to see stadiums that are bigger and kind of an amazing atmosphere that we can also emulate it here. That's that's quite a big deal Yeahah Do you think One of the things that stands out to me, I've talked about this a lot. The United States, we lack veracity of soccer chantance, like the tenacity and passion and one thing that the UK has down is soccer chance. likeike I don't I mean, I love watching those clips. The man United champers Latany Vrhemovich like all that stuff is just Incredible but it leads to It points out the difference in the culture between how England views soccer and how the United States views it How do we get that in the US? What do we need to do to build a foundation of just such passion? It's a good point. I think you guys have so much passion already in terms of your American football, your baseball, basketball, those are massive parts of your cultural heritage And I think trying to create that same tribance around football would be really useful. So over here, the tribality of your club team And it's like a second family for a lot of fans. really means it plays very importantly in your emotions. And you know my weekend goes from being either the best weekend in the world when we win orr to frankly, I don't want to see any on Monday morning because I'm really down. Yeah. And that lasts for quite a few days. So you know you guys get that in other ways, but I think if you can attach that to football as well then you or soccer, then you get it. Yeah And it does feel like the pub is a central like of just English sports L you mentioned a like Rugby as well It feels like There's a communal aspect where everybody comes together and Those are all the videos I see online, right? orr when everybody's going crazy at the pub watching the games is that a part of it just like coming together and bonding over the sport and Enjoying the wins and relishing the losses. Yeahah. Definitely. I think, you know, those rowdy evenings, those long afternoons, a few drinks, the social elements of it Uh, you know, there's plenty of chance you guys don't want to hear. Sure. They're pretty they're pretty spicy. They caught roots brocasts. Yeah know Yeah. Th thoseose are the ones we want. Yeah Yeah I will say this. so England is back to a little bit of the u English coming to America, England's home base is Kansas City And I got a lot of pride for Kansas City. It's kind of slowly become like one of It's American soccer, football's, U S hubs. like we love our soccer in Kansas City And I think it's doing a great job right now of hosting, but coming to Kansas City, you have you had barbecue before, Prince Probably not one of your barbecues, Travis, No. Do you know what a burnt end is No No We gott to get you some end of that brisket big guy. Come on down. doesn't It doesn't sound great, Tvis. Noed. I promise you, you'd love it Let me ask you this, you've been the president of English of the FA twenty years, you may say. What do you view is the role What is your role within that? Just don't mess up That That's win. That's good. But do you Jason win fers? I think yeah, I think The role I've wanted to play with the FA has been very much kind of cheerleader supporter of All thingsings England team, supporting the FA who are the governing body and making sure that they feel They've got the backing of u country and getting on with what they need to do around football I think trying to support our world Cup European bids. You know, this country particularly is mad about soccer and football. So trying to get a workup be hosted here or you wrote it it was fantastic and ve been trying to do a bit of work on that but also I think I'd be trying to help reform the system a bit as well. So some of our Football legislation and the way we do football sort of regulatory stuff goes back a long way and trying to update it at times to make sure it's more relevant. By mind the women's game, particularly has come out of u a smaller worlds are now being massive. and I'm not sure we quite reflect that in how we look after the football game. What do you view as football's role within society or just sports in general? It's ability to unite people to bring people together. I love it. I think The more sport we can do, not only is it good for health Particularly mental health, mental fitness. Yes. It's a way to letay out some steam I think you guys won't know it yet because you're still you're younger than me in Well Travis is still playing as well but when you stop playing any sport it' you really pine for it and it's that competitive sort of spirit and that camaraderie, particularly around teammates and you like having that You miss it a bit And I, you know, for me sport has been that That's a bit that's filled hole that's been missing in my life since I've not been able to carry playing sport Well, let's talk a little bit about the the origin story of u of your football fandom ourur dad was Cleveland Brown fan growing up. like we grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and he I don't want to say he forced us, but he integrated us into being fans of that team. Did your dad get you into Aston Villo or is this your own doing Absolutely not. My father hates football. Oh no. My family haven't got a particularly long history with football.ough there are a few of us who support teams my football love came from friends taking me to my first match And at school growing up, you can't you can't avoid the football chat. It's everywhere.. And some school friends child of friends of mine took me to my first game And actually I saw Gar Stythgate the other day this week And he reminded me that the first match I saw was he was playing in it No the previous Englland manager used to play for Aston Villa at Cub level the first game, he was a defender playing in the match that I watched in two thousand, which was Aailla versus Bolton D timeise, man. That's cool. Yeah. We gotta ask. We're gonna go to this last section here. All right Prince, C. America is turning two hundred and fifty years this year Be be honest, are you surprised we made it There were times. There were times, yeah But I'd like to think the UK and the US have been together for those two, fifty years. Oh yeah. good it's a good brotherhood. It has been. It has been a really good brotherood. All righty, this one's a very obvious one, I feel like, but what is the more iconic moment at Weembley Stadium? Travis scoring a touchdown in twenty fifteen against a lions or Travis is a backup dancer. to the one and only Taylor Swift Travis is backout does. Definitely a very proud moment of my