Harry Kane confirms 'surreal' golf round with Donald Trump ahead of World Cup quarter-final against Norway

A presidential invitation

Harry Kane confirmed at a press conference on Friday that he played a round of golf with Donald Trump about 18 months ago in Palm Beach, Florida. The England captain was in the area when the US president extended the invitation. "When the president invites you somewhere," Kane said, "it was a pretty surreal experience just to meet him and obviously play golf with him."

It was a pretty surreal experience. I played alright to be honest. He invited me to play when I was down in Palm Beach. So yeah, when the president invites you somewhere...

The meeting, first disclosed by Trump after England's 3-2 win over Mexico in the last 16, made headlines ahead of Saturday night's quarter-final. Kane, 32, said he felt grateful for the opportunity, describing the outing as "a unique experience."

Fairway mutual admiration

Trump had praised Kane's talents on and off the pitch, telling reporters: "I think Kane is a great player. I played golf with him and I like him a lot. He's a good golfer too. He's really great." The 80-year-old president is a known golf enthusiast and often speaks about his game.

Kane returned the compliments during the press conference, noting that Trump's golf was surprisingly strong. "His golf is pretty good, to be honest with you. I hope I can play golf as good as him when I'm his age, that's for sure," Kane said. The Bayern Munich striker is an avid golfer himself; in an earlier interview with golfpunk.de he once described his handicap as 3, though he admitted his swing gets rusty during the football season.

I think Kane is a great player. I played golf with him and I like him a lot. He's a good golfer.

Quarter-final against Norway

England face Norway tonight at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami (22:00 BST, 23:00 local). Kane enters the match with six goals and one assist in the tournament, leading the line for Thomas Tuchel's side. The matchup pits him against Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, whom Kane addressed in the press conference.

"Erling is incredible. The goal record speaks for itself," Kane said. "Physically, he's a real machine, a true force of nature. His finishing is at the highest level and the numbers he puts up say everything." Kane stressed that the two are different types of forwards: while both score regularly, Kane sees himself as a player who gets more involved in build-up play.

Erling is incredible. Physically, he's a real machine, a true force of nature.

Trump's tournament footprint

Beyond the golf revelation, Trump has made an unusual mark on the 2026 World Cup. After the group stages, he called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to demand the lifting of a red-card suspension handed to US striker Folarin Balogun. Infantino complied and the ban was annulled, making Balogun available for the round of 16 against Belgium. The intervention caused controversy, but the United States lost 4-1 to Belgium and were eliminated regardless.

Kane did not comment on the controversy during his press conference, sticking to the golf story and the upcoming match. England's quarter-final is the immediate focus; a win would set up a semi-final in the US-co-hosted tournament.