As a hardcore England fan, this World Cup has been an odd one to say the least. And by hardcore, I’m talking the 2002 England v Brazil quarter final being a core memory in primary school (and holding back the tears as we lost). I’ve kept the same zealous energy for the England team since. Through limping performances to near Euro finals glory, I’ve wept and cheered along every time – mostly wept though, let’s be real.
Except with the rise of right-wing Britain and the aggressive raising of the England flag everywhere as a threat – my feelings have become much more complicated. The flag I’ve always associated with football glory, now makes me go cold with fear.
I mean we’ve always known that England was so inherently racist they’ve developed it into an art form. It’s almost classy and insidious. Rarely would someone throw a brick at you in the street, like my friend experienced in Sweden. Actually, most people consider themselves above that kind of crass in-your-face basic racism. Instead, it’s institutional and so beautifully woven into the fabric of English society that white people often struggle to identify it. Racists will tell you ‘oh no I haven’t got a problem with black people,’ all affronted.
And follow it up with ‘I don’t know, I personally don’t like that Meghan Markle, just something about her.‘
But of course, recently we’ve seen the more and more blatant in your face – would love to see you hang for the crime of not being white but living in England kind of you know, generic racism. And YET if you ask a significant portion of these Reform voters, they will tell you straight faced that it’s not about hating immigrants.
Because while voting Reform and attending right-wing marches, they still consider themselves nice upstanding citizens who only want the best for the people of this great country. And not, you know, a raging ignorant racist.
And then throw in the 2026 World Cup and now we’re all confused. Is it football or Farage? Do you hate me purely because of my skin colour or will we be shoulder to shoulder joyfully singing ‘Hey Jude’?
It’s actually infuriating and unfair, because as a hardcore fan, I hate that my association with the flag is now one of worry rather than celebration. I mean don’t get me wrong, football has always had a racism problem. English football fans are world-renowned for being unhinged and scary, lest we forget how many of them unleashed so much vitriol against Saka, Sancho and Rashford in the 2020 Euro finals. And the British media will frequently crucify black players like Sterling purely for the love of the game. But you know, as long as we win, it’s calm.
Seeing the flags all around my town though, is such a stark and daily reminder of the division in our streets. I mean, I too want to enjoy my game in peace! ‘Take politics out of football’? how can I when even on screen we have scenes like Harry Kane saying ‘nations like this’ disparagingly about Ghana?
So while it is incredible that the England squad made it to the semi finals, and yes, Argentina should have been sent home for their suspicious football, I was honestly not as heartbroken and devastated as I would have usually been.
I do want Djed Spence, Saka and Bellingham and the rest of those hardworking and talented boys to achieve the satisfaction of World Cup glory. They totally deserve it and have made the nation proud. But I don’t want Farage Britain to be rewarded for their divisive cruel politics and behaviour.
And until we move away from hateful and scary rhetoric and work towards a fair, just and truly united country, I don’t think we (the people not the players) deserve World Cup glory.