life, for sure Bring it it again.act's right. listen, if Tay's going to sign up for a tour. I'll happily Makes sure that we bring her back to life No, that was honestly one of the coolest moments ever was meeting you and the little ones that day. Me and Jason joke about it all the time. We were so nervous to meet you guys and the royal family and Jason has this running joke where he didn't know what to do with his beer Yeah. It wasn't a joke. it was real. I don't know Well, you want to be respectful You know what the protocols O of course are, but Um, no, it was awesome in You were fantastic H kids were great. Yeah. Charlotte or Princess Charlotte was still the highlight for me. I have four daughters as well So I mean, she she was great. No, congratulations having four daughters. I don't know how you do that. That is definitely a difficult task. The hardest job. We're going to ask you a Mount Rushmore. We do this with a lot of our guests. It's a Carving on the side of a mountain of four of our greatest presidents. George Washington Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt Abraham Lincoln do this to say who are the four greatest in whatever field. So we're going to ask you Prince William, whoo is on your Mount Rushmore of English soccer players? or football player. Yes. English footballers. Yes. Yeah, football players. Okay. that's really hard. So they've got to be English, yeah Yes, yes, that is theong. Let's say Yeahah, we throw the England team, the English teams Okay so best best of all time English players what we're saying. Yeah. So for that, Daveid Beckham's got to be in there Yes, loveve that. Probably probably the best crosser the ball I've ever seen and probably ever will see Um he's up there. I would say or it's difficult because Gar Lina would be in there somewhere with his goals, but then Harry Kane is just about to overtake him. Yeah. So you know, those two are very tied together. Harry Kane could end up being one of the greatest English strikers we've ever seen.. Um I think who else I grew up watching Oh try to think it different positions. So Steven Gerd Yeah absolute an amazing midfielder as well. Asolute fantastic player Frank Lampard, him as well. And Wayne Wayne R's got to be in there too that generation I was really hopeful for and absolutely love them. But if you're going you know, a long way back, it's Bobby Charlton as well, you know, one of the greatest of all time English players The selection there. different different differentiff genes. You know you bring it First of all, outstanding list. ignite everybody you just said I tried C. is u One of the things that You brou up Wayne Rooney earlier. One of things I always loved about his game is that he didn't I mean, maybe he has, and I just don't remember this clip I don't remember him ever taking a dive. I always remember him fighting through contact and continually going hard. One of the things that happened in the USA game against Paraguay Reem was given a yellow card And they looked at the official review and they found that the player had taken a dive from Paraguay and they reversed the yellow card. Do you think this is good for the game of soccer to get that kind of aspect out of it and that replay is now getting rid of something that I think a lot of fans have been frustrated about? Yeah, I think so. It's a really hard one because we've got this technology now. And there's been a of a lot of chat around VAR the video assistant referee and reviewing everything. Yeah. But the problem is that because we have a technology, it's hard to say, well, don't use the technology. So Weve just got to get to a system and a point where it's better it's working quicker because I think the delays are the hardest thing. But I think being able to iron out diving is good, but then you're seeing somet of the times watching the matches, you see actual proper like American football style tackles going on inside the penalty area for a corner. And yet the VAR never steps in for that. You've got to be careful what you wish for is that it kind of it could become so stacartoed that you don't end up having a free flowing game at all. Yeah, yeah. I mean, we deal with similar issues in American football, even though there's way more stoppages just in general. So it's easier to there's it's not as flow Free flow of a game is obviously Soccer football is. Sorry to interrupt, are we gonna call it socer slash football forever now. I mean It is messing with my head. We just don't want to confuse anyone on which sport we're talking it's it is the same thing and when the subjective calls come in and it's hard the slow motion Do doesnn't necessarily tell the whole story, right? The tugging of a jersey feels different when it's in slow motion sometimes than it does in real speed and in real time So the rough on the field, that's where I feel like sometimes it's really difficult in our field So like is a past interference? Do we want replay assist to interfere with those type of penalties and things. Nope. putut it on the ref. Yeah, ye. Sage. P it on the. What are some of the tactical foules that you guys can do in your game So it It's are we talking about replay assist or are we just talking like in general in general. So of course things like, you know, taking a dive is can be seen as you know, professional foul. What's the equivalent in American football? I don't know that they're is a I mean, if somebody took a dive, which I don't think of've Some guys do Whoa, whoa it'll be point fers over here. Sometimes you got to help the rest see that he's holding you because it can be it can get So physical games you get real t. It's a It's a good question. I don't think that it has been waved as much of a flag on that There are definitely guys in the game you know when a guy is trying to get a penalty, right Ag, a defender might be out. He might not be able to get to the ball carrier So he'll put his arms up like this to try and get a holding call. to take a big run back. a receiver might fall down to make it look more like it's past interference. I guess it would be onportsman like conduct, but I've never seen that called. No. I haven't seen it called. I wouldn't mind being called. Yeah, it's more frowned upon by the fans, I feel like than it is penalty of any sort. Be you can you know, the players now in football. say the attacking team are getting away and they're going to look like they're getting a good chance to score The first person that comes in just basically takes out the player and they'll receive a yellow card for it, but it's basically a professional foul because they're stopping their game knowing full well what they're doing. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. That's a cutthroat fucking mentality, Jesus. There's some rules in place with American football where if a guy is like off and running Um and it hasn't happened, but like if somebody commits a foul way behind or a penalty way behind the You can get ejected. You can get ejected. you can get You can also decline in accept these penalties in American football So like if it does try to affect the play in a negative way, The other team usually just declines it because they still get the artage on it. All right, Prince, we got one more question for you. We ask everybody, what's their welcome to their profession, their fandom moment in their league when they f when they had this realization of an epiphany Um that they're that they're doing it. What was your welcome to football moment My welcome football moment. So what like my biggest the biggest kind of moment where I felt I loved it. Yeah. Yes. O You're in for the long haul. Yeah. so I think weirdly this sounds very odd, but I I got into football more than ever when we got relegated So when Aser Villa went from premership to championship I suddenly really enjoyed the battle to get back in the preremiership. You do almost, I think you do forty matches, I think in the championship, which is way more than you do in the preremiership. And I got really into that. And it was mid weeek games and you could watch it coming back in after you know being out the day. And yeah, I loved all that and it got me straight back in there. But obviously my highlight, having been a fan for however many years now of Aailla is the Europa League final and winning a trophy is just the best thing because I was born a month after they won the European Cup in eighty two So I felt like I' I' that generation has missed out on on many B opportunities. We won a cup in nineteen ninety six. that was a domestic one A European one we haven't won since eight two. so it's a big de He it is. Yeahah, hell yeah. Prince William, the guy you won the fox hole they get regulated. he gets more into it. That was it That's what I'm talking about. Relegation. I really love that concept European sports in general, but I think that's something that in the United States we deal with A lot of teams tanking at the end of the year to try and get better draft picks, improvements the idea that Not only are the best teams going to be recognized and honored, but the more teams you're actually out of the league. Oh Yeah do imag. It puts an extra amount of emphasis and pressure on those teams trying to be competitive And it also it also builds the foundation of the game Like you just said, more, there's more depth to all these other communities that don't really You know, maybe they don't have, the same amount of resources or whatever But they're in those leagues and there's a chance they could get into the Premier League and obviously And Jason, that's exactly the point is that the idea that any club can get to the top of the premiership is potentially there. Now you know realistically it's a huge challenge depending on which club you support and what your finances are like and the side of the stadium and all ss of stuff. The fact that you could do it And obviously, I don't know if you remember, but Leicester City I forget which year it was. They were an outside kind of like dark horse to do anything. They went and won the premiership. but like there wasn't another football fan in the country that thought good on Lesicester. that was an amazing achievement. So we love the idea of someone coming out of the the normal top six, seven teams and winning the preremiership. This is the World Cup. Obviously, you guys are coming off for the big game against Croatia. What in your mind is a successful World Cup for anything I think winning it That's that's the easy thing gets it gets it. They make they make it to the finals. You're going you're going to make the trip across the pond If we're in the final I love it, man. Well maybe maybe see you both there for the final. Oh my gosh. Come on now, St me you might be in training camp. Yeah, I'll probably be able to go. Pbably be in Saint Joe Missouri real. Sneak out for a night. Tell me ye tellell me what I need to write to, Travis. We'll get your There There we go. Coach Reed, listen Prince William call. I'll be back tomorrow. That's right. All friends appreciate the time, the stories, The fandom is awesome to hear about and wishing England the best and always wishing You and the royal family of Best M. You guys are awesome Thank you, Trevor. Thank you J.' really great to see you guys, and yeah, catch up soon. Yes, sir. Sounds good. Thanks to our presenting sponsor, Xfinity. Alrighty soccer season is about to take over for everyone's summer and if you're like most fans, you're not watching alone. You're packing the living room, firing up the grill and making it an event. Everybody's over, your buddies, the neighbors, that one cousin who thinks he could have gone pro, all streaming, all on their phones all at You need Wiifi that's built for that energy. The fiber powered gig Wi Fi from EXfinity keeps everyone connected. phones, tablets, TV's, all going at once, low lag and no drive. WiFi is so reliable, you can host the world. That's right. Check out finity dot com slash soccer to learn more. Restrictions apply select plans only powered by fiber connected to premises by Cobaxle Cable Al right, there is our conversation with Prince William. Thank you so much to the Prince of Willams for coming on the show. That was incredible. Inane. We have nothing else for you guys. That's a wrap on this episode We hope you enjoyed it. We hope you're enjoying Wld Cup. Once again, a new Heights of Wondry S show. Follow us show on all social media at N new Heigh Show with one for funun cllips throughout the week to the Prince of Wales We appreciate you to England, goodood luck in the US. Let's fucking go, baby Thanks to our presenting sponsor, EXfinity Thank you to the new Heights production and thank you to all the Night twoupercententers. oy the Wor Cup Yeah, when we started this thing, I don't think We thought we were going to be talking to like Fat offansiman, not not kings, queens, princes of other nations. Yeah This is. What is life? It is. And it's also very fitting. I mean, obviously, America is two hundred and fifty years old. this year Having the World Cup in the United States and in North America U Some very fun world stage things happening this year I was just at the